New South Wales 421 class locomotive

New South Wales 421 class

42107 in Northern Rivers Railroad livery at Somerton in November 2007

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Granville Serial number 65-468, 66-469 to 66-477 Model Electro-Motive Diesel AJ16C Build date 1965-1966 Total produced 10

Specifications UIC class Co-Co Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Length Over : 57 ft 10 in (17.63 m), Over coupler pulling faces: 62 ft 0 3⁄4 in (18.92 m) Width 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) Height 13 ft 10 1⁄2 in (4.23 m) Axle load 18 long tons 0 cwt (40,300 lb or 18.3 t) Loco weight 108 long tons 0 cwt (241,900 lb or 109.7 t) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,200 imp gal (5,500 l; 1,400 US gal) Lubricant cap 166 imp gal (750 l; 199 US gal) Coolant cap 175 imp gal (800 l; 210 US gal) Sandbox cap 12 cu ft (0.34 m3) Prime mover EMD 16-567C RPM range 275-835 Engine type Two-stroke V16 diesel Aspiration Roots blower Generator EMD D32F Traction motors 6 x EMD D67 Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 8.5 in × 10 in (216 mm × 254 mm)

Performance figures Maximum speed 71 mph (114 km/h) Power output Gross: 1,800 hp (1,340 kW), For traction: 1,800 hp (1,340 kW) Tractive effort Continuous: 70,900 lbf (315.38 kN) at 6.9 mph (11.1 km/h)

Career Operators New South Wales Government Railways First run December 1965 Preserved 42101, 42102 Current owner Aurizon Disposition 1 in service, 2 preserved, 4 stored, 3 scrapped

The 421 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Government Railways in 1965-1966. These mainline locomotives were a follow on from the 42 class. The 421s retained the classic bulldog nose as with the other Clyde built GM and S locomotives at one end, but featured a flat-cab at the other end. In this respect, they are unique amongst bulldog nose locomotives in the world.

The 421 class initially entered service on the Main South line before being transferred to Bathurst in 1970 to operate services on the Main Western line between Lithgow and Broken Hill including the new Indian Pacific service. However, due to their poor ride quality, they were returned to the Main South. In 1982, they were briefly used on through services to Melbourne.

All 10 were withdrawn from service in December 1986 and January 1987 and put in store at Junee Locomotive Depot, even though some had only recently been overhauled. In June 1989 two were moved to Cardiff Locomotive Workshops. One was resurrected from July 1989 until January 1990 before most were offered for sale in 1990.

Four locomotives were purchased by Northern Rivers Railroad. After undergoing some restoration work at Junee, in October 1996 they worked to their new base at Casino where the work was completed ready for the commencement of operations in October 1997. Northern Rivers Railroad used them to haul the Ritz Rail tourist rail service from Casino to Murwillumbah on the Murwillumbah line and various freight and infrastructure trains on the North Coast line as a sub-contractor to FreightCorp. Northern Rivers Railroad purchased 42106 from a private owner, and moved it from storage at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere to Casino in September 1998.