New South Wales 44 class locomotive

The 44 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Government Railways between 1957 and 1967.

New South Wales 44 class
Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia liveried 4471 in Melbourne in November 2005
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderAE Goodwin, Auburn
Serial numberAlco 82807 to 82912
Alco 83731 to 83750
Alco G-3421-01 to G-3421-40
ModelAlco DL-500B
Build date1957-1967
Total produced100
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
LengthOver headstocks:
55 ft 5 in (16.89 m),
Over coupler pulling faces:
58 ft 5 in (17.81 m)
Width9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
HeightMax: 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m)
Axle loadFirst 60, GE t/m:
18 long tons 14 cwt (41,900 lb or 19 t),
First 60, AEI t/m:
17 long tons 14 cwt (39,600 lb or 18 t),
Last 40:
18 long tons 8 cwt (41,200 lb or 18.7 t)
Loco weightFirst 60, GE t/m: 112 long tons 1 cwt (251,000 lb or 113.8 t),
First 60, AEI t/m: 106 long tons 3 cwt (237,800 lb or 107.9 t),
Last 40: 110 long tons 3 cwt (246,700 lb or 111.9 t)
Fuel typeDiesel fuel
Fuel capacity1,200 imp gal (5,500 l; 1,400 US gal)
Lubricant cap.170 imp gal (770 l; 200 US gal)
Coolant cap.220 imp gal (1,000 l; 260 US gal)
Sandbox cap.16 cu ft (0.45 m3)
Prime moverAlco 251B
RPM range400-1000
Engine typeFour-stroke V12 diesel
AspirationTurbocharged
GeneratorFirst 60:General Electric 5GT581
Last 40 Associated Electrical Industries 5302
Traction motorsFirst 60: GE 731 or AEI 253 AZ or AEI 254 AZ,
Last 40: AEI 254 BY
Cylinders12
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speedFirst 60, GE t/m:
80 mph (129 km/h),
First 60, AEI t/m:
75 mph (121 km/h),
Last 40:
80 mph (129 km/h)
Power outputGross: 1,950 hp (1,450 kW),
For traction:
1,800 hp (1,340 kW)
Tractive effortContinuous: First 60, GE t/m: 47,100 lbf (209.51 kN)
at 11.5 mph (18.5 km/h),
First 60, AEI t/m:
40,500 lbf (180.15 kN)
at 13.7 mph (22.0 km/h),
Last 40: 44,000 lbf (195.72 kN)
at 12.9 mph (20.8 km/h)
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
Number in class100
Numbers4401-44100
First run8 July 1957
Preserved4401, 4403, 4420, 4464, 4465, 4468, 4472, 4473, 4486, 4490
Disposition10 preserved, 7 stored, 2 operational, 81 scrapped

History
Preserved 4403 at Goulburn in March 2012
4465 and 4472 at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in 1990
4479 and a 45 class haul a freight train at Fairy Hill, north of Casino in 1987

The 44 class were built by Alco's Australian licensee AE Goodwin, and are based on the Alco DL500B model. The locomotives are fitted with Alco 12-251B engines, developing 1343 kW. They were built in two batches, the first 60 between July 1957 and April 1961 and the second 40 between October 1965 and December 1967. The last 40 had Associated Electrical Industries as opposed to General Electric generators and traction motors as well as illuminated segregated number boxes at the No.2 end.

During their career, these locomotives have served every part of New South Wales and operated every type of train. They are very similar to the South Australian Railways 930 class.

With driving cabs within both ends, the front (No.1 end) of the locomotive had a rounded nose (however not as round as the Clyde/GM "Bulldog nose" type) and a flat nose at the No.2 end.

Withdrawals started in the late 1980s of some earlier examples in need of rewiring, however many survived into the 1990s with the last being withdrawn in July 1997. The State Rail Authority still had over forty on its books that were auctioned off in December 1994.[1]

While most were scrapped, a number saw service with other freight operators. Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, Great Northern Rail Services, Independent Rail of Australia, Silverton Rail and Southern Shorthaul Railroad all operated 44s with most ending up with Qube Logistics until their withdrawal in 2014.

A number of preserved examples are main line registered and as well as operating heritage trains, periodically operate services for other operators.[2][3]

Three are on Transport Heritage NSW's Heritage and Conservation Register list. 4401 was in the custody of 3801 Limited and 4403 with the Australian Railway Historical Society, Canberra until 2017. 4401 is now in the custody of the Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum and 4403 and 4490 with the NSW Rail Museum.[4]

Fleet status
LocomotiveSerial NoCompletedCurrent OwnerLiveryStatus
440182807Jul 57Transport Heritage NSWIndian redPreserved, static, Junee
440382809Nov 57Transport Heritage NSWIndian redPreserved, operational, Thirlmere
442082892Sep 58Dorrigo Steam Railway & MuseumRed terrorStored, Dorrigo
445883748Feb 61Qube LogisticsSilverStored, Junee
4461G-3421-01Oct 65Qube LogisticsRed terrorStored, Goulburn
4463G-3421-03Dec 65Qube LogisticsRed terrorStored, Goulburn
4464G-3421-04Jan 66Lachlan Alco Locomotive GroupIndian redPreserved, operational
4465G-3421-05Feb 66John CurreyCandyStored, Werris Creek
4468G-3421-08May 66Canberra Railway MuseumTuscanScrapped subsequent to AHRS ACT liquidation
4471G-3421-11Aug 66Qube LogisticsCFCLAStored, Goulburn
4472G-3421-12Aug 66Hunter Valley Railway TrustSilver & YellowStored, Rothbury
4473G-3421-13Sep 66Lachlan Alco Locomotive GroupIndian redPreserved, operational
4477G-3421-17Dec 66Qube LogisticsCFCLARecommissioned with QUBE, Junee
4483G-3421-23Apr 67Qube LogisticsSouthern Shorthaul Rail yellowStored, Minto
4486G-3421-26May 67Lachlan Alco Locomotive GroupIndian redPreserved, operational
4488G-3421-28Jul 67Qube LogisticsSilverStored, Junee
4490G-3421-30Jul 67Transport Heritage NSWIndian redPreserved, operational, Thirlmere
4497G-3421-37Oct 67Qube LogisticsSilverRecommissioned with QUBE, Junee.
4498G-3421-38Nov 67Qube LogisticsRed terrorStored, Goulburn[5]

References
  1. "State Rail's Locomotive Auction Results" Railway Digest January 1995 page 36
  2. 44 Class Railpage
  3. 44 Class Vicsig
  4. RailCorp S170 Heritage & Conservation Register RailCorp
  5. https://extranet.artc.com.au/docman/DocManFiles/DocTypes/TOC/Files/16036.PDF?563263111 Movement of locomotive 4498 between James Siding & Goulburn] Australian Rail Track Corporation 1 March 2016

Further reading
  • New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.

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