New South Wales D53 class locomotive

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

New South Wales D53 class
TF 1164, the 200th steam locomotive built by Clyde Engineering.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderClyde Engineering (160),
Eveleigh Railway Workshops (30)
Build date1912–1917
Total produced190
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-8-0
 • UIC1'Dh
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.4 ft 3 in (1,295 mm)
Adhesive weight65 t (64 long tons; 72 short tons)
Loco weight72 t (71 long tons; 79 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:
 • Grate area29 sq ft (2.7 m2)
Boiler pressure160 psi (1.10 MPa)
Heating surface1,755 sq ft (163.0 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area365 sq ft (33.9 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort33,557 lbf (149.3 kN)
Factor of adh.4.46
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
ClassTF939, D53 from 1924
Disposition3 preserved, 187 scrapped

History

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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

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Three have been preserved:

Preserved D53 class locomotives
Number Builder Year Owner Location Status References/Notes
5353 NSWGR 1913 Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum Dorrigo Stored [3]
5367 Clyde Engineering 1914 Lachlan Valley Railway Cowra Under overhaul [4]
5461 Clyde Engineering 1916 Transport Heritage NSW Valley Heights Static 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.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 107–108. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  2. ^ a b c d Grunbach, Alex (1989). A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives. Sydney: Australian Railway Historical Society, NSW Division. pp. 152–155. ISBN 0-909650-27-6.
  3. ^ "Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - 5353". www.australiansteam.com. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - 5367". www.australiansteam.com. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Locomotive, Steam 5461 | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Locomotive 5461". infobluemountains.net.au. Retrieved 9 May 2020.