New South Wales 46 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The New South Wales 46 class are a class of mainline electric locomotive introduced onto the NSW rail system
from 1956
under New South Wales Government Railways
. Metropolitan-Vickers
and its partner Beyer, Peacock and Company
obtained the contract to build 40 of these locomotives.
, Stockton-on-Tees
, England
, with electrical equipment supplied by Metropolitan-Vickers
from its Trafford Park
and Sheffield
plants. Metropolitan-Vickers drew on experience gained from its earlier class EM1
and EM2
electric locomotives, which were used on the Woodhead Line in the UK and in The Netherlands.
These electric locomotives were originally purchased as part of the Blue Mountains electrification works, and spent their life hauling coal, freight and passenger carriages under the wires. The 46 class locomotives were often seen double or triple heading coal and freight services.
The class 46 was the most powerful locomotive in Australia for many years, with a one hour rating of 3780 hp and ability to deliver more than that for short periods. They proved to be very reliable and were generally considered superior to the much newer and even more powerful Comeng-Mitsubishi 85 class
and 86 class
electric locomotives. Their build quality and durability was such that 38 of the original 40 remained on the books in 1990.
in the Blue Mountains. Investigations revealed that whilst the air brake train pipe was connected from the locomotive to the train, the associated isolating cock was left closed. This rendered the train brakes inoperative.
On 16 January 1976, a goods train hauled by 4623 collided with the rear of a stationary double deck interurban electric multiple unit (EMU) train at Glenbrook, NSW, killing one passenger in the rear car of the EMU. This accident was caused by a wrong-side signal failure. The automatic signal in rear of the EMU exhibited "caution" when it should have been at "danger", thereby admitting the following goods train into the occupied signal section.
Incidents like this were occurring with alarming frequency in New South Wales in the 1970s, until the Granville rail disaster of 1977, which claimed 83 lives. Locomotive 4620 did not survive this incident in service, being the first class 46 to succumb to withdrawal.
Rail transport in New South Wales
The Australian state of New South Wales has an extensive network of railways, which were integral to the growth and development of the state. The vast majority of railway lines were government built and operated, but there were also several private railways, some of which operate to this...
from 1956
1956 in rail transport
- January events :* January 5 – The General Motors Electro-Motive Division “Aerotrain” makes its initial Chicago to Detroit test run.* January 11 – The Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway officially adopts its longtime nickname, Monon Railroad, as corporate title.* January 22 – Redondo...
under 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...
. Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
and its partner Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966...
obtained the contract to build 40 of these locomotives.
History
The locomotives were built at Bowesfield WorksBowesfield Works
Bowesfield Works was a railway locomotive manufacturing plant in Stockton-on-Tees. The works was operated by a joint venture company called Metropolitan Vickers-Beyer Peacock from 1949 until 1960.-Works history:...
, Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with electrical equipment supplied by Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
from its Trafford Park
Trafford Park
Trafford Park is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located opposite Salford Quays, on the southern side of the Manchester Ship Canal, it is west-southwest of Manchester city centre, and north of Stretford. Until the late 19th century it was the...
and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
plants. Metropolitan-Vickers drew on experience gained from its earlier class EM1
British Rail Class 76
The British Rail Class 76, also known as Class EM1 , is a class of 1.5 kV DC, Bo-Bo electric locomotive designed for use on the now-closed Woodhead Line in Northern England.-Tommy — the prototype:...
and EM2
British Rail Class 77
The British Rail Class 77, also known as Class EM2, is a class of 1.5 kV DC, Co-Co electric locomotive. They were built by Metropolitan-Vickers in 1953–1954 for use over the Woodhead Line between Manchester and Sheffield.-Description:...
electric locomotives, which were used on the Woodhead Line in the UK and in The Netherlands.
These electric locomotives were originally purchased as part of the Blue Mountains electrification works, and spent their life hauling coal, freight and passenger carriages under the wires. The 46 class locomotives were often seen double or triple heading coal and freight services.
The class 46 was the most powerful locomotive in Australia for many years, with a one hour rating of 3780 hp and ability to deliver more than that for short periods. They proved to be very reliable and were generally considered superior to the much newer and even more powerful Comeng-Mitsubishi 85 class
New South Wales 85 class locomotive
The New South Wales 85 class were a class of 10 mainline electric locomotive introduced from 1979 in the state of New South Wales, by the State Rail Authority. They were built by Commonwealth Engineering of Granville, New South Wales....
and 86 class
New South Wales 86 class locomotive
The New South Wales 86 class is a class of 50 mainline electric locomotives introduced from 1982 in the state of New South Wales by the State Rail Authority...
electric locomotives. Their build quality and durability was such that 38 of the original 40 remained on the books in 1990.
Accidents
The class 46 locomotives were involved in a number of serious incidents. On 16 July 1965, a 44-vehicle goods train hauled by 4620 ran away for 4 miles (6.4 km), careering downhill at speeds of up to 95 mi/h, before a spectacular derailment at Wentworth FallsWentworth Falls railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Blue Mountains Bus Company runs two routes via Wentworth Falls railway station:*Route 685 - between North Wentworth Falls and Katoomba*Route 690K - between Springwood and Katoomba-Neighbouring stations:-References:...
in the Blue Mountains. Investigations revealed that whilst the air brake train pipe was connected from the locomotive to the train, the associated isolating cock was left closed. This rendered the train brakes inoperative.
On 16 January 1976, a goods train hauled by 4623 collided with the rear of a stationary double deck interurban electric multiple unit (EMU) train at Glenbrook, NSW, killing one passenger in the rear car of the EMU. This accident was caused by a wrong-side signal failure. The automatic signal in rear of the EMU exhibited "caution" when it should have been at "danger", thereby admitting the following goods train into the occupied signal section.
Incidents like this were occurring with alarming frequency in New South Wales in the 1970s, until the Granville rail disaster of 1977, which claimed 83 lives. Locomotive 4620 did not survive this incident in service, being the first class 46 to succumb to withdrawal.
Preservation
The locomotives were withdrawn in 1996 after nearly forty years of service, being replaced by the 85 class and 86 class electric locomotives as well as diesel-electric locomotives. The whole class was scrapped except for the five locomotives (and one cab) saved for preservation:- 4601 Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage MuseumValley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage MuseumThe Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum is a railway museum located in Valley Heights, New South Wales, Australia. It is operated by the Blue Mountains Division of the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum....
- 4602 Dorrigo Steam Railway and MuseumDorrigo Steam Railway and MuseumThe Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum in Dorrigo, New South Wales, Australia is a large, privately owned collection of preserved railway vehicles and equipment from the railways of New South Wales, covering both Government and private railways...
- 4615 Sydney Electric Train Society (on display at the Junee Roundhouse Museum)
- 4617 Privately owned, Junee (cab only)
- 4627 Hunter Valley Railway Trust
- 4638 New South Wales Rail Transport MuseumNew South Wales Rail Transport MuseumThe 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,...
External links
- http://www.sets.org.au/fleet/index.php?id=4615
- http://picture.stockton.gov.uk/photos/t6417.aspx
- http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~ajh/trains/nsw/46class/index.xml