The 49 class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1960 and 1964.
History
The 49 class was ordered in three batches each of six locomotives. They entered service in the Western Region of New South Wales and hauled trains on all branchlines as well as mainlines west of Lithgow. They periodically travelled as far a field as Moree in the north-west and Cootamundra in the south-west.49 Class – 1960 Trackside 2012
Between July and November 1989, the whole class was transferred to Delec Locomotive Depot in Sydney."Motive Power Policies" Railway Digest September 1989 page 303"49 Class" Railway Digest January 1990 page 17 As well as metropolitan trip workings they were used on coal trains to Tahmoor on the Main South line."Tahmoor Coal" Railway Digest January 1990 page 15 In January 1994, they began to operate on the Illawarra line to Bombo on ballast trains."49 Class" Railway Digest March 1994 page 28
In June 1994, the Manildra Group leased 4907 from FreightCorp for use at its Gunnedah mill."49 Class" Railway Digest September 1994 page 45 Later in 1994, Manildra purchased 4907 along with 4913 and had them rebuilt by Clyde Engineering, Kelso with lower No.1 ends, the second being for use at their Manildra mill."Manildra Group News: Locos and New Wagons" Railway Digest December 1994 page 7Railway Digest May 1995 page 7 To haul infrastructure trains in Victoria during the Melbourne-Adelaide railway standard gauge conversion project, 4903, 4912 and 4916 were leased to National Rail in late 1994."The Melbourne – Adelaide Standard Gauge Project – An Update" Railway Digest February 1995 page 16
In February 1995, the remaining examples still in service with FreightCorp were withdrawn."49 Class Withdrawn" Railway Digest March 1995 page 12 Most were returned to traffic later in 1995"Rail Authorities Face Loco Shortage" Railway Digest December 1995 page 16 before again being withdrawn in July 1997.Railway Digest September 1997 page 33 In April 1998, 4910 was leased for seven months to Northern Rivers Railroad hauling services between Grafton and Murwillumbah.Railway Digest August 1998 page 32
By 1999, the 49s had begun to be sold with 3801 Limited, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, Consolidated Rail Leasing, Patrick Portlink and Southern Shorthaul Railroad among those to have operated them, with many having had more than one owner post FreightCorp.49 Class Vicsig Northern Rivers Railroad purchased a number, although none entered service. They were either resold or stripped for spares with the bogies off some used to regauge Queensland Railways 1502 class locomotives when converted to the 423 class.
Today, Southern Shorthaul Railroad own and operate 4904, 4908, 4910, 4911 and 4917, as well as Manildra Group's MM02 (ex- 4913) being used on some grain trains. 4910 has been out of service following a level crossing collision at Rockview in 2023, between Junee and Marrar, during which it derailed and tipped over. It is currently stored at SSR's North Bendigo Workshops pending possible repairs.
4916 is owned by Transport Heritage NSW and can be regularly seen operating a variety of tourist trains around the state, or else stabled at the NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere.
Fleet status
Key:In ServiceStoredPreservedConvertedUnder OverhaulScrapped
NSW NoSerial NoEntered serviceCurrent/Last OwnerLiveryStatusNotes490160-221Sep 1960InterailGreen & yellowScrapped490260-222Oct 1960Private ownerGreen & yellowScrappedWas previously stored at Seymour Railway Heritage Centre but scrapped in 2014490360-223Nov 1960The Picnic Train Patrick Portlink red, yellow & blackPreserved, operationalex Patrick Portlink ex Interail 490460-224Dec 1960Southern Shorthaul RailroadSSR yellow & blackOperationalex Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia490560-225Feb 1961Traction EngineeringTraction Engineering orangeStatic, Seymour Vic490660-226Mar 1961Lachlan Valley RailwayPatrick Portlink red, yellow & blackPreserved, operationalex Patrick Portlink ex Interail 490762-257Jun 1962Manildra GroupManildra blue & yellowOperationalrenumbered MM01490862-258Jul 1962Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellowOperationalex Greentrains ex 3801 Limited490962-259Jul 1962InterailSRA candyScrapped491062-260Aug 1962Southern Shorthaul RailroadSSR yellow & blackUnder OverhaulRebuilding Bendigo Workshops ex Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia KL81491162-261Oct 1962Southern Shorthaul RailroadCRL yellow, red & blackOperationalex Manildra Group 491262-262Nov 1962InterailSRA candyScrapped491364-342Jun 1964Manildra GroupManildra blue & yellowOperationalrenumbered MM02491464-343Jun 1964InterailSRA candyScrapped491564-344Jul 1964State Rail AuthorityPTC Indian RedScrapped491664-345Aug 1964Transport Heritage NSWTuscanPreserved, operational491764-346Aug 1964Southern Shorthaul RailroadSSR yellow & blackOperationalex Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia KL82491864-347Sep 1964Dorrigo Steam Railway & MuseumTuscanPreserved, operational
References
Further reading