New South Wales 44 class
Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia liveried 4471 in Melbourne in November 2005
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder AE Goodwin, Auburn Serial number Alco 82807 to 82912 Alco 83731 to 83750 Alco G-3421-01 to G-3421-40 Model Alco DL-500B Build date 1957–1967 Total produced 100
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Length Over headstocks: 55 ft 5 in (16.89 m), Over coupler pulling faces: 58 ft 5 in (17.81 m) Width 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) Height Max: 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m) Axle load First 60, GE t/m: 18 long tons 14 cwt (41,900 lb or 19 t), First 60, AEI t/m: 17 long tons 14 cwt (39,600 lb or 18 t), Last 40: 18 long tons 8 cwt (41,200 lb or 18.7 t) Loco weight First 60, GE t/m: 112 long tons 1 cwt (251,000 lb or 113.8 t), First 60, AEI t/m: 106 long tons 3 cwt (237,800 lb or 107.9 t), Last 40: 110 long tons 3 cwt (246,700 lb or 111.9 t) Fuel type Diesel fuel Fuel capacity 1,200 imp gal (5,500 L; 1,400 US gal) Lubricant cap. 170 imp gal (770 L; 200 US gal) Coolant cap. 220 imp gal (1,000 L; 260 US gal) Sandbox cap. 16 cu ft (0.45 m3) Prime mover Alco 251B RPM range 400–1000 Engine type Four-stroke V12 diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Generator First 60:General Electric 5GT581 Last 40 Associated Electrical Industries 5302 Traction motors First 60: GE 731 or AEI 253 AZ or AEI 254 AZ, Last 40: AEI 254 BY Cylinders 12 Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed First 60, GE t/m: 80 mph (129 km/h), First 60, AEI t/m: 75 mph (121 km/h), Last 40: 80 mph (129 km/h) Power output Gross: 1,950 hp (1,450 kW), For traction: 1,800 hp (1,340 kW) Tractive effort Continuous: First 60, GE t/m: 47,100 lbf (209.51 kN) at 11.5 mph (18.5 km/h), First 60, AEI t/m: 40,500 lbf (180.15 kN) at 13.7 mph (22.0 km/h), Last 40: 44,000 lbf (195.72 kN) at 12.9 mph (20.8 km/h)
Career Operators NSW Department of Railways Number in class 100 Numbers 4401–44100 First run 8 July 1957 Preserved 4401, 4403, 4420, 4464, 4465, 4472, 4473, 4486, 4490 Disposition 9 preserved, 2 stored, 2 operational, 87 scrapped

The 44 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1957 and 1967.

History

Preserved 4403 at Goulburn in March 2012

4465 and 4472 at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in 1990

4479 and a 45 class haul a freight train at Fairy Hill, north of Casino in 1987

The 44 class were built by AE Goodwin, the Australian licensee of US company Alco, and were based on the Alco DL500B model. The locomotives were fitted with Alco 12-251B engines, developing 1343 kW. They were built in two batches, the first 60 between July 1957 and April 1961 and the second 40 between October 1965 and December 1967. The last 40 had Associated Electrical Industries as opposed to General Electric generators and traction motors, as well as illuminated segregated number boxes at the No.2 end. The model was very similar to dual cab South Australian Railways 930 class.

With driving cabs within both ends, the front (No.1 end) of the locomotive had a rounded nose (although not as round as the Clyde/GM "Bulldog nose" type) and a flat nose at the No.2 end. During their career, the locomotives served every part of New South Wales and operated every type of train.

In the late 1980s, some earlier examples in need of rewiring began to be withdrawn, but many survived into the 1990s, with the last being withdrawn in July 1997. Over forty still owned by the State Rail Authority were auctioned off in December 1994.^[1]

While most were scrapped, a number saw service with other freight operators. Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, Great Northern Rail Services, Independent Rail of Australia, Silverton Rail and Southern Shorthaul Railroad all operated 44s, with most ending up with Qube Logistics until their final withdrawal in 2014.

A number of preserved examples are main-line registered and, as well as operating heritage trains, are used periodically by other operators.^[2][3]

Three are on Transport Heritage NSW's Heritage and Conservation Register list. 4401 was in the custody of 3801 Limited, and 4403 was with the Australian Railway Historical Society, Canberra until 2017. 4401 is now in the custody of the Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum, and 4403 and 4490 are with the NSW Rail Museum.^[4]

Fleet status

References

Further reading

• New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.

External links

Media related to New South Wales 44 class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons