New South Wales D53 class locomotive explained

New South Wales D53 class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Clyde Engineering (160),
Eveleigh Railway Workshops (30)
Builddate:1912–1917
Totalproduction:190
Whytetype:2-8-0
Uicclass:1'Dh
Driverdiameter:4feet
Weightondrivers:65t
Locoweight:72t
Fueltype:Coal
Firearea:29square feet
Totalsurface:1755square feet
Superheaterarea:365square feet
Boilerpressure:1602NaN2
Cylindercount:Two, outside
Cylindersize:22x
Tractiveeffort:335571NaN1
Factorofadhesion:4.46
Operator:New South Wales Government Railways
Operatorclass:TF939, D53 from 1924
Disposition:3 preserved, 187 scrapped

The D53 class was a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotives built for the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

History

This class of locomotive was designed by the New South Wales Government Railways as an improved version of the T class. All the coupled wheels had flanges and a certain amount of side movement was given to the middle pairs with a laterally operating knuckle joint being provided in the middle section of the coupling rods.

Clyde Engineering delivered the first locomotive in April 1912 and by November 1917, a total of 190 were in service. Most were fitted with superheaters when built and some fitted at a later date. There was a problem with the locomotives being unbalanced, causing speed restrictions to be imposed to avoid rough riding and track damage. Following further investigations, 24 of the class received balanced coupled wheels and these were permitted to operate at higher speed on mail and fruit trains.[1] [2]

When introduced, most of the class were fitted with a standard bogie tender, similar to those attached to the 50 class, although some saw service with large capacity "Wampu" tenders. In the later period of their lives, the majority were fitted with larger turret type tenders. In later years some were used as heavy shunting locomotives and from 1963 on some of these had automatic couplers fitted to the front.[2]

Following the removal of the knuckle joints from the coupling rods, flanges from the second coupled and driving wheels and the fitting of boilers standard for 50 class; 53 class and 55 class, they became most useful locomotives.[2]

The 24 not fitted with superheaters were scrapped in the 1930s. The first superheated example was withdrawn in January 1957 with the fleet down to 39 by July 1969 with the last withdrawn in January 1973.[1]

The Commonwealth Railways used the design of these locomotives for their 26 strong KA class for the Trans-Australian Railway.[2]

Preservation

Three have been preserved:

Preserved D53 class locomotives!Number!Builder!Year!Owner!Location!Status!References/Notes
5353NSWGR1913Dorrigo Steam Railway and MuseumDorrigoStored[3]
5367Clyde Engineering1914Lachlan Valley RailwayCowraUnder overhaul[4]
5461Clyde Engineering1916Transport Heritage NSWValley HeightsStatic Display[5] [6]
Locomotive 5461 is fitted with the last "Wampu" style tender and was known as 1174 in the pre-1924 numbering scheme. 1174 was known to be an exceptionally bad steamer and was the subject of many poems.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Oberg, Leon. Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. 1984. Reed Books. Frenchs Forest. 0-730100-05-7. 107–108.
  2. Book: Grunbach, Alex. A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives. 1989. Australian Railway Historical Society, NSW Division. Sydney. 0-909650-27-6. 152–155.
  3. Web site: Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - 5353. www.australiansteam.com. 2020-05-09.
  4. Web site: Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - 5367. www.australiansteam.com. 2020-05-09.
  5. Web site: Locomotive, Steam 5461 NSW Environment, Energy and Science. www.environment.nsw.gov.au. 2020-05-09.
  6. Web site: Locomotive 5461. infobluemountains.net.au. en-AU. 2020-05-09.