New South Wales D59 class locomotive

New South Wales D59 class

5910 at the New South Wales Railway Museum, Thirlmere

| Type and origin

Power type| Steam
Builder| Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton
Philadelphia
Serial number| 75564–75583
Build date| August 1952-March 1953
Total produced| 20
| Specifications

Configuration:
| ​
• Whyte| 2-8-2
• UIC| 1'D1'h
Gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.| 5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Adhesive weight| 65 t
(64.0 long tons; 71.7 short tons)
Loco weight| 91 t
(89.6 long tons; 100.3 short tons)
Fuel type| Oil, later coal
Fuel capacity| 10,800 litres (2,400 imp gal; 2,900 US gal) (oil)
11 t
(10.8 long tons; 12.1 short tons) (coal)
Water cap.| 24,750 litres (5,440 imp gal; 6,540 US gal)
Firebox:
• Firegrate area| 47 sq ft (4.4 m2)
Boiler pressure| 1,379 kPa (200.0 psi)
Heating surface| 2,165 sq ft (201.1 m2)
Superheater:
| ​
• Heating area| 625 sq ft (58.1 m2)
Cylinders| Two, outside
Cylinder size| 21 in × 28 in
(533.4 mm × 711.2 mm)
Valve gear| Walscharts
| Performance figures

Tractive effort| 34,986 lbf (155.6 kN)
Factor of adh.| 4.09
| Career

Operators| New South Wales Government Railways
Class| D59
Numbers| 5901–5920
Disposition| 5 preserved, 15 scrapped

The 59 class is a class of steam locomotive built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation for the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

## History[edit]

The class were ordered from Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (the former Baldwin Locomotive Works) to relieve motive power shortages. The design is a variation on the USATC S200 Class Mikado engine, a design which first appeared in 1941.

Twenty locomotives entered service between August 1952 and March 1953. The most immediately apparent difference is the rather stubby short tender that was specially built to allow the 59 class to be turned on a standard 60-foot (18.29 m) turntable. It was the specification of these tenders which considerably delayed the delivery from the initial order. Unfortunately due to the weight of the locomotive it was eventually discovered, in service, that most 60-foot (18.29 m) turntables could not turn the 59 class engine due to balancing issues.[1][2]

The class was the first 'new build' (as opposed to conversions) of oil-fired engines to be introduced by the New South Wales Government Railways and were the first locomotives to be built for NSW by Baldwin since 1905. They were initially used on the Short North from Enfield to Broadmeadow. They were soon placed in service on both the Main Western and Main South lines and, although their light axle load made them available to a large proportion of the state, their sphere of operation was limited by the location of oil fueling facilities. Accordingly, they saw most of their service, as oil burners, working on the Main North and North Coast lines, as well as in the Sydney metropolitan area.[2]

5917 on the Main Southern line at Bomen

In 1961, it was decided to convert the majority of the class to coal burning. Seventeen were converted using an ashpan based on the 38 class engine arrangement, together with modifications to the smokebox, fitting of brick arches, grates, firehole doors, etc. Three 59 class (5908, 5916, 5918) remained as oil burners and ended their service as shunters at Grafton. 5918 was badly damaged in a shunting accident and was used as a parts donor for 5908 and 5916 until the remains were scrapped in 1969. 5908 and 5916 were later transferred to Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in December 1970 for use as stationary boilers.[3] In August 1974, 5916 was sent to the Eveleigh Carriage Workshops for the same use. In 1977, both were transferred to the former NSW Rail Transport Museum at Thirlmere

The coal burning locomotives were mainly operated from Enfield Locomotive Depot, working to Goulburn. They were also based at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot, working from Gosford to Armidale. From February 1967, 59 class locomotives were allocated to Bathurst for banking duties on Raglan and Tumulla banks. During 1968/69, 59 class were often used on freight trains to Taree during a motive power shortage.[1][2]

