New South Wales 47 class locomotive

The 47 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by A Goninan & Co for the Public Transport Commission in 1972–1973.

New South Wales 47 class
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderA Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow
Serial number31-50
Build date1972–1973
Total produced20
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,016 mm (40.0 in)
LengthOver headstocks:
14.000 m (45 ft 11.18 in),
Over coupler pulling faces:
15.270 m (50 ft 1+18 in)
Width2.834 m (9 ft 3+58 in)
Height4.200 m (13 ft 9+38 in)
Axle load14.2 t
(14.0 long tons; 15.7 short tons)
Loco weight85.3 t
(84.0 long tons; 94.0 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity3,300 L (726 imp gal; 872 US gal)
Lubricant cap.416 L (92 imp gal; 110 US gal)
Coolant cap.600 L (132 imp gal; 159 US gal)
Sandbox cap.0.44 m3 (16 cu ft)
Prime moverCaterpillar 16-D399TA
RPM range650–1300
Engine typeFour-stroke 16 Cylinder diesel
AlternatorHitachi HI508 AR
Traction motorsHitachi HS366 AR, 6 of
Cylinders16
Cylinder size158.75 mm × 203 mm
(6.25 in × 7.99 in)
Performance figures
Maximum speed113 km/h (70 mph)
Power outputGross: 840 kW (1,126 hp),
For traction: 746 kW (1,000 hp)
Tractive effortContinuous:
171.07 kN (38,458 lbf)
at 11.8 km/h (7.3 mph)
Career
OperatorsPublic Transport Commission
Number in class20
Numbers4701–4720
First run22 September 1972
Preserved4701, 4702, 4705, 4706, 4708, 4716
Current ownerLachlan Valley Railway
Disposition11 Scrapped, 3 Operational,
3 Stored, 6 Preserved, 1 Static,
1 Under Restoration

History

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4701 & 4703 at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in 1990

Twenty were ordered from A Goninan & Co with the first delivered in July 1972. After undergoing acceptance trials, the first entered service in September 1972 with the last delivered in May 1973. Originally intended for use hauling coal services in the Hunter Valley, they were allocated to Bathurst to operate services in the state's west from Lithgow to Euabalong West, Bourke and Cootamundra and all branches in between. Their excellent ride qualities saw them find favour with crews, although they did suffer from overheating with one destroyed by fire in April 1974 and another in a collision in March 1977.[1][2]

In January 1981, it was decided to transfer the class to Broadmeadow to take up the duties they had originally been built for being used to haul coal services from Belmont, Dudley, Lambton and Pelton. They also saw use on services to Werris Creek, Tamworth and Moree. They continued to return to Bathurst Workshops for overhaul. A downturn in traffic as a result of a drought saw them placed in store at Parkes in 1982/83 before all were reactivated in 1984 resuming duties out of Broadmeadow.[1]

In 1987, 4719 was withdrawn from service and stored at Bathurst Workshops as a source parts to keep sister units working, being joined by 4715 in November 1988. In 1989, both were moved from to Cardiff Workshops to be rebuilt as HTV2000, a Heavy Test Vehicle.[1][3]

Despite their popularity with crews, their high maintenance costs saw them selected for withdrawal in 1989[4] with only six in service or under repair by November 1989[5] with the last being taken out of service in December 1990.[1][6]

In 1990, the Lachlan Valley Railway purchased 47s 01 and 08[7] followed in February 1994 by 02, 03, 07 and 16.[8] A later purchase was 4717. These were used to operate wheat services in the Cowra region in 1993/94.[9][10]

In June 1999, they commenced operating trip working services between Port Botany and the Cooks River container terminal in Sydney for Lachlan Valley Rail Freight[11] followed in July 1999 by a service between Cooks River and Carrington for R&H Transport Services.

As of July 2019, 3 Lachlan Valley Railway units remain in service, primarily operating AK Car test trains for ARTC. In March 2022, 4717 was cut up for scrap.

Fleet status

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Locomotive Serial No Completed Current Owner Livery Status
4701 31 Jul 72 Lachlan Valley Railway SSR Yellow Preserved, Operational
4702 32 Sep 72 Lachlan Valley Railway Indian Red Preserved, Operational
4703 33 Oct 72 Lachlan Valley Railway LVRF Green/White/Yellow Preserved, Stored Rothbury
4704 34 Oct 72 SRA Candy Scrapped
4705 35 Nov 72 Privately owned Indian red Static Display, Werris Creek
4706 36 Nov 72 Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Candy Preserved
4707 37 Nov 72 Lachlan Valley Railway Candy Preserved, Under Restoration Eveleigh
4708 38 Nov 72 Lachlan Valley Railway Indian Red Preserved, Operational
4709 39 Dec 72 SRA Tuscan Scrapped
4710 40 Dec 72 SRA Tuscan Scrapped
4711 41 Dec 72 SRA Tuscan Scrapped
4712 42 Dec 72 SRA Candy Scrapped
4713 43 Jan 73 SRA Tuscan Scrapped
4714 44 Jan 73 SRA Candy Scrapped
4715 45 Jan 73 SRA Tuscan Scrapped
4716 46 Mar 73 Lachlan Valley Railway Indian red Preserved, Operational
4717 47 Mar 73 Qube R&H Transport Scrapped
4718 48 Mar 73 SRA Candy Scrapped
4719 49 Apr 73 Lachlan Valley Railway Yellow Converted to HTV2000
4720 50 May 73 SRA Candy Scrapped

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The 47 class locomotives of NSW" Railway Digest December 1999 page 32
  2. ^ 47 Class – 1972 Trackside
  3. ^ "Locomotives & Traffic – A Heavy Duty Test Vehicle" Railway Digest April 1989 page 132
  4. ^ "Farewell 47s" Railway Digest September 1989 page 308
  5. ^ "The 47 Class" Railway Digest January 1990 page 19
  6. ^ "Demise of the 47 Class" Railway Digest February 1991 page 53
  7. ^ "LVR Diesels" Railway Digest January 1991 page 28
  8. ^ "Lachlan Valley Railway 47 Class Fleet Delivered to Cowra" Railway Digest April 1994 page 9
  9. ^ "The Lachlan Valley Railway's Wheat Haulage" Railway Digest October 1993 page 420
  10. ^ "The Lachlan Valley Railway commences operations on the Cowra – Eugowra line" Railway Digest September 1994 page 31
  11. ^ "LVR Commences Sydney Freight Operations" Railway Digest July 1999 page 12

Further reading

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