New South Wales 45 class
4520 at St Peters in 2017
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder AE Goodwin, Auburn Serial number Alco 84143–84182 Model RSD-20 or DL-541 Build date 1962-1964 Total produced 40
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: 54 ft 6 in (16.61 m), Over coupler pulling faces: 58 ft 8 in (17.88 m) Width 9 ft 8+1⁄2 in (2.96 m) Height 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m) Axle load 18 long tons 8 cwt (41,200 lb or 18.7 t) Loco weight 110 long tons 10 cwt (247,500 lb or 112.3 t) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,200 imp gal (5,500 L; 1,400 US gal) Lubricant cap. 165 imp gal (750 L; 198 US gal) Coolant cap. 210 imp gal (950 L; 250 US gal) Sandbox cap. 14 cu ft (0.40 m3) Prime mover Alco 12-251C RPM range 400-1000 Engine type Four-stroke, V12 diesel Aspiration Turbocharger Generator Associated Electrical Industries 5301 Traction motors Associated Electrical Industries 165 or General Electric 752 Cylinders 12 Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 75 mph (120 km/h) Power output Gross: 1,950 hp (1,450 kW), For traction: 1,800 hp (1,340 kW) Tractive effort Continuous: 68,000 lbf (302.48 kN) at 7.4 mph (11.9 km/h)
Career Operators NSW Department of Railways Number in class 40 Numbers 4501-4540 First run 5 June 1962 Preserved 4501, 4502, 4520, 4521, 4528 Current owner Greentrains Pacific National Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 31 Scrapped, 2 Stored, 6 Preserved, 1 Operational, 1 Unknown

The 45 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1962 and 1964.

History

The 45 class were built by Alco's Australian licensee AE Goodwin, and are based on the Alco DL-541 model.^[1] They initially entered service on the Main Southern line but later operated on all main lines. One was destroyed in a collision in May 1972.

From June 1984, the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen placed a ban on the class as leading locomotives, meaning they could only be used as second locomotives, although they were able to be used on Sydney metropolitan trip and Liverpool Range banking duties.^[2]

Six were fitted with upgraded cabs and modified bogies at Cardiff Workshops in 1989 and reclassified as class 451s and later class 35s, allowing them again to be used as lead locomotives, although they spent most of their time being used as Liverpool Range bankers and Yeerongpilly, Brisbane shunters.^[3][4] Following a poor wheat crop, the Class 45s were placed in store at Junee Locomotive Depot in December 1991.^[5] A locomotive shortage saw most return to service from March 1993.^[6] They remained in service until replaced by FreightCorp by Class 82s in 1994/95.

Thirty-two were auctioned in December 1994 with most being sold for scrap.^[7] One was retained by the State Rail Authority as a designated heritage locomotive while four were transferred to Rail Services Australia before being sold to Great Northern Rail Services in 2000.^[8][9] One remains in service with Greentrains.

Survivors

• 4501 sold to Great Northern Rail Services 2000 (unused), then to Silverton Rail (unused), then to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (unused), then to Goodwin Alco Pty Ltd who restored it to main line condition at Eveleigh Railway Workshops in 2007, leasing it to 3801 Limited. Now based at Thirlmere and leased to Transport Heritage NSW for heritage work.^[10][11]
• 4502 sold to Great Northern Rail Services 2000 (unused), then to Silverton Rail (unused), then to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (unused), then Lachlan Valley Railway in 2012, stored at Broken Hill
• 3505 sold to Junee Railway Workshop. Was meant to be rebuilt with a Pilbara cab, but the project fell through and it eventually was forgotten about. Its engine cladding has since been removed and it is being used as a mobile loco service stand, while the Pilbara cab was painted blue and yellow and is used as a picnic stand.
• 4520 is part of the Transport Heritage NSW collection operating in the custody of the NSW Rail Museum^[12][13]
• 4521 is preserved by the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
• 4528 sold to Great Northern Rail Services 2000 (unused), then to Silverton Rail (unused), then to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (unused), then Lachlan Valley Railway in 2012, stored at Broken Hill, Silverton Rail had started a rebuilt it as 45s2, but the project was not completed
• 3532 sold to Great Northern Rail Services 2000 (unused), then to Silverton Rail entering service in June 2002 as 45s1, sold to Greentrains, remained in service in December 2013.^[14][15] Sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad April 2016^[16][17] Renumbered 4532 as of August 2019
• 4537 sold to Junee Railway Workshops rebuilt with a lowered and shortened No.1 end, leased in June 1995 to BHP for use on their Port Kembla network as 103,^[18] later sold to Patrick Portlink

Fleet Status