New South Wales D58 class
Class D58 Locomotive
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderEveleigh Railway Workshops (11)
Cardiff Locomotive Workshops (2)
Total produced13
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-2
 • UIC2'D1'h3g
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Adhesive weight212,000 lb (96,162 kg; 96 t)
Loco weight311,000 lb (141,067 kg; 141 t)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area65 sq ