Re: RSA & NRR to Brisbane - the 421s and the Brisbane Ltd.

["Grahame Ferguson" <grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au>]

PETer and susAN wrote in message <37ac1341.47958029@news.ion.com.au>...
>Dave,
>
>sorry but the NRR  locos are 421 not 42 as used on the early Brisbane
Limited.
>
>CHeers
>Peter Cokley
>

The 42 class were used in their early days on the Brisbane Ltd.  One 42
class actually smashed through the buffers at Sth Brisbane Interstate,
balanceing on its fuel tank over Melbourne St.
This resulted in the construction of large hydraulic buffers at the northern
end of the platform.  Another large set of buffers was constructed at the
end of No.1 platform at Roma St.
The 421s never made it to Brisbane.  If they did it would have been some
evaluation on their trials in 1965.
The 421s initially worked the Broken Hill line in 1970, notably on the
inaugural Indian-Pacific.  I even rode behind a 421 on the Central West
Express ex Orange in January 1970.
Initial plans shown in 'Rail Transportation' was for 2x421s Lithgow to
Parkes, then a 421 + 49 Parkes to Broken Hill.  I don't think that this ever
eventuated.
The 421s were bumped off the Broken Hill line because of rough riding, not
helped by the track, which was resleepered and reballasted with the existing
80lb rail.
As we all know they spent most of their life working between Albury and
Sydney.  One even made it to Melbourne in ?1983.
A treat for railfans was having 2x421s back to back on the Southern Aurora.
This did happen many times.
They were unusual for Clyde mainline locomotives having mechanical radiator
fans rather than the set of 4 electric fans.  Many have argued that it was
the NSWGR that stipulated many design changes which resulted in their rough
riding, and unpopularity with crews.  The 42s were even favoured over the
421s.
The dynamic brake fan was a large single fan rather than the 2 smaller ones
used for the 42 and S class.  The same larger fan was standard for all
dynamic braked locomotives from 1965, such as the 422 class, the VR X class
and GM37 to GM47.
It had the newer flexicoil bogies which were fitted to all Clyde locomotives
built sine 1961.  The exception being the CR GMs which all had the older
style bogie.
The nose design was the smoother design with the lower profiled headlight.
This nose design was the same as the E9s.  The nose design was then adopted
for all Clyde cab locos. such as GM35 to GM47, and CL1 to CL17.  GM3 after
being in an accident was given a newer nose by Clyde.
42101 was given a 645E engine temporarily in the late 70s, when a
replacement 567C engine was not ready in time at overhaul.
It is interesting that NRR are now going to re-engine some of their 421s
with 645E engines.

I did ride behind a 421 on an ARHS SMR Tour in ?1973  to East Greta
Junction.

The Brisbane Ltd was 2x44s, then 2x442s, then 2x80s.  Sometimes 3x80s were
on the Brisbane Ltd out of Brisbane.
43 class even worked the Brisbane Ltd.
In electrification days an 86 class would haul the Brisbane Ltd to
Broadmeadow to swap over for 2x80 class.

It was not until the 81 class in 1982, did the North ever see Clyde/GMs
regularly.
With the coming of the NRC did 81s and 82s work north of Maitland on the
North Coast.