New South Wales 49 class locomotive

The 49 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Government Railways between 1960 and 1964.

New South Wales 49 class
4916 at Thirlmere in May 2010
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville
Serial number60-221 to 60-226
62-257 to 62-262
64-342 to 64-347
ModelEMD G8C
Build date1960–1964
Total produced18
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
LengthOver headstocks:
46 ft 3 in (14.10 m),
Over coupler pulling faces:
50 ft 5 in (15.37 m)
Width9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
Height13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
Axle load13 long tons 6 cwt (29,800 lb or 13.5 t)
Loco weight80 long tons 0 cwt (179,200 lb or 81.3 t)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity690 imp gal (3,100 l; 830 US gal)
Lubricant cap.108 imp gal (490 l; 130 US gal)
Coolant cap.133 imp gal (600 l; 160 US gal)
Sandbox cap.12 cu ft (0.34 m3)
Prime moverEMD 8-567C or 8-567CR
RPM range275–835
Engine typeTwo-stroke V8 diesel
AspirationRoots blower
GeneratorEMD D25
Traction motorsEMD D29, 6 of
Cylinders8
Cylinder size8.5 in × 10 in (216 mm × 254 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed77 mph (124 km/h)
Power outputGross:
950 hp (710 kW),
For traction:
875 hp (650 kW)
Tractive effortContinuous:
37,200 lbf (165.47 kN)
at 6.3 mph (10.1 km/h)
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
Number in class18
Numbers4901–4918
First run29 September 1960
Preserved4903, 4906, 4916, 4918
Disposition7 Operational, 5 Scrapped,
4 Preserved, 1 Stored, 1 Static

History
4908 when owned by 3801 Limited at Wagga Wagga in June 2006

The 49 class was ordered in three batches each of six locomotives. They entered service in the Western Region of New South Wales and hauled trains on all branchlines as well as mainlines west of Lithgow. They periodically travelled as far a field as Moree in the north-west and Cootamundra in the south-west.[1]

Between July and November 1989, the whole class was transferred to Delec Locomotive Depot in Sydney.[2][3] As well as metropolitan trip workings they were used on coal trains to Tahmoor on the Main South line.[4] In January 1994, they began to operate on the Illawarra line to Bombo on ballast trains.[5]

In June 1994, the Manildra Group leased 4907 from FreightCorp for use at its Gunnedah mill.[6] Later in 1994, Manildra purchased 4907 along with 4913 and had them rebuilt by Clyde Engineering, Kelso with lower No.1 ends, the second being for use at their Manildra mill.[7][8] To haul infrastructure trains in Victoria during the Melbourne-Adelaide railway standard gauge conversion project, 4903, 4912 and 4916 were leased to National Rail in late 1994.[9]

In February 1995, the remaining examples still in service with FreightCorp were withdrawn.[10] Most were returned to traffic later in 1995[11] before again being withdrawn in July 1997.[12] In April 1998, 4910 was leased for seven months to Northern Rivers Railroad hauling services between Grafton and Murwillumbah.[13]

By 1999, the 49s had begun to be sold with 3801 Limited, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, Consolidated Rail Leasing, Patrick Portlink and Southern Shorthaul Railroad among those to have operated them, with many having had more than one owner post FreightCorp.[1][14] Northern Rivers Railroad purchased a number, although none entered service. They were either resold or stripped for spares with the bogies off some used to regauge Queensland Railways 1502 class locomotives when converted to the 423 class.[15][16] Today a number remain in use with Consolidated Rail Leasing, Manildra Group and Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[17] Preserved examples are currently operated by the Lachlan Valley Railway and the NSW Rail Museum.

Status Table
NSW NoSerial NoEntered ServiceCurrent/Last OwnerLiveryStatusNotes
490160-221Sep 1960InterailFreightCorp green & yellowScrapped
490260-222Oct 1960Private ownerFreightCorp green & yellowScrappedWas previously stored at Seymour Railway Heritage Centre but scrapped in 2014
490360-223Nov 1960Lachlan Valley RailwayPatrick Portlink red, yellow & blackPreserved, operationalex Patrick Portlink ex Interail
490460-224Dec 1960Southern Shorthaul RailroadSSR yellow & blackOperationalex Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia KL80
490560-225Feb 1961Traction EngineeringTraction Engineering orangeStatic, Werris Creek
490660-226Mar 1961Lachlan Valley RailwayPatrick Portlink red, yellow & blackPreserved, operationalex Patrick Portlink ex Interail
490762-257Jun 1962Manildra GroupManildra blue & yellowOperationalrenumbered MM01
490862-258Jul 1962Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellowOperationalex Greentrains ex 3801 Limited
490962-259Jul 1962InterailSRA candyScrapped
491062-260Aug 1962Southern Shorthaul RailroadSSR yellow & blackOperationalex Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia KL81
491162-261Oct 1962Consolidated Rail LeasingCRL yellow, red & blackOperationalex Manildra Group
491262-262Nov 1962InterailSRA candyScrapped
491364-342Jun 1964Manildra GroupManildra blue & yellowOperationalrenumbered MM02
491464-343Jun 1964InterailSRA candyScrapped
491564-344Jul 1964State Rail AuthorityIndian RedScrapped
491664-345Aug 1964Transport Heritage NSWSRA candyPreserved, operational
491764-346Aug 1964Southern Shorthaul RailroadSSR yellow & blackOperationalex Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia KL82
491864-347Sep 1964Dorrigo Steam Railway & MuseumTuscanPreserved, operational

References
  1. 49 Class - 1960 Trackside 2012
  2. "Motive Power Policies" Railway Digest September 1989 page 303
  3. "49 Class" Railway Digest January 1990 page 17
  4. "Tahmoor Coal" Railway Digest January 1990 page 15
  5. "49 Class" Railway Digest March 1994 page 28
  6. "49 Class" Railway Digest September 1994 page 45
  7. "Manildra Group News: Locos and New Wagons" Railway Digest December 1994 page 7
  8. Railway Digest May 1995 page 7
  9. "The Melbourne - Adelaide Standard Gauge Project - An Update" Railway Digest February 1995 page 16
  10. "49 Class Withdrawn" Railway Digest March 1995 page 12
  11. "Rail Authorities Face Loco Shortage" Railway Digest December 1995 page 16
  12. Railway Digest September 1997 page 33
  13. Railway Digest August 1998 page 32
  14. 49 Class Vicsig
  15. 423 Class Railpage
  16. 423 Class Vicsig
  17. 49 Class Railpage

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