New South Wales 43 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
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
.
. The class was assembled by A Goninan & Company at Broadmeadow
, as sub-contractor to AEI. All six had been delivered by June, 1957.
The power plant was an Alco Series 244 four-cycle 12-cylinder diesel engine, delivering 1750 hp 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.
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.
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.
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.
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
-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:...
diesel-electric locomotives were ordered from Australian Electrical Industries Pty. Ltd. in June 1954 for service on 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...
. These locomotives are unusual in Australian locomotive practice in having 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:...
power units in GE
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
-designed bodies, a legacy of the former Alco-GE
Alco-GE
Alco-GE was a partnership between the American Locomotive Company and General Electric that lasted from 1940 to 1953. Their main competitor was EMD. Under this arrangement, Alco produced the locomotive body and prime mover, and GE supplied the electrical gear...
partnership which was dissolved in 1953. Although their design originated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, only two similar UM20 cab and two booster units were ever built in that country, being for the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
.
Construction
The first locomotive, 4301, was delivered in September, 1956 at NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. The class was assembled by A Goninan & Company at Broadmeadow
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...
, as sub-contractor to AEI. All six had been delivered by June, 1957.
The power plant was an Alco Series 244 four-cycle 12-cylinder diesel engine, delivering 1750 hp and the electrical equipment was from General Electric. Dynamic braking
Dynamic braking
Dynamic braking is the use of the electric traction motors of a railroad vehicle as generators when slowing the Locomotive. It is termed rheostatic if the generated electrical power is dissipated as heat in brake grid resistors, and regenerative if the power is returned to the supply line...
was fitted. Multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
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
Hostler
An hostler or ostler in the horse industry is a groom or stableman, who is employed in a stable to take care of horses...
's compartment was provided at the rear to enable the locomotive to run light engine in reverse.
Operation
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
, prior to electrification to Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
, appearing regularly on the Central West Express. Subsequently, they were based at Broadmeadow, running to Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
as well as working both North Coast Line and Main North Line
Main North railway line, New South Wales
The Main North Line is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Central Coast, Hunter and the New England regions. The line was the original main line between Sydney and Brisbane, however this required a change of gauge at Wallangarra...
trains.
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.
Demise and Preservation
4301 was taken into ChulloraChullora, New South Wales
Chullora, a suburb of local government areas City of Bankstown and the Municipality of Strathfield, is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and forms a part of the Greater Western Sydney region.-History:The suburb of...
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
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,...
. That organisation has returned the locomotive to active service on its Heritage Express trains.