In 1950, the New South Wales Government Railways ordered 10 diesel locomotives from Australian General Electric.[1] The construction was sublet to British Thomson-Houston of Rugby in the United Kingdom with the body built by Metro Cammell, Birmingham.[2][3] The first entered service in December 1953 and the last in February 1955.[4] All were delivered painted in verdant green, in the 1960s all were repainted Indian red.
From their earliest days, the locomotives suffered failures including overheating and fires. To try and overcome this the radiators were relocated further to the ends of all ten of the locomotives and air ducting was modified. In addition, two had their mufflers relocated. The modification was considered a success, but not rolled out across the rest of the class. The locomotives were equipped to operate in multiple however the cooling system layout saw radiator heat passing from the leading locomotive to the trailing one, resulting in the equipment being removed.[1]
By the early 1960s with the twin Paxman 12-RPHL engines coming to the end of their useful life, the Mechanical Branch began looking at repowering options. With the cost of repowering and overhauling the Class 41s being two-thirds that of a new Class 48 and repair costs per mile over nine times greater, it was decided not to proceed with this.[1]
One was set aside in December 1957 following two electrical fires, the second in April 1961, the third in September 1969, while overhauls ceased for the rest of the class in 1972 with each locomotive withdrawn as it suffered a major failure, the final locomotive being withdrawn in June 1975.[1] The class were mainly confined to metropolitan Sydney operating local trip workings and shunting at Enfield yard.[1]
After it arrived at Thirlmere in January 1977, the seized engine that led to its demise was temporarily repaired by members of the Illawarra Group. In 1982, an engine failed whilst returning from a trip to Picton and as a consequence 4102 was then used as a one-engine shunter until the batteries finally wore out in 1987.
By July 1991, it had moved to CountryLink's XPT Service Centre in Sydenham (where the Paxman engined XPTs are maintained), where a spare engine was installed.[7] It returned to Thirlmere in November 1992, but was not restored to service.[8] In April 2009, 4102 was moved for further storage at the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot. In May 2023 it was moved to the Heritage Hub at Chullora Workshops.
Status table
Number
Serial No
Entered Service
Last Used
Withdrawn
Condemned
Scrapped
Kilometres Travelled
4101
1001
1 Dec 1953
6 Jun 1973
27 Jun 1973
2 Sep 1974
11 Jun 1975
463,514
4102
1002
30 Oct 1953
30 Jun 1975
19 Jul 1975
1 Dec 1975
Preserved THNSW
492,650
4103
1003
18 Jan 1954
2 Apr 1974
16 May 1974
2 Sep 1974
1 Sep 1975
462,871
4104
1004
13 Jan 1954
12 Oct 1973
26 Mar 1974
2 Sep 1974
29 Aug 1975
440,810
4105
1005
8 Feb 1954
31 Mar 1961
01 Apr 1961
May 1973
5 Oct 1972
149,281
4106
1006
21 Jan 1954
02 Jan 1958
05 Jan 1958
May 1973
27 Apr 1973
106,909
4107
1007
25 Jan 1954
11 Aug 1973
26 Mar 1974
2 Sep 1974
29 Aug 1975
446,167
4108
1008
22 Feb 1954
10 Sep 1969
10 Sep 1969
May 1973
20 Oct 1972
402,026
4109
1009
11 Mar 1954
9 Feb 1972
27 Jun 1973
2 Sep 1974
4 Jun 1975
426,074
4110
1010
10 Feb 1955
20 May 1974
25 May 1974
2 Sep 1974
1 Sep 1975
476,489
References
^ abcdeLeaver, Allan (January 1984). "41 Class Album". Roundhouse.