New South Wales 442 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The 442 class locomotives (nicknamed "Jumbos") were ordered and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
. They were the second generation of Alco
units to be built, and were used on both main freight and passenger service in New South Wales, and throughout Australia since entering private ownership. The 442s have an Alco 12-251C
engine, developing 1491 kW. They operated on standard gauge, have Co-Co axles, have a mass of 115 t and have a maximum speed of 120 km/h. They are identical to the South Australian Railways
700 class
.
s dating 1951, as they could not be economically rebuilt to modern standards. Twenty locomotives were initially ordered from A. E Goodwin, the contract stipulating that the 40 class be accepted as a trade in, with some parts from the older units were used for the new locomotives. The contract was later extended by 20 units to 40 to allow the entire NSW main line network to be dieselised
.
The first locomotives was completed in October 1970 but was rejected by the NSWGR due to rough riding concerns in testing, with five months passing before it was finally accepted after modifications to the bogie design. Soon after A. E Goodwin collapsed financially, and production of the class came to a standstill. Rival company Commonwealth Engineering
of Granville obtained the Australian Alco franchise, and completed the locomotives from 44235 upwards. The last unit was delivered in October 1973. They were originally delivered in NSWGR Tuscan Red, some later being repainted into the 1980s 'Candy' livery, and 1990s FreightCorp blue.
and 30 single ended 4000 HP 90 class
. This spelt the end of the class, with 19 of the class auctioned to the private operators in December 1994. 44220, 44217, 44203 and 44202 were bought by Silverton Rail
, who repainted them into their yellow and blue corporate livery as well as renumbering them 442s1 through 442s4. They also acquired 44235 and 44237 in 1998 for parts. 44229 and 44233 were sold to Austrac based in Junee, New South Wales
.
The last FreightCorp (government) owned units were retired in 1998 - 44211 and 44212. 44211 was chosen for preservation, and is currently at New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
, operating tours.
trains. It was planned to remove the Alco prime mover and generator, and replace it with a rebuilt EMD 645
F 16 cylinder engine mated to a AR10 alternator. To allow this the locomotive frame would be cut in half and a new section 1.5 metres long welded into the middle to lengthen it, and the number 2 end cab would be blanked off, making the locomotive single ended.
Preliminary work was carried out for the project before it was cancelled in mid 1995. As a result 10 of the locomotives were scrapped at their Whyalla
plant, but some parts were later used in the RL class project. 44223 and 44226 were placed into storage until 1996, when they were sold to the Silverton Tramway Company and renumbered as 442s5 and 442s6. They re-entered service in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
With the sale of FreightCorp further surplus locomotives were sold, with 14 of the class being sold to Great Northern Rail Services
of Victoria in 2001, who overhauled some units to enable them to re-enter service. These locomotives soon passed to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, who contracted United Goninan
of Broadmeadow, New South Wales
to rebuild 12 units with refurbished General Electric C30-7A
components, in what is now the 2240 kW "GL class".
44202 was sold to QUBE Logistics in mid/late 2010.
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...
. They were the second generation of Alco
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
units to be built, and were used on both main freight and passenger service in New South Wales, and throughout Australia since entering private ownership. The 442s have an Alco 12-251C
ALCO 251
The Alco 251 diesel engine was developed by the American Locomotive Company to replace the 244 and 539. The 251 was developed to be used in diesel locomotives, as a marine power plant in ships and as a stationary power generator.-Development:...
engine, developing 1491 kW. They operated on standard gauge, have Co-Co axles, have a mass of 115 t and have a maximum speed of 120 km/h. They are identical to the South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
700 class
South Australian Railways 700 class (diesel)
A class of locomotive introduced and operated by the South Australian Railways that was subsequently operated by Australian National Railways. This class of locomotive was powered by an Alco V12 diesel engine. There were 6 units built....
.
Construction
The 442 class were built from 1971 to replace the 40 class locomotiveNew 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...
s dating 1951, as they could not be economically rebuilt to modern standards. Twenty locomotives were initially ordered from A. E Goodwin, the contract stipulating that the 40 class be accepted as a trade in, with some parts from the older units were used for the new locomotives. The contract was later extended by 20 units to 40 to allow the entire NSW main line network to be dieselised
Dieselisation
Dieselisation or dieselization is a term generally used for the increasingly common use of diesel fuel in vehicles, as opposed to gasoline or steam engines.-Water Transport:...
.
