New South Wales 48 class locomotive

GrainCorp's 48203 at Junee Locomotive Depot in March 2011

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder AE Goodwin, Auburn Serial number Alco 83701–83720, 83816–83825, 84121–84135 Alco G-3387-01 to G3387-40 Alco G-3420-01 to G-3420-40 Alco G-6013-01 to G-6013-40 Model Alco DL531 Build date 1959-1970 Total produced 165

Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Length Over : 44 ft 3 in (13.49 m), Over coupler pulling faces: 48 ft 5 in (14.76 m) Width 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) Height 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Axle load 4801–4885: 12 long tons 6 cwt (27,600 lb or 12.5 t) 4886–48165: 12 long tons 16 cwt (28,700 lb or 13 t) Loco weight 4801–4885: 74 long tons 0 cwt (165,800 lb or 75.2 t) 4886–48165: 76 long tons 12 cwt (171,600 lb or 77.8 t) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 4801–4885: 500 imp gal (2,300 l; 600 US gal) 4886–48165: 700 imp gal (3,200 l; 840 US gal) Lubricant cap. 116 imp gal (530 l; 139 US gal) Coolant cap. 90 imp gal (410 l; 110 US gal) Sandbox cap. 10 cu ft (0.28 m3) Prime mover Alco 6-251B RPM range 375-1025 Engine type Four-stroke Inline diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Generator 4801–4845: General Electric 5GT 584 4846–48165: Associated Electrical Industries TG 3602 Traction motors 4801–4885: General Electric 761 4886–48165: Associated Electrical Industries 253 CT Cylinders 6 Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)

Performance figures Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h) Power output Gross: 1,050 hp (780 kW), For traction: 950 hp (710 kW) Tractive effort Continuous: 4801–4885: 40,200 lbf (178.82 kN) at 8 mph (13 km/h) 4886–48165: 42,500 lbf (189.05 kN) at 6.5 mph (10 km/h)

Career Operators New South Wales Government Railways Number in class 165 Numbers 4801-48165 First run September 1959 Preserved 4801, 4803, 4805, 4807, 4821, 4822, 4833, 4872 Current owner Graincorp, Greentrains, Junee Railway Workshop, Pacific National, RailCorp Disposition 92 Scrapped, 52 Operational, 13 Stored, 8 Preserved, 1 Under Overhaul

The 48 Class are a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Government Railways between 1959 and 1970. Once the most ubiquitous locomotive in New South Wales, Australia, they are based on Alco frames and prime movers, using General Electric (later Associated Electrical Industries) electrical equipment. The South Australian Railways 830 and Silverton Rail 48s classes are of a very similar design.

The 48 Class were ordered to commence the conversion of branch lines to diesel traction with the first entering service in September 1959. Further orders saw 165 in service by October 1970. There were four versions:

The Mark 1's and Mark 2's can be distinguished from the others by their fuel tank, which incorporates the brake reservoir tanks on either side.

As well as branch lines they operated both main line and metropolitan services on every line in the state. Aside from a couple written off after accidents in the mid-1980s, withdrawals didn't commence in earnest until August 1994. In December 1994 the first Mark 1s were sold. By June 1997 FreightCorp's fleet was down to 120 units.

Others have been withdrawn since and as at January 2014, 66 remained in service primarily with Pacific National. GrainCorp, Greentrains, Junee Railway Workshop and RailCorp also operate some.

Two were transferred by the State Rail Authority to the Railway Service Authority, these have since passed to RailCorp