New South Wales 79 class locomotive

Last updated

New South Wales 79 class
Arhs 7923 sydney.jpg
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder General Electric
Serial number17938, 17939, 17933, 17934
Model GE 44-ton switcher
Build date1943
Total produced4
RebuilderFR Tulk, Perth
Rebuild date1979
Number rebuilt2
Specifications
Configuration:
   UIC Bo-Bo
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter33 in (838 mm)
LengthOver headstocks:
29 ft 10 in (9.09 m),
Over buffers:
35 ft 2 in (10.72 m)
Width9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Height13 ft 2+18 in (4.02 m)
Axle load 9  long tons  16 cwt (22,000 lb or 10 t)
Loco weight39 long tons 0 cwt (87,400 lb or 39.6 t)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity210 imp gal (950 L; 250 US gal)
Lubricant cap.32 imp gal (150 L; 38 US gal)
per engine
Coolant cap.40 imp gal (180 L; 48 US gal)
per engine
Sandbox cap.8 cu ft (0.23 m3)
Prime mover Caterpillar D17000, 2 of
RPM range350–1000
Engine type Four-stroke V8 diesel
Aspiration Normally aspirated
Generator General Electric GT 555A
Traction motors General Electric 733, 4 of
Cylinders 8
Cylinder size 5.75 in × 8 in (146 mm × 203 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed35 mph (56 km/h)
Power outputGross:
190 hp (142 kW) per engine
For traction:
175 hp (130 kW) per engine
Tractive effort Continuous:
13,000 lbf (57.83 kN)
at 7.5 mph (12.1 km/h)
Career
Number in class4
Numbers7920–7923
Delivered1943
Preserved7921, 7922
Disposition2 preserved, 2 unknown

The 79 class is a diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric, Erie, United States for the Department of Railways New South Wales in 1943.

Contents

Importation

In 1943, during World War II, four diesel-electric industrial shunting type locomotives built by General Electric Company, Erie for the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) were imported from the United States of America by the Department of Supply under Lend-Lease conditions for use at the Dunheved munitions factory in Sydney. They were four units of 58 units built for the USATC by General Electric numbered 8499-8528 & 7900-7929. [1]

Before entering service in New South Wales, the 4 locos were fitted with buffers and chain coupler to NSWGR standards. The cab profile was also altered to fit within the New South Wales loading gauge. It seems that only one unit was used at the Dunheved facility. Being of the hood type, with a central cab, they could work in either direction without turning. [2] [3]

Operations

7920 in Sydney Yard in September 1969 Sydney 7920.jpg
7920 in Sydney Yard in September 1969
DE91 (ex 7922) at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide in October 2010 DE 91.jpg
DE91 (ex 7922) at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide in October 2010

In 1945, the BHP became interested in the possible dieselisation at its Australian Iron & Steel works in Port Kembla and one unit was loaned to the company in April. Whilst it proved too light for the tasks of hauling ingots and ladles, it did lead to the commencement of dieselisation five years later. [4]

At the end of that war, they were put into use by the New South Wales Department of Railways as shunters at Sydney Central station and Eveleigh Carriage Workshops. They were numbered 7920 to 7923, these being the numbers allocated by US authorities. In April 1948, the Commonwealth Government took 7921 and 7922 for use at Woomera Rocket Range and 7920 and 7923 were purchased by the NSWGR in September that year.

In 1950, the two owned by the Commonwealth Government were transferred to Commonwealth Railways as the DE Class and used as shunters at Port Augusta and Port Pirie. [5] In July 1975, both were included in the transfer of the Commonwealth Railways to Australian National.

Disposal & preservation

In October 1974, the two NSWGR units were sold to the British Phosphate Commission for use on Christmas Island. In 1979, both were rebuilt by FR Tulk, Perth with Caterpillar D3306 engines and lower profile noses. [6] This railway closed in 1987. Following their retirement in the early 1980s, 7921 returned to New South Wales and is preserved at the NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere, while 7922 is with the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide. [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales C38 class locomotive</span> Class of Australian 4-6-2 locomotives

The C38 class was a class of steam locomotive built for the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North British Locomotive Company</span> British locomotive manufacturer, 1903–1962

The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp, Stewart and Company, Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company, creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe and the British Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulldog nose</span> Nickname given to some GM-EMD locomotives

"Bulldog nose" is the nickname given, due to their appearance, to several cab-unit diesel-electric locomotives manufactured by GM-EMD and its licensees from 1939 to 1970. The term originated with EMD F-units, as well as later E-unit models such as the E7, E8, and E9. The bulldog nose design, which has been described as a "cultural icon", consists of two narrow front cab windows, swept back above a protruding nose section, usually with a prominent nose-top mounted headlight. This bore resemblance to a dog's face. It was a blunter and more vertical variation of the early "slant nose" style, which featured a more sloped front and often less protruding headlight. Examples of this included the EMC E1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE 44-ton switcher</span> Diesel-electric switcher locomotive (Built 1940-1956)

The GE 44-ton switcher is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern & Silverton Rail</span> Former Australian railway company

Southern & Silverton Rail was an Australian rail operator founded in 1886 as the Silverton Tramway Company. The company operated the 1067 mm Silverton Tramway, conveying silver-lead-zinc concentrates 58 kilometres from Broken Hill to the South Australian border. In 1970, its main line was bypassed by the newly standardised, government-funded line from Broken Hill to Port Pirie. It then diversified to operating hook-and-pull services and in the mid-1990s rebranded to Silverton Rail. In 2006, it was purchased by South Spur Rail Services and rebranded again as Southern & Silverton Rail, before both entities were sold to Coote Industrial. In June 2010 it was sold to Qube Logistics and absorbed into that brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 46 class locomotive</span> Class of New South Wales electric locomotive

The New South Wales 46 class was a class of mainline electric locomotive built by Metropolitan-Vickers and its partner Beyer, Peacock & Company in England for the Department of Railways New South Wales. They later operated for the Public Transport Commission, State Rail Authority and FreightCorp with most remaining in service into the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunheved railway station</span> Former railway station in Sydney, Australia

Dunheved railway station was the first station and a junction on the Ropes Creek railway line in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was the only station on the Ropes Creek line named after a suburb (Dunheved).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways B class (diesel)</span> Class of Australian locomotives

The B class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways in 1952–1953. Ordered and operated by the Victorian Railways, they initiated the dieselisation of the system and saw use on both passenger and freight services, with many remaining in service today, both in preserved and revenue service. Some were rebuilt as the V/Line A class, while others have been scrapped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 40 class locomotive</span>

The 40 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by Montreal Locomotive Works, Canada for the New South Wales Department of Railways in 1951/52.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Railways GM class</span> Class of diesel locomotives

The GM class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Commonwealth Railways in several batches between 1951 and 1967. As of January 2014, some remain in service with Aurizon and Southern Shorthaul Railroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales AD60 class locomotive</span>

The New South Wales AD60 class were Beyer-Garratt patent articulated four-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, coal-fired superheated, 4-8-4+4-8-4 heavy goods steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock & Company for the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 45 (later 71) class locomotive</span>

The 45 class was a class of mainline electric locomotive built in-house in 1952 by the New South Wales Department of Railways' Chullora Railway Workshops. With only a single locomotive in the class, 4501 was renumbered 7100 in October 1961, which freed up the number range for the 45-class diesel locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 73 class locomotive</span>

The 73 class is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1970 and 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Railways NSU class</span> Narrow-gauge diesel-electric locomotive class of the former Commonwealth Railways, Australia

The Commonwealth Railways NSU class was a class of diesel-electric locomotives built in 1954 and 1955 by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, England, for the Commonwealth Railways to be deployed on the narrow-gauge Central Australia Railway and North Australia Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways 930 class</span> Class of 37 Australian diesel-electric locomotives

The South Australian Railways 930 class was a class of diesel-electric locomotives built for the South Australian Railways between 1955 and 1967 by AE Goodwin, Auburn, New South Wales, the Australian licensee of the American Locomotive Company (Alco). Based on the Alco DL500B World series model, they were fitted with Alco 12-251B four-stroke V12 turbocharged diesel engines that developed 1600 horsepower for traction. The first six of the class had a driving cab at one end only; the remaining 31 locomotives had two. The latter series, up-rated, were the basis of the almost identical New South Wales 44 class, of which 100 were built from 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways 500 class (diesel)</span> Class of 34 Australian diesel-electric locomotives

The 500 class were a class of South Australian Railways diesel shunter locomotives built at Islington Railway Workshops between 1964 and 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BHP Newcastle 37 class</span>

The BHP Newcastle 37 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for the BHP's, Newcastle Steelworks between 1960 and 1983.

The 800 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the South Australian Railways in 1956/57. They were nearly identical to the earlier Jamaican Railways 81 class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales E17 class locomotive</span> Class of 23 Australian 0-6-0 locomotives

The E.17 class was a class of patent long boiler steam locomotive built by the Robert Stephenson and Company for the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Railways G class</span> Class of Australian 4-6-0 locomotives

The Commonwealth Railways G class was a class of twenty-six 4-6-0 tender locomotives of the Commonwealth Railways, Australia. The class operated between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie on the 1435 mm Trans-Australian Railway.

References

Notes

  1. Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War. Tourret Publishing. 1995. ISBN   0-905878-06-X.
  2. A Century Plus of Locomotives. Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. 1965.
  3. The Early Diesel and Electric Locomotives of the NSWGR. New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. 1997. ISBN   9780909862527.
  4. Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia. Rosenberg. ISBN   978-1-877058-54-7.
  5. Standard Gauge DE Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  6. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s – 1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 174. ISBN   0-730100-05-7.
  7. DE-class Bo+Bo diesel electric locomotive No.91 National Railway Museum
  8. 79 Class Vicsig

Bibliography

  • Fluck, Ronald E; Marshall, Barry; Wilson, John (1996). Locomotives and Railcars of the Commonwealth Railways. Welland, SA: Gresley Publishing. ISBN   1876216018.
  • New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.