New South Wales 41 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The 41 class was a class of diesel locomotive
ordered and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
in Australia
between 1953 and 1975. The class was the second
mainline diesel locomotive type used by the government railways as part of the NSWGR's introduction of new diesel locomotives. However, the class proved to be unreliable and only served the railways for 22 years, with the last example withdrawn in 1975.
. The contract was then sent to their sub-contractors, British Thomson-Houston
, in the UK. Locomotive 4101 was delivered later than the second example, 4102 (4102 was delivered 13 October 1953), and the last member of the class, 4110, was delivered in February 1955.
The Paxman
12-RPHL engine was very unreliable due to low cooling water capacity-similar problems existed on the British Rail (BR) locomotive classes 15
and 16
. The excitation system was not allowing the two motors to share the same load-also the cooling system layout did not allow multiple locomotives to work due to the radiator heat passing from the leading 41 class loco to the trailing locos.
Modifications were carried out in 1955–1956 to make the radiators extend forward, blank off the side off exit panels and duct the hot air out through the headlight, and mufflers were modified on 4102 and 4104 in 1958. This included relocating the mufflers to over the normal roofline-this was successful, but locomotives 4101, 4103, and 4105-4110 was not modified.
4110 was the last locomotive to wear the green colour scheme on a diesel locomotive, before been repainted Tuscan Red in August 1970. The railways administration had run out of patience with the class by around the 1960s and some of the locomotives were put aside. 4102 was the last locomotive in service, been withdrawn in June 1975 after seizing a piston in the 'A' engine, and had travelled 492,650 km-the most used out of the class.
to the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
on the 31st December 1976.
After it arrived at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum in 1977, the engine was temporarily repaired by members of the Illawarra Group. It failed again in 1982 following another failure in the 'A' engine whilst returning from a trip in Picton with a loop-line train and 4102 was then used as an one-engine shunter until 1987, when the batteries finally wore out. During 1996, it was stored at the XPT Meeks Road Maintenance Centre in Sydenham, where the spare engine was put in. It has since returned to the NSW RTM, but before the locomotive can be used again, it needs to have its engines started and commissioned first.
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
ordered and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
between 1953 and 1975. The class was the second
New South Wales 40 class locomotive
thumb|left|4001 at the NSW Rail Transport Museum in 2001The New South Wales 40 class were one of the first mainline diesel electric locomotives to be built for New South Wales. Built by the Montreal Locomotive Works of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, they were based on the ALCO RSC-3 design.There were...
mainline diesel locomotive type used by the government railways as part of the NSWGR's introduction of new diesel locomotives. However, the class proved to be unreliable and only served the railways for 22 years, with the last example withdrawn in 1975.
History
An order was placed for ten 1000 hp diesel locomotives with Australian General Electric Pty. Ltd. in 1950 by the New South Wales Government RailwaysNew South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
. The contract was then sent to their sub-contractors, British Thomson-Houston
British Thomson-Houston
British Thomson-Houston was a British engineering and heavy industrial company, based at Rugby, Warwickshire, England. They were known primarily for their electrical systems and steam turbines. They were merged with the similar Metropolitan-Vickers company in 1928, but the two maintained their own...
, in the UK. Locomotive 4101 was delivered later than the second example, 4102 (4102 was delivered 13 October 1953), and the last member of the class, 4110, was delivered in February 1955.
The Paxman
Paxman (engines)
Paxman is a major British brand of diesel engines. Ownership has changed on a number of occasions since the company's formation in 1865, and now the brand is owned by MAN SE, as part of MAN Diesel & Turbo. At its peak, the Paxman works covered 23 acres and employed over 2,000 people. Engine...
12-RPHL engine was very unreliable due to low cooling water capacity-similar problems existed on the British Rail (BR) locomotive classes 15
British Rail Class 15
The British Rail Class 15 diesel locomotives, also known as the BTH Type 1, were designed by British Thomson-Houston, and built by the Yorkshire Engine Company and the Clayton Equipment Company, between 1957 and 1961.- Design history :...
and 16
British Rail Class 16
The North British Type 1 was a type of diesel locomotive ordered under British Railways' 1955 Modernisation Plan. Like other Type 1 designs, they were relatively small locomotives intended primarily for local freight traffic....
. The excitation system was not allowing the two motors to share the same load-also the cooling system layout did not allow multiple locomotives to work due to the radiator heat passing from the leading 41 class loco to the trailing locos.
Modifications were carried out in 1955–1956 to make the radiators extend forward, blank off the side off exit panels and duct the hot air out through the headlight, and mufflers were modified on 4102 and 4104 in 1958. This included relocating the mufflers to over the normal roofline-this was successful, but locomotives 4101, 4103, and 4105-4110 was not modified.
4110 was the last locomotive to wear the green colour scheme on a diesel locomotive, before been repainted Tuscan Red in August 1970. The railways administration had run out of patience with the class by around the 1960s and some of the locomotives were put aside. 4102 was the last locomotive in service, been withdrawn in June 1975 after seizing a piston in the 'A' engine, and had travelled 492,650 km-the most used out of the class.
Preservation
4102 is the only loco preserved. It was donated by the New South Wales Public Transport CommissionNew South Wales Public Transport Commission
The Public Transport Commission was a state government agency responsible for the provision of rail, bus and ferry services in New South Wales, Australia between 1972 and 1980.-History:...
to the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
The New South Wales Rail Transport Museum located in Thirlmere, New South Wales south-west of Sydney, is a museum dedicated to displaying former locomotives, carriages and goods wagons from the New South Wales Government Railways as well as private operations in NSW. The collection features steam,...
on the 31st December 1976.
After it arrived at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum in 1977, the engine was temporarily repaired by members of the Illawarra Group. It failed again in 1982 following another failure in the 'A' engine whilst returning from a trip in Picton with a loop-line train and 4102 was then used as an one-engine shunter until 1987, when the batteries finally wore out. During 1996, it was stored at the XPT Meeks Road Maintenance Centre in Sydenham, where the spare engine was put in. It has since returned to the NSW RTM, but before the locomotive can be used again, it needs to have its engines started and commissioned first.
Statistics
- Principal contractor: British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd.British Thomson-HoustonBritish Thomson-Houston was a British engineering and heavy industrial company, based at Rugby, Warwickshire, England. They were known primarily for their electrical systems and steam turbines. They were merged with the similar Metropolitan-Vickers company in 1928, but the two maintained their own...
, Rugby, England - Bodywork by: Metropolitan Cammell Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd.Metro CammellThe Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company was a Birmingham, England based manufacturer of railway carriages and wagons, based in Saltley and subsequently Washwood Heath....
, Birmingham, England - Cost: 62,220 13 3 pounds each (622,201 33 pounds total cost)