BHP Newcastle 37 class

BHP Newcastle 37 class
42 at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum in 1990
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow Model General Electric 80 Ton switcher Build date 1960–83 Total produced 22
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo-Bo Gauge 914 mm (3 ft), 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Wheel diameter 33 in (840 mm) Minimum curve 75 ft 0 in (22.86 m) Length 33 ft 9.5 in (10.300 m) Width Narrow body 7 ft 3 in (2,210 mm) Widened body 9 ft 9 in (2,972 mm) Height 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 330 imp gal (1,500 L; 400 US gal) Lubricant cap. Cummins 7 imp gal (32 L; 8.4 US gal) Rolls-Royce 6.5 imp gal (30 L; 7.8 US gal) Coolant cap. Cummins 9 imp gal (41 L; 11 US gal) Sandbox cap. 18 cu ft (0.51 m3) Prime mover 2x Cummins NHS-B1-6, 2x Rolls-Royce C6TFL-6, 2x Cummins NT855-L4 RPM range Cummins NH6 600-2100 rpm Rolls-Royce 3 50-1010 rpm Engine type 4-stroke in line 6 diesel Aspiration Cummins NHS-B1 Supercharged Rolls-Royce & Cummins NT855 Turbocharged Generator 2 off General Electric GT-558 Traction motors 4 off General Electric GE-763 Cylinders 6 Cylinder size 5+1⁄2 in × 6 in (140 mm × 152 mm) bore x stroke Loco brake Westinghouse A7 air Train brakes Westinghouse AH7 air
Performance figures Maximum speed 30 mph (48 km/h) Power output 415 hp (309 kW) each Cummins supercharged, 423 hp (315 kW) each Rolls-Royce Tractive effort 48,000 pounds-force (210 kN) starting
Career Operators BHP Newcastle Steelworks Number in class 22 Numbers 37–58 Preserved 42, 43, 47, 52, 53, 54 Current owner Junee Railway Workshop Loongama Lime Manildra Group Disposition 7 in service, 6 preserved, 9 scrapped

The BHP Newcastle 37 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for the BHP's, Newcastle Steelworks between 1960 and 1983.

In 1960, the first five locomotives numbered 37 to 41 were delivered by A Goninan & Co to a design suitable for use on both the narrow gauge 3 ft (914 mm) ingot system and the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge system. These locos were an Australian version of the standard General Electric 80 Ton switcher. Originally two of these five locomotives were fitted with narrow gauge bogies, the other three being fitted with standard gauge bogies. These locos were fitted with 2 Cummins NHS-B1-6 supercharged diesel engines. Whilst the first five were under construction an order for a further six locos to the same specifications was placed, these locos were given numbers 42 to 47.^[1]

In 1961, a further 6 locos were ordered from Goninans, these 6 however were powered by two Rolls-Royce C6TFL turbocharged diesel engines. These 6 locos were numbered 48 to 53.^[1]

The first 15 locos were swapped between the narrow and standard gauge networks by changing the bogies and couplers. However, by the mid-1960s, problems were experienced in working wide standard gauge rolling stock such as the Treadwell hot metal cars. To overcome this, it was decided to dedicate 37 to 41 to the narrow gauge network, with 42 to 53 were progressively fitted with 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) wide cabs and platforms to overcome the visibility problems.^[1]

In 1966, a further loco was delivered from Goninans. Numbered 54, it was built with a wide body and fitted with 2 Cummins NHS-B1-6 supercharged engines. The next 2 locos were delivered in 1977 (55 and 56) and were fitted with Cummins NT855 turbocharged engines, the latter built to narrow gauge specifications. Both did not enter service when delivered and were placed in storage, 55 being placed in service in late 1979 and 56 in early 1980. The last 2 (57 and 58) were delivered in 1982, they were fitted with Cummins NT855 turbocharged engines.^[1]

In the 1980s, the Rolls-Royce powered locos and the older Cummins supercharged locos were placed into storage due to difficulties in obtaining spare parts. Later many of these were repowered with Cummins NT855 turbocharged engines, those locos which weren't re-engined were either scrapped or sold.

The introduction of a continuous bloom caster at the steelworks in 1987 saw the phasing out of the narrow gauge rail system with the system being closed in 1991 and the narrow gauge rolling stock and locos scrapped.

With the closure of steel making at Newcastle Steelworks on 30 September 1999 and with the remaining rail traffic being hauled by National Rail, the last 9 locos in service were placed into store and put up for sale.^[2] A number were sold to private buyers for use as shunters. Two were sold to the Manildra Group, two to Junee Railway Workshop, two to Loongana Lime and one to Heggies Bulk Haul, Port Kembla, the latter being resold to the Manildra Group. Two been preserved by the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum and four by the Richmond Vale Railway Museum.^[3]

The General Electric 80 Ton switcher locomotive design was used by other industrial manufacturing companies around New South Wales including Sulphide Corporation who purchased one in November 1964 for its Cockle Creek Smelter, Southern Portland Cement who purchased two in July 1967 for use at Marulan South and Berrima, and John Lysaght who purchased one for use at Port Kembla.^[1]

• Jehan, David (1999). Men, Steel and Rails. BHP. ISBN 1-876634-09-X.
• McDonald, Keith (1981). Steel and Rails in Newcastle. Light Railway Research Society of Australia. ISBN 0-909340-15-3.
• Oberg, Leon (2002). Australian Diesel Scene 5. Eveleigh Press. ISBN 1-876568-23-2.
• Specification sheet ex BHP Newcastle Steelworks diesel shop