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New South Wales 42 class locomotive

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Power type
  
Diesel-electric

Total produced
  
6

Build date
  
1955/56

New South Wales 42 class locomotive

Builder
  
Clyde Engineering, Granville

Serial number
  
55-74, 55-75, 55-79, 56-87, 56-92, 56-100

Model
  
Electro-Motive Diesel A7, later model A16C

The 42 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Government Railways in 1955/56.

Contents

History

The design was based on the Electro-Motive Diesel EMD F7 locomotive and were very similar to the GM 12 class then being built by Clyde Engineering for the Commonwealth Railways.

They initially worked express passenger services including the Brisbane Limited, Intercapital Daylight and Melbourne Limited and later the Southern Aurora and Spirit of Progress. As newer locomotives arrived they were concentrated on the Main South line operating freight services.

By April 1978, the Australian Federated Union of Enginemen had placed a ban on the 42 class operating as lead engines due to cab conditions. In 1980, 4201 had its cab upgraded during overhaul to overcome these issues, but with their replacement imminent it was decided not to treat the rest of the class. All were withdrawn in 1983.

Preservation

Three have been preserved. A fourth was preserved, but this has since been mostly cut up:

  • 4201 was acquired by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. It has been used extensively on charters across the state and ventured interstate to Melbourne. It retains the green and yellow livery it received for the 125th anniversary of NSW railways in 1980. As of 2014 it has been undergoing repairs at Maintrain, Auburn.
  • 4203 was acquired by a Caravan City Cowra, Cowra, NSW. and placed on display alongside the Mid Western Highway at the entrance to the War, Rail, Rural Museum. It was later sold and the body was cut into three sections; while the central section was scrapped, O'Donohughes Irish Pub in Emu Plains brought the cab and rearmost section of the body and welded them together for use as playground equipment. The bogies and fuel tank were sold to enthusiast groups for use as spare parts.
  • 4204 was acquired by the Lachlan Valley Railway, After being restored by apprentices at Clyde Engineering, Kelso in 1986, it has been used extensively on charters across the state and on freight services by Lachlan Valley Rail Freight. As at December 2012 it was often hired to Southern Shorthaul Railroad for use on infrastructure trains in New South Wales and Victoria.
  • 4206 was purchased by Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum. After being used extensively on the Dorrigo line hauling 40 trains from Glenreagh to Dorrigo, it is currently stored but remains in operational condition.

    • References

    New South Wales 42 class locomotive Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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