BHP Newcastle 37 class

The BHP Newcastle 37 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for the BHP, Newcastle steelworks between 1960 and 1983.

BHP Newcastle 37 class
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderA Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow
ModelGeneral Electric 80 Ton switcher
Build date1960-83
Total produced22
Specifications
Configuration:
  UICBo-Bo
Gauge914 mm (3 ft),
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter33 in (840 mm)
Minimum curve75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)
Length33 ft 9.5 in (10.300 m)
WidthNarrow body 7 ft 3 in (2,210 mm)
Widened body 9 ft 9 in (2,972 mm)
Height13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity330 imp gal
(1,500 L; 400 US gal)
Lubricant cap.Cummins
7 imp gal
(32 L; 8.4 US gal)
Rolls-Royce
6.5 imp gal
(30 L; 7.8 US gal)
Coolant cap.Cummins
9 imp gal
(41 L; 11 US gal)
Sandbox cap.18 cu ft (0.51 m3)
Prime mover2x Cummins NHS-B1-6,
2x Rolls-Royce C6TFL-6,
2x Cummins NT855-L4
RPM rangeCummins NH6 600-2100 rpm
Rolls-Royce 3 50-1010 rpm
Engine type4-stroke in line 6 diesel
AspirationCummins NHS-B1 Supercharged
Rolls-Royce
& Cummins NT855 Turbocharged
Generator2 off General Electric GT-558
Traction motors4 off General Electric GE-763
Cylinders6
Cylinder size5 12 in × 6 in
(140 mm × 152 mm)
bore x stroke
Loco brakeWestinghouse A7 air
Train brakesWestinghouse AH7 air
Performance figures
Maximum speed30 mph (48 km/h)
Power output415 hp (309 kW) each Cummins supercharged,
423 hp (315 kW) each
Rolls Royce
Tractive effort48,000 pounds-force (210 kN) starting
Career
OperatorsBHP Newcastle Steelworks
Number in class22
Numbers37-58
Preserved42, 43, 47, 52, 53, 54
Current ownerJunee Railway Workshop
Loongama Lime
Manildra Group
Disposition7 in service, 6 preserved,
9 scrapped

History

Preserved former Southern Portland Cement D1 at Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre in December 2013

In 1960, the first five locomotives numbered 37 to 41 were delivered by A Goninan & Co to a design suitable for use on both the narrow gauge 3 ft (914 mm) ingot system and the 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge system. These locos were an Australian version of the standard General Electric 80 Ton switcher. Originally two of these five locomotives were fitted with narrow gauge bogies, the other three being fitted with standard gauge bogies. These locos were fitted with 2 Cummins NHS-B1-6 supercharged diesel engines. Whilst the first five were under construction an order for a further six locos to the same specifications was placed, these locos were given numbers 42 to 47.[1]

In 1961, a further 6 locos were ordered from Goninans, these 6 however were powered by two Rolls-Royce C6TFL turbocharged diesel engines. These 6 locos were numbered 48 to 53.[1]

The first 15 locos were swapped between the narrow and standard gauge networks by changing the bogies and couplers. However, by the mid 1960s, problems were experienced in working wide standard gauge rolling stock such as the Treadwell hot metal cars. To overcome this, it was decided to dedicate 37 to 41 to the narrow gauge network, with 42 to 53 were progressively fitted with 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) wide cabs and platforms to overcome the visibility problems.[1]

In 1966, a further loco was delivered from Goninans. Numbered 54, it was built with a wide body and fitted with 2 Cummins NHS-B1-6 supercharged engines. The next 2 locos were delivered in 1977 (55 and 56) and were fitted with Cummins NT855 turbocharged engines, the latter built to narrow gauge specifications. Both did not enter service when delivered and were placed in storage, 55 being placed in service in late 1979 and 56 in early 1980. The last 2 (57 and 58) were delivered in 1982, they were fitted with Cummins NT855 turbocharged engines.[1]

In the 1980s, the Rolls Royce powered locos and the older Cummins supercharged locos were placed into storage due to difficulties in obtaining spare parts. Later many of these were repowered with Cummins NT855 turbocharged engines, those locos which weren't re-engined were either scrapped or sold.

The introduction of a continuous bloom caster at the steelworks in 1987 saw the phasing out of the narrow gauge rail system with the system being closed in 1991 and the narrow gauge rolling stock and locos scrapped.

With the closure of steel making at Newcastle Steelworks on 30 September 1999 and with the remaining rail traffic being hauled by National Rail, the last 9 locos in service were placed into store and put up for sale.[2] A number were sold to private buyers for use as shunters. Two were sold to the Manildra Group, two to Junee Railway Workshop, two to Loongana Lime and one to Heggies Bulk Haul, Port Kembla, the latter being resold to the Manildra Group. Two been preserved by the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum and four by the Richmond Vale Railway Museum.[3]

Class list

LocomotiveBuilder's No.Entered serviceAs Built EngineBody WidenedWithdrawnNotes
372121-00113 Jul 1960Cummins NHS 6Not widened16 Jun 1987Scrapped
382121-00118 Jul 1960Cummins NHS 6Not widened30 Apr 1991Scrapped
392121-00320 Jul 1960Cummins NHS 6Not widened30 Apr 1991Scrapped
402121-00415 Aug 1960Cummins NHS 6Not widened1 Nov 1982Scrapped
412121-00518 Aug 1960Cummins NHS 6Not widened30 Apr 1991Scrapped
423456-00624 Oct 1960Cummins NHS 6Mar 19672 Oct 1983Preserved Richmond Vale Railway Museum
433456-00724 Oct 1960Cummins NHS 6Jan 1968?Preserved Richmond Vale Railway Museum
443456-00810 Nov 1960Cummins NHS 6Feb 196826 May 1983Scrapped
453456-00914 Nov 1960Cummins NHS 6Jan 19662 Jan 1982Scrapped
463456-0101 Dec 1960Cummins NHS 6Apr 196611 Jan 1982Scrapped
473456-0118 Dec 1960Cummins NHS 6Oct 19661 Jul 1991Preserved Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
484970-01222 Sep 1961Rolls Royce C6TFLAug 196630 Sep 1999Sold Manildra Group Dec 2002 as MM04
494970-01329 Sep 1961Rolls Royce C6TFLFeb 196630 Sep 1999Sold Loongana Lime Sep 2002
504970-01414 Oct 1961Rolls Royce C6TFLDec 196730 Sep 1999Sold Loongana Lime Feb 2002
514970-0153 Nov 1961Rolls Royce C6TFLOct 196730 Sep 1999Sold Manildra Group Dec 2002 as MM03
524970-01614 Dec 1961Rolls Royce C6TFLSep 19661 Jan 1988Preserved Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
539211-01816 Apr 1964Rolls Royce C6TFLJun 196730 Sep 1999Preserved Richmond Vale Railway Museum
543835-0205 Jan 1966Cummins NHS 6built wide30 Sep 1999Preserved Richmond Vale Railway Museum
553275-0518 Sep 1977Cummins NT855L4built wide30 Sep 1999Sold Junee Railway Workshop Jul 2002
562967-05211 Nov 1977Cummins NT855L4Narrow body1 Jun 1988Scrapped
576606-182-05713 Dec 1982Cummins NT855L4built wide30 Sep 1999Sold Junee Railway Workshop Jul 2002
586606-182-05813 Apr 1983Cummins NT855L4built wide30 Sep 1999Sold Heggies Bulk Haul, Port Kembla 4 Oct 1999, renumbered HBL58, sold to Manildra Group

Other buyers

The General Electric 80 Ton switcher locomotive design was used by other industrial manufacturing companies around New South Wales including Sulphide Corporation who purchased one in November 1964 for its Cockle Creek Smelter, Southern Portland Cement who purchased two in July 1967 for use at Marulan South and Berrima, and John Lysaght who purchased one for use at Port Kembla.[1]

References

  1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s - 1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 236–237. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
  2. "Steelworks Sign-Off". Railway Digest: 22–24. October 1999.
  3. "L80T (GE Shunters)". Railpage.
  • Jehan, David (1999). Men, Steel and Rails. BHP. ISBN 1-876634-09-X.
  • McDonald, Keith (1981). Steel and Rails in Newcastle. Light Railway Research Society of Australia. ISBN 0-909340-15-3.
  • Oberg, Leon (2002). Australian Diesel Scene 5. Eveleigh Press. ISBN 1-876568-23-2.
  • Specification sheet ex BHP Newcastle Steelworks diesel shop
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