New South Wales 81 class locomotive

New South Wales 81 class
Pacific National 8169 and 8137 at Temora in November 2011
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Kelso Serial number 82-1020 to 82-1034 83-1035 to 83-1058 84-1059 to 84-1082 85-1083 to 85-1099 91-1278 to 91-1281 Model EMD JT26C-2SS Build date 1982–1985, 1991 Total produced 84
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Wheel diameter 1,016 mm (40 in) Length Over headstocks: 19.760 m (64 ft 10 in), Over coupler pulling faces: 21.156 m (69 ft 4+7⁄8 in) Width 2,968 mm (9 ft 8+7⁄8 in) Height 4,267 mm (14 ft 0 in) Axle load 21.5 t (21.2 long tons; 23.7 short tons) Loco weight 129 t (127.0 long tons; 142.2 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 6,600 L (1,450 imp gal; 1,740 US gal) Lubricant cap. 920 L (202 imp gal; 243 US gal) Coolant cap. 1,117 L (246 imp gal; 295 US gal) Sandbox cap. 0.475 m3 (16.8 cu ft) Prime mover EMD 16-645E3B RPM range 318–904 Engine type Two-stroke V16 diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Alternator EMD AR16 Traction motors EMD D77, 6 of Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 229 mm × 254 mm (9.0 in × 10.0 in)
Performance figures Maximum speed 115 km/h (71 mph) Power output Gross: 2,460 kW (3,300 hp) For traction: 2,240 kW (3,000 hp) Tractive effort Continuous: 337.00 kN (75,761 lbf) at 19.2 km/h (11.9 mph)
Career Operators State Rail Authority National Rail Pacific National Number in class 84 Numbers 8101–8184 First run 29 October 1982 Disposition 83 in service, 1 scrapped

The 81 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Kelso for the State Rail Authority.

History

Eighty 81 class locomotives were built by Clyde Engineering, Kelso between September 1982 and February 1986, to replace 1950s vintage 42 and 44 class locomotives as well as provide additional capacity. The first 42 were based at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot to operate Hunter Valley coal trains, while the remaining 38 were mostly employed on the Main South line between Sydney and Albury, hauling both passenger and freight trains.^[1] The final 15 were equipped with V/Line radios and, from July 1986, operated through to Melbourne.^[2] The 81 class was an evolution of the Australian National AL class, and the V/Line G class and Australian National BL class were, in turn, developed from the 81 class.

In 1991, a further four units were built at Kelso, using many components from spares held.^[3] Following the delivery of the 90 class in 1994, the Broadmeadow-based units were released to replace older locomotives on other freight duties. That saw their sphere of operation extended to Brisbane and Broken Hill.^[4][5]

In the mid-1990s, some of the later locomotives were leased to National Rail. They were later exchanged for 13 of the earlier locomotives which were permanently transferred to National Rail for use around Australia as high-powered shunters. All were reunited when National Rail and FreightCorp were both sold to form Pacific National in February 2002.

In February 1999, 81s began operating in South Australia, when FreightCorp won a contract to haul brown coal on the Leigh Creek to Stirling North line from Leigh Creek to the Northern Power Station in Port Augusta.^[6][7]

As of February 2013^[update], Pacific National operated 83, primarily in New South Wales.^[8][9] 8147 was written off following a derailment and fire near Forbes on 11 March 2007.

Victorian R&B

In November 2023 PN started allocating some of the fleet to VIC R&B with 8114, 8119, 8166, 8168, 8170 & 8180 allocated

References

Further reading

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

External links

This page was last edited on 27 November 2023, at 01:16