The first locomotives was completed in October 1970 but was rejected by the NSWGR due to rough riding concerns in testing, with five months passing before it was finally accepted after modifications to the bogie design. Soon after A. E Goodwin collapsed financially, and production of the class came to a standstill. Rival company Commonwealth Engineering
Commonwealth Engineering
The Commonwealth Engineering Company Limited is the brand name of a former Australian Engineering Company that designed Locomotives, Electrical Multiple Units , Diesel Multiple Units and Trams.-History:...
of Granville obtained the Australian Alco franchise, and completed the locomotives from 44235 upwards. The last unit was delivered in October 1973. They were originally delivered in NSWGR Tuscan Red, some later being repainted into the 1980s 'Candy' livery, and 1990s FreightCorp blue.
Disposal and sale
In 1994 the New South Wales government railways (FreightCorp) began receiving the first of their 58 double ended 3300 HP 82 classNew South Wales 82 class locomotive
The 82 class is a class of mainline diesel locomotive introduced in 1994 in the state of New South Wales. 58 were ordered by then freight operator Freightrail which latter became FreightCorp, and were completed under a Ready Power contract, by Clyde Engineering, Mittagong, New South Wales...
and 30 single ended 4000 HP 90 class
New South Wales 90 class locomotive
The 90 class are a class of heavy mainline diesel locomotive introduced from 1994 in the state of New South Wales. They are the heaviest locomotives on the network and are only used on Hunter Valley coal workings....
. This spelt the end of the class, with 19 of the class auctioned to the private operators in December 1994. 44220, 44217, 44203 and 44202 were bought by Silverton Rail
Silverton Rail
Southern and Silverton Rail is an Australian regional rail operator providing rail freight haulage, hook and pull, terminal and shunting services, maintenance and first response/recovery services...
, who repainted them into their yellow and blue corporate livery as well as renumbering them 442s1 through 442s4. They also acquired 44235 and 44237 in 1998 for parts. 44229 and 44233 were sold to Austrac based in Junee, New South Wales
Junee, New South Wales
Junee is a medium sized town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The town's prosperity and mixed services economy is based on a combination of agriculture, rail transport, light industry and government services, and in particular correctional services...
.
The last FreightCorp (government) owned units were retired in 1998 - 44211 and 44212. 44211 was chosen for preservation, and is currently at 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,...
, operating tours.
Rebuilding
Locomotives rebuilding firm Morrison Knudsen Australia purchased twelve units, and intended to rebuild these locomotives to haul roadrailerRoadrailer
In railroad terminology a Roadrailer or RoadRailer is a highway trailer, or semi-trailer, that is specially equipped for use in railroad intermodal service.- Overview :...
trains. It was planned to remove the Alco prime mover and generator, and replace it with a rebuilt EMD 645
EMD 645
The EMD 645 family of diesel engines was designed and manufactured by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. Intended primarily for locomotive, marine and stationary engine use, one 16-cylinder version powered the 33-19 "Titan" prototype haul truck designed by GM's Terex...
F 16 cylinder engine mated to a AR10 alternator. To allow this the locomotive frame would be cut in half and a new section 1.5 metres long welded into the middle to lengthen it, and the number 2 end cab would be blanked off, making the locomotive single ended.
Preliminary work was carried out for the project before it was cancelled in mid 1995. As a result 10 of the locomotives were scrapped at their Whyalla
Whyalla, South Australia
-Demographics:According to the 2006 Census the population of the Whyalla census area was 21,122 people, making it the second largest urban area in the state outside of Adelaide...
plant, but some parts were later used in the RL class project. 44223 and 44226 were placed into storage until 1996, when they were sold to the Silverton Tramway Company and renumbered as 442s5 and 442s6. They re-entered service in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
With the sale of FreightCorp further surplus locomotives were sold, with 14 of the class being sold to Great Northern Rail Services
Great Northern Rail Services
Great Northern Rail Services is a former railway operator in Victoria, Australia. Great Northern Rail Services was incorporated in July 1993 and provided locomotives and train crews to other rail operators, ran general train operations and operated rail vehicle maintenance services in Victoria...
of Victoria in 2001, who overhauled some units to enable them to re-enter service. These locomotives soon passed to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, who contracted United Goninan
United Goninan
UGL Rail is an Australian rail engineering company and specialises in building and re-building railway cars including electric and diesel passenger trains, electric and diesel locomotives, and freight wagons...
of Broadmeadow, New South Wales
Broadmeadow, New South Wales
Broadmeadow is the geographic centre of Newcastle city. Its main commercial hub is located at the “Nineways”.-Origins:Broadmeadow was originally part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve of 648 hectares...
to rebuild 12 units with refurbished General Electric C30-7A
GE C30-7
The GE C30-7 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1976 and 1986 as an updated U30C. It is powered by a 16-cylinder, FDL-series diesel engine. 1,137 examples of this locomotive were built for North American railroads....
components, in what is now the 2240 kW "GL class".
44202 was sold to QUBE Logistics in mid/late 2010.