New South Wales 47 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The 47 class is a class of diesel-electric locomotive
that was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
in Australia
. Twenty locomotives were built altogether, intended for use on branchline services. The 47 class have a Caterpillar
16-D399TA engine, generating 840 kW / 1125 hp of power. They run on standard gauge and have Co-Co axles, with a maximum speed of 113 km/h. The class have a length of 15.26 m and a mass of 82 t. These units were praised for their fine riding qualities, but were notorious for their frequent engine failures.
of Broadmeadow, New South Wales
in 1972.
When new to the NSWGR, the class was stationed in the Central West at Bathurst Locomotive Depot. The locomotives were not a success in the Central West as mentioned above with engine failures and overheating problems in summer. Towards the end of their working days with the SRA, they were transferred to Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot and were seen on all workings in the Hunter Region. Train crews that got to drive the 47 class praised the ride qualities of the locos. They were seen mostly on the point of coal trains that ran down the Belmont branchline to Dudley
, Lambton
, Burwood
and John Darling Collieries. The class were also see on the South Maitland Railways leading coal trains to and from Pelton Colliery. These working were usually worked with 48 class
.
In the first four years of service, two units were soon scrapped, and the entire class were withdrawn in late 1990, after only 15 years of service. Lachlan Valley Railway
were the only ones who bid for the locomotives at their disposal, purchasing 4701, 4702, 4703, 4707, 4708, 4716, 4717 and 4719 for preservation and freight purposes. They solved the problem which contributed to the engine failures and now the 47 class remain a frequent sight in New South Wales
. 4705 is on static display at the Rail Monument at Werris Creek
.
4719 was withdrawn from service during 1987 and stored at Bathurst Workshops and stripped of usable parts to keep sister units working. 4715 arrived at Bathurst
on 1988-11-11, to be stored and stripped of usable parts. In 1989 both 4719 and 4715 were moved from Bathurst to Cardiff
via Broadmeadow Yard to be built as HTV2000 Heavy Test Vehicle.
A picture can be found in the link below.
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...
that was 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...
. Twenty locomotives were built altogether, intended for use on branchline services. The 47 class have a Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
16-D399TA engine, generating 840 kW / 1125 hp of power. They run on standard gauge and have Co-Co axles, with a maximum speed of 113 km/h. The class have a length of 15.26 m and a mass of 82 t. These units were praised for their fine riding qualities, but were notorious for their frequent engine failures.
History
Starting off with a troublesome career, the class were built by A. Goninan and CompanyUnited 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...
in 1972.
When new to the NSWGR, the class was stationed in the Central West at Bathurst Locomotive Depot. The locomotives were not a success in the Central West as mentioned above with engine failures and overheating problems in summer. Towards the end of their working days with the SRA, they were transferred to Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot and were seen on all workings in the Hunter Region. Train crews that got to drive the 47 class praised the ride qualities of the locos. They were seen mostly on the point of coal trains that ran down the Belmont branchline to Dudley
Dudley, New South Wales
Dudley is a southern coastal suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located southwest of Newcastle's central business district on the eastern side of Lake Macquarie. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area.- History :...
, Lambton
Lambton, New South Wales
Lambton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district.- Early days :Originally a coal-mining township, Lambton was incorporated as a Municipality , on 24 June 1871. The 1891 Census gave the population as 3,434...
, Burwood
Burwood, New South Wales
Burwood is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Burwood is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Burwood Council....
and John Darling Collieries. The class were also see on the South Maitland Railways leading coal trains to and from Pelton Colliery. These working were usually worked with 48 class
New South Wales 48 class locomotive
The 48 Class are a diesel electric locomotive ordered by the New South Wales Government Railways from 1959. Once the most ubiquitous locomotive in New South Wales , the locomotives were built by A. E. Goodwin, based on Alco frames and prime movers, using General Electric electrical equipment...
.
In the first four years of service, two units were soon scrapped, and the entire class were withdrawn in late 1990, after only 15 years of service. Lachlan Valley Railway
Lachlan Valley Railway
The Lachlan Valley Railway Society Cooperative Limited is a non-profit rail preservation society based in the NSW Central Western town of Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. The museum's ex-NSWGR fleet ranges from their operational steam and diesel locomotives, to the fleet of heritage passenger...
were the only ones who bid for the locomotives at their disposal, purchasing 4701, 4702, 4703, 4707, 4708, 4716, 4717 and 4719 for preservation and freight purposes. They solved the problem which contributed to the engine failures and now the 47 class remain a frequent sight in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. 4705 is on static display at the Rail Monument at Werris Creek
Werris Creek, New South Wales
Werris Creek is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, near Tamworth, in Liverpool Plains Shire. It is north of Quirindi and is at the junction of the Main North railway line to Armidale and Moree. At the 2006 census, Werris Creek had a population of 1,490.-History:The area is thought to...
.
4719 was withdrawn from service during 1987 and stored at Bathurst Workshops and stripped of usable parts to keep sister units working. 4715 arrived at Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
on 1988-11-11, to be stored and stripped of usable parts. In 1989 both 4719 and 4715 were moved from Bathurst to Cardiff
Cardiff, New South Wales
Cardiff is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located west-southwest of Newcastle's central business district. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area....
via Broadmeadow Yard to be built as HTV2000 Heavy Test Vehicle.
A picture can be found in the link below.
