DELIVERY OF THE NSU. Article and photos Brian Castle In May 1954 two diesel electric locomotives for the Commonwealth Railways arrived in Port Adelaide on the ship "Empire Star".The photo top left shows DEL1, now NSU51 on the deck of the "Empire Star" at No 20 berth Port Adelaide The SA Harbours Board 60 ton floating crane assisted with the unloading of the two locomotives and two sets of standard gauge power bogies The two locomotives were the first of fourteen to replace steam on the Central Australia Railway. The photo bottom left shows DEL2, now NSU52, being unloaded onto South Australian Railways broad gauge bogies on 10th May 1954 for haulage to Port Pirie Junction, where it was placed on standard gauge power bogies for onwards movement to Port Augusta. The photo below is standard gauge NSU51 at Bookaloo on the Trans Australian Railway on Saturday 12th June 1954. It was on this day that the transformation of the CAR from steam to diesel electric traction was launched at a ceremony in Port Augusta. NSU51 was named "George McLeay" after the Minister for Shipping and Transport. The decision to run on the standard gauge was made due to the higher maximum permissible track speed and the availability of carriages. About 200 guests and members of the public travelled on the train which consisted of power van HRGA096, sleepers ARA71, ARA72, AR53, Budd railcars CB1 CB2 and Special Service Car SS44. NSU51 and NSU52 were placed in service on the CAR at Port Augusta on 13th June 1954 and hauled the Ghan departing Port Augusta on 24th June, arriving Alice Springs on 26th June 1954.