- New South Wales 43 class locomotive
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New South Wales 43 class 4303 passes the wheat silos at Temora in January, 1966 Power type Diesel-electric Builder Australian Electrical Industries Pty. Ltd. Build date 1956–1957 Total produced 6 UIC classification Co′Co′ Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Length Over headstocks: 53 ft 10 1⁄4 in (16.41 m),
Over coupler pulling faces: 56 ft 8 1⁄4 in (17.28 m)Width 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) Height 13 ft 9 1⁄4 in (4.20 m) Axle load 17 tons 11 cwt (39,300 lb or 17.8 t) Locomotive weight 105 tons 10 cwt (236,300 lb or 107.2 t) Fuel type Diesel fuel Fuel capacity 1,165 imp gal (5,300 l; 1,399 US gal) Lubricant capacity 167 imp gal (760 l; 201 US gal) Coolant capacity 208 imp gal (950 l; 250 US gal) Sandbox capacity 22 cu ft (0.62 m3) Prime mover ALCO 244 Engine RPM range 350–1000 Engine type Four-stroke diesel Aspiration Tubocharged Generator GE 5GT 581 Traction motors GE 761 (6 off) Cylinders V12 Cylinder size 9 × 10.5 in (229 × 267 mm) Top speed 71 mph (114 km/h) Power output Gross: 1,750 hp (1,300 kW),
For traction: 1,600 hp (1,190 kW)Tractive effort 42,900 lbf (190.83 kN) at 11 miles per hour (18 km/h) Career New South Wales Government Railways Number 4301–4306 First run 26 September 1956 Six General Electric-Alco diesel-electric locomotives were ordered from Australian Electrical Industries Pty. Ltd. in June 1954 for service on the New South Wales Government Railways. These locomotives are unusual in Australian locomotive practice in having Alco power units in GE-designed bodies, a legacy of the former Alco-GE partnership which was dissolved in 1953. Although their design originated in the United States, only two similar UM20 cab and two booster units were ever built in that country, being for the Erie Railroad.[1]
Contents
Construction
The first locomotive, 4301, was delivered in September, 1956 at Newcastle. The class was assembled by A Goninan & Company at Broadmeadow, as sub-contractor to AEI. All six had been delivered by June, 1957.[2]
The power plant was an Alco Series 244 four-cycle 12-cylinder diesel engine, delivering 1,750 horsepower (1,300 kW) and the electrical equipment was from General Electric. Dynamic braking was fitted. Multiple unit control enabled the members of this class to run with each other and all subsequent diesel-electric locomotives. Full driving control was only provided in the front cab, but a hostler's compartment was provided at the rear to enable the locomotive to run light engine in reverse.
Operation
They were initially used on the western line from Sydney to Orange, prior to electrification to Lithgow, appearing regularly on the Central West Express. Subsequently, they were based at Broadmeadow, running to Gosford as well as working both North Coast Line and Main North Line trains.[3]
The 43-class were not popular with the train crews, but they did pave the way for a long line of Alco-powered locomotives for the N.S.W.G.R.. They did receive some improvements in the late-1950s with water cooling of the turbo-superchargers replacing the air-cooled units. They were, however, incompatible, haulage-wise, with other main-line units owing to their lower haulage capacity.[4]
Demise and Preservation
4301 was taken into Chullora Workshops in August, 1974, for a regular overhaul, however a decision was made to use it as spares for the remaining units. By 1979, 4306 was the last unit in service and it was placed with the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. That organisation has returned the locomotive to active service on its Heritage Express trains.
Images
References
- ^ Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia. Reed Books Pty. Ltd.. p. 229. ISBN 0 7301 0005 7.
- ^ A Century Plus of Locomotives. Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. 1965.
- ^ Clark, Peter (1973). An Australian Diesel Locomotive Pocketbook. Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. ISBN 0-909650-02-0.
- ^ Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia. Rosenberg Publishing Pty. Ltd.. ISBN 9781877058547.
- New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.
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