New South Wales 72 class locomotive

Australian diesel-hydraulic locomotive

New South Wales 72 class

7201 at Port Botany in 1965

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-hydraulic
Builder	Chullora Railway Workshops
Serial number	9
Build date	1965
Total produced	1

Specifications
Configuration:
• UIC	Bo-Bo
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter	37 in (940 mm)
Length	Over coupler pulling faces: 45 ft 2+1⁄4 in (13.77 m)
Width	9 ft 2 in (2,794 mm)
Height	12 ft 7+1⁄4 in (3,842 mm)
Loco weight	55 long tons 0 cwt (123,200 lb or 55.9 t)
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel capacity	500 imp gal (2,300 L; 600 US gal)
Lubricant cap.	Engine: 20 imp gal (91 L; 24 US gal), Transmission: 40 imp gal (180 L; 48 US gal), Final Drives: 6 imp gal (27 L; 7.2 US gal) each
Coolant cap.	180 imp gal (820 L; 220 US gal)
Sandbox cap.	12 cu ft (0.34 m)
Prime mover	Cummins VT12-825-BI
RPM range	600–2000
Engine type	Four-stroke diesel
Aspiration	Turbocharged
Cylinders	V12
Cylinder size	5.5 in × 6 in (140 mm × 152 mm)
Transmission	Clark Model 16420 Reversing

Performance figures
Maximum speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Power output	Gross: 705 hp (530 kW), For traction: 640 hp (477 kW)
Tractive effort	Continuous: 32,500 lbf (144.57 kN) at 5 mph (8 km/h)

Career
Operators	NSW Department of Railways
Number in class	1
Numbers	7201
First run	27 August 1965
Last run	2 March 1976
Withdrawn	August 1976
Scrapped	December 1976
Disposition	Scrapped

The 72 class was a class of diesel locomotive built by Chullora Railway Workshops for the New South Wales, Australia, Department of Railways in 1965.

Construction

Locomotive 7201 was a diesel-hydraulic locomotive, with B-B wheel arrangement. Built in the Department of Railways Water Supply Workshops at Chullora, it performed its first light engine trial on 27 August 1965. It was built on the lengthened underframe of an unused 58 class locomotive tender, but using the bogies from a Standard Goods locomotive turret tender. The cab was similar to that of an X200 class and the livery was similar to a 48 class.

The prime-mover was a Cummins VT 12-825-BI; V12 engine, developing 640 horsepower at 2,000 rpm. Power was distributed to the bogies through a Clark C 16911 torque converter with Clark 16421 transmission.

Operations

Following some modifications, it entered service on 8 September 1965 as a shunter at Cooks River Goods Yard. Over the next 6 months, it spent time shunting in yards at Goulburn, Junee, Broadmeadow and Werris Creek, and Port waratah. It even had a brief sojourn on the Yass Tramway. During this time, it re-entered the workshops for modifications and repairs. After this initial period, it spent extended periods at the Rozelle yards, however by 1970 it was regularly struggling with the loads. It was then trialed at the ACDEP carriage sheds where it shunted the carriages from air-conditioned trains. It was deemed a success in this duty and remained there until 2 March 1976 when it suffered a seized engine.

Demise

Being a one-off and therefore non-standard, the decision was made not to repair the locomotive. On 4 August 1976, it was condemned and scrapped in December that year.

References

"7201 Finally" Railway Digest August 1985 page 243
One of the 50, 53 or 55 classes
Clark, Peter J. An Australian Diesel Locomotive Pocketbook. p. 54. ISBN 0-909650-02-0.
"Photo Gallery – NSWGR's 7201". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 246–248. June 2007.

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