Locomotives
OTHR has purchased 7307 and 7321 to provide the primary motive power on the line. One unit will be used on work trains and the other on revenue service. Each to back up the other.
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- Locos 7307 and 7321 (Photo ©Steve Preston)
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- Locos 7307 and 7321 (Photo ©Jason McIntyre)
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- Loco 7307 (Photo ©Steve Preston)
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- Loco 7321 (photo ©Jason McIntyre)
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- Tender 1957 (Photo © Mark Gibbons)
The history of 73 Class Diesel Locos
The NSW 73 Class are diesel-hydraulic locomotives orginaly purchaed and operated by the NSw Govenment Railway (NSWFR) and manufactured by Walkers of Mayhorough, QLD. Between 1970 and 1973, 50 of these units were built with the first operating on NSW lines in October 1970.
In the 1960′s the NSWGR were in need of a powerful diesel shunting locomotive and following an order by QLD Railways for similary units, the NSWGR placed an order with Walkers Limited for 20 B-B units fitted with a Caterpillar 285kW diesel engine. These were the first NWGR locomotives to be built in QLD.
When the whole of the first order was delivered, these units replaced all steam shunting on the North Coast line and the Sydney Metropolitan area, as well as at Goulburn. Their presence was an immediate success and a further 30 units were ordered. The last of these arrived in March 1973 and this brought to an end all remaining steam shunting operations thoughout the state. Units 7301 and 7321 were initially based at Eveleigh Depot.
The first withdrawals from service began in 1987, with most units quickly retured or sold after that time. The last owners and operators of these two disel locos were Patrick Corp at ort Botany. OTHR purchased 7307 and 7327 from Patricks in May 2010.
Specifications
Built by: Walkers of Maryborough, QLD in 1970-1973
Number built for NSWGR: 50
Wheelbase: 8.08 m
Length: 10.97 m
Width: 2.82 m
Heightl 4.11m
Weight: 49.8 tonnes
Top Speed: 65 km/hr
Power: 650 bhp (485 kW)
Engine: Caterpillar D379, 4 stroke, torbocharged V8 diesel.
