BHP Newcastle 32 class

BHP Newcastle 32 class

34 at Richmond Vale Railway Museum
in September 2000
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow
Model General Electric 70 Ton switcher
Build date 1954-56
Total produced 5
Specifications
UIC class Bo-Bo
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Wheel diameter 33 in (838 mm)
Minimum curve 75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)
Length 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Width 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Height 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 400 imp gal (1,800 L; 480 US gal)
Lubricant cap 100 imp gal (450 L; 120 US gal)
Coolant cap 80 imp gal (360 L; 96 US gal)
Sandbox cap 12 cu ft (0.34 m3)
Prime mover Cooper Bessemer FWL-6-T
RPM range 350-1010
Engine type 4 stroke diesel
Aspiration Turbocharged
Generator General Electric GT-571
Traction motors 4 off General Electric GE-747
Cylinders 6 in line
Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (230 mm × 270 mm)
bore x stroke
Loco brake Westinghouse A7
Train brakes Westinghouse AH7
Performance figures
Power output Gross:
627 hp (470 kW),
For traction:
600 hp (450 kW)
Career
Operators BHP Newcastle Steelworks
Number in class 5
Numbers 32-36
Preserved 32, 34
Disposition 2 preserved, 3 scrapped

The BHP Newcastle 32 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for the BHP, Newcastle steelworks between 1954 and 1956.

History

In 1954 BHP took delivery of three GE 70-ton switchers for use on its Newcastle steelworks network from A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow with a further two delivered in 1956.[1]

There were several modifications form the standard US design. One is the alteration to the bogie pivot pin from the usual centre position to a point 18 inches (457 mm) towards the buffer beam. The alteration enabled the locos to travel the tight curves found in the works, and also reduced excessive buffer and coupler misalignment. Deep buffer beams were fitted with a 3 12-inch (89 mm) rail clearance, to minimise damage during derailments. To reduce excessive body roll due to poor track conditions, extra bearing pads were fitted to the outside of the bogie frame and the main frame. The fitting of large 64 cubic feet (1.8 m3) capacity air reservoirs on each side enabled the locos to be used with 6 of the pneumatic dump cars in use at the steelworks. Also as the standard US design did not have buffers fitted, the BHP locos were fitted with buffers with oversized buffer heads, necessary for the tight curves and BHP’s own internal rolling stock.

Class list

Locomotive Builder's No Entered service Withdrawn Notes
32 1/S0001 Jul 1954 Aug 1986 preserved on static display at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum
33 2/S0002 Aug 1954 Feb 1987 -
34 3/S0003 Dec 1954 Jan 1990 stored at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum
35 10/S3006 Dec 1956 Aug 1988 -
36 11/S3007 Dec 1956 Jun 1985 -

References

  1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s - 1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 218. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, December 30, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.