New South Wales 42 class locomotive

The New South Wales 42 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Government Railways in 1955/56.

New South Wales 42 class
4201 leading a NSW Rail Museum train at Mittagong in September 2017
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville
Serial number55-74, 55-75, 55-79, 56-87, 56-92, 56-100
ModelEMD A7 (later A16C)
Build date19551956
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
  UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
LengthOver headstocks:
58 ft 0 in (17.68 m),
Over coupler pulling faces:
62 ft 3 14 in (18.98 m)
Width9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Height14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
Axle load20 long tons 0 cwt (44,800 lb or 20.3 t)
Loco weight120 long tons 0 cwt (268,800 lb or 121.9 t)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity1,500 imp gal
(6,800 l; 1,800 US gal)
Lubricant cap.165 imp gal
(750 l; 198 US gal)
Coolant cap.175 imp gal
(800 l; 210 US gal)
Sandbox cap.16 cu ft (0.45 m3)
Prime moverEMD 16-567C
RPM range275835
Engine typeV16 Two-stroke diesel
AspirationRoots blower
GeneratorEMD D12
Traction motors6 x EMD D37
Cylinders16
Cylinder size8.5 in × 10 in
(216 mm × 254 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed71 mph (114 km/h)
Power outputGross: 1,750 hp (1,305 kW),
For traction:
1,600 hp (1,193 kW)
Tractive effortContinuous:
61,250 lbf (272.45 kN)
at 9 mph (14 km/h)
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
Numbers42014206
First run28 November 1955
Withdrawn1983
Preserved4201, 4203, 4204, 4206
Current ownerTransport Heritage NSW, O'Donohugue's Pub, Lachlan Valley Railway, Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
Disposition4 preserved, 2 scrapped

History

4202 and 4206 depart Junee with a northbound freight train
4202 operating wrong road at Yass hauling the Intercapital Daylight
4204 at Albury in 1977

The design was based on the Electro-Motive Diesel EMD F9 locomotive and were very similar to the GM 12 class then being built by Clyde Engineering for the Commonwealth Railways.

They initially worked express passenger services including the Brisbane Limited, Intercapital Daylight and Melbourne Limited and later the Southern Aurora and Spirit of Progress.[1][2] As newer locomotives arrived they were concentrated on the Main South line operating freight services.

By April 1978, the Goulburn branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen had placed a ban on the 42 class operating as lead engines due to cab conditions. In 1980, 4201 had its cab upgraded during overhaul to overcome these issues, but with their replacement imminent it was decided not to treat the rest of the class. All were withdrawn in 1983.

Preservation

Three have been preserved. A fourth was preserved, but this has since been mostly cut up:

  • 4201 was acquired by the NSW Rail Museum.[3] It has been used extensively on charters across the state and ventured interstate to Melbourne. It retains the green and yellow livery it received for the 125th anniversary of NSW railways in 1980. As of April 2018 it was in operational condition.
  • 4203 was acquired by a Caravan City Cowra, Cowra and placed on display alongside the Mid-Western Highway at the entrance to the War, Rail, Rural Museum. It was later sold and the body was cut into three sections; while the central section was scrapped, O'Donohughes Pub in Emu Plains bought the cab and rearmost section of the body and welded them together for use as playground equipment. The bogies and fuel tank were sold to enthusiast groups for use as spare parts.
  • 4204 was acquired by the Lachlan Valley Railway,[4] After being restored by apprentices at Clyde Engineering, Kelso in 1986,[5] it has been used extensively on charters across the state and on freight services by Lachlan Valley Rail Freight. In the late 90s it was limited to operations pending overhaul at Lachlan Valley Railway’s Cowra Rail Heritage centre, it returned to Service early 2010 following overhaul and outshopped back into its original Special Maroon livery, As at December 2018 it was used regularly on mainline tour trains and often hired to Southern Shorthaul Railroad for use on infrastructure trains in New South Wales and Victoria. In October 2019, 4204 returned to service to run a charter train to Capertee from Lithgow after being away for overhaul and repainting.
  • 4206 was purchased by Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum.[6] After being used extensively on the Dorrigo line hauling 40 trains from Glenreagh to Dorrigo in the 1980s, it is currently stored but remains in operational condition.
LocomotiveSerial NoEntered ServiceCurrent OwnerLiveryStatus
420155-74Nov 1955NSW Rail Museum125 Years of NSW Railways Green & YellowPreserved, Operational
420255-75Dec 1955--Scrapped
420355-79Jan 1956O'Donohugue's Pub, Emu PlainsRed & BlackPartially Preserved (Cut-Down Shell)
420456-87Mar 1956Lachlan Valley RailwayIndian RedPreserved, Operational
420556-92May 1956--Scrapped
420656-100Aug 1956Dorrigo Steam Railway & MuseumIndian RedStored

References

  1. Oberg, Leon (1980). Diesel Locomotives of Australia. Sydney: AH & AW Reed. p. 283. ISBN 0 589 50211 5.
  2. 42 Class Railpage
  3. "RTM" Railway Digest February 1984 Page 69
  4. "LVR" Railway Digest February 1984 Page 69
  5. "Western Report" Railway Digest September 1986 Page 281
  6. "Locomotives" Railway Digest April 1984 Page 114

Further reading

  • "The 42 Class of NSW" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin January/February 1985 pages 1–24;26-43
  • New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.
  • Locomotives of Australia (Oberg) 2011 edition Rosenberg Publishers pages 283-287.


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