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
4705 at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in 1990
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow Serial number 31-50 Build date 1972-1973 Total produced 20
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) Wheel diameter 1,016 mm (40.0 in) Length Over headstocks: 14.000 m (45 ft 11.18 in), Over coupler pulling faces: 15.270 m (50 ft 1.18 in) Width 2.834 m (9 ft 3.57 in) Height 4.200 m (13 ft 9.35 in) Axle load 14.2 tonnes (14.0 long tons; 15.7 short tons) Loco weight 85.3 tonnes (84.0 long tons; 94.0 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 3,300 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 m^3 (16 cu ft) Prime mover Caterpillar 16-D399TA RPM range 650-1300 Engine type Four-stroke 16 Cylinder diesel Alternator Hitachi HI508 AR Traction motors Hitachi HS366 AR, 6 of Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 158.75 mm × 203 mm (6.25 in × 7.99 in)
Performance figures Maximum speed 113 km/h (70 mph) Power output Gross: 840 kW (1,126 hp), For traction: 746 kW (1,000 hp) Tractive effort Continuous: 171.07 kN (38,458 lbf) at 11.8 km/h (7.3 mph)
Career Operators Public Transport Commission Number in class 20 Numbers 4701-4720 First run 22 September 1972 Preserved 4701, 4702, 4705, 4706, 4708, 4716 Current owner Lachlan Valley Railway Disposition 10 Scrapped, 3 Operational, 3 Stored, 6 Preserved, 1 Static, 1 Under Restoration

History

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 favouritism 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.

On 10 May 2018, 4701 and 4702 were seen at Grafton hauling three AK testing cars southbound.

4702 and 4701 have been venturing on the mainline to other states, through Victoria and SA, and Eventually WA hauling the AK train, as of the 14th of February (Valentines Day) they are stationed at the AFT in Islington.

Fleet status

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
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
4716	46	Mar 73	Lachlan Valley Railway	Indian red	Preserved, Operational
4717	47	Mar 73	Qube Logistics	R&H Transport	Stored, Goulburn
4719	49	Apr 73	Lachlan Valley Railway	Yellow	Converted to HTV2000

References

1. "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

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