## Preservation[edit]

Withdrawals began in June 1969 with the last withdrawn in December 1972. Five engines of the class are preserved.[4]

Preserved 59 class locomotives  No. | Description | Organisation | Location | Status | Ref

|
|
|
|
|

5908 | oil burning | Transport Heritage NSW | Goulburn Roundhouse | Under static restoration |

NSW Locomotive, Steam 5908

5910 | coal burning | Transport Heritage NSW | Thirlmere | Static display |

NSW Locomotive, Steam 5910

5916 | oil burning | Transport Heritage NSW | Goulburn Roundhouse | Stored |
5917 | coal burning | Sydney Rail Services | Branxton | Operational |
5920 | coal burning | Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum | Dorrigo | Stored | Last steam loco imported from USA[5]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Our Baldwin Yankees - The D59 Class Mikados". Roundhouse: 12. January 1981.
2. ^ a b c Grunbach, Alex (1989). A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives (Rev ed.). Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. pp. 236–239. ISBN 978-0-909650-27-8.
3. ^ "20 Years Ago" Railway Digest March 1991 page 102
4. ^ Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 206–207. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
5. ^ Dorrigo Railway Museum 1050

## External links[edit]

Media related to New South Wales D59 class locomotive at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

New South Wales Rail rolling stock

NSWGR steam locomotives|

* X10
* E17
* F351
* M36
* N67
* Z11
* Z12
* Z13
* Z14
* Z15
* Z16
* Z17
* Z18
* Z19
* Z20
* Z21
* Z22
* Z23
* Z24
* Z25
* Z26
* Z27
* Z28
* Z29
* C30
* C30T
* C32
* C34
* C35
* C36
* C38
* D50
* D53
* D55
* D57
* D58
* D59
* AD60

NSWGR individual steam locomotives|

* 1
* 1210
* 1243
* 3112
* 3237
* 3265
* 3526
* 3642
* 3801
* 3820
* 3830
* 5917
* 6029

NSW private steam locomotives|

* Burra
* Kiama
* Kiama Fowler
* ROD 2-8-0
* Silverton A
* Silverton W
* Silverton Y
* SMR 10
* Wallaby

Diesel locomotives|

* 40
* 41
* 42
* 421
* 422
* 43
* 44
* 442
* 45
* 47
* 48
* 49
* 70
* 71
* 72
* 73
* 79
* 80
* 81
* 82
* 90
* PL
* X100 tractor
* X200 tractor

NSW private diesel locomotives|

* AIS D1
* AIS D9
* AIS D16
* AIS D34
* AIS D35
* BHP 32
* BHP 37
* Silverton 48s
* CAR1
* Interail 423 class
* JL/GL class
* 5000 class
* 5020 class
* QUBE 14 class
* QUBE 1100
* C44aci
* TT Class
* LDP Class
* WH Class

Electric locomotives|

* 71
* 46
* 85
* 86

Electric multiple units|

| Driven|

* Bradfield
* Standard suburban
* Tulloch single deck
* Sputnik
* U
* Tulloch double deck
* V
* S
* K
* C
* T
* Skitube
* M
* H
* A
* B
* D

|

Automated|

* Metropolis

Diesel railcars|

* CPH
* Creamy Kate
* Silver City Comet
* FP
* FP1
* 400/500
* 600/700
* 900/800
* South Maitland Railway railcar
* 1100
* 620/720
* 1200
* 660/760
* Xplorer
* Endeavour
* CRT Cargosprinter
* Hunter

Bi-mode multiple units|

* CAF Civity

Push-pull|

* XPT
* X2000 Tilt Train

Wooden passenger carriages|

* American Suburban (A type)
* Far West Baby Health Clinic Cars

Steel passenger carriages|

* S Type
* N Type
* HUB
* RUB
* Stainless steel

Classification system|

* Steam Locomotives

* Rail transport in New South Wales
* Rail rollingstock in New South Wales
* Sydney Trains rolling stock
* NSW TrainLink rolling stock

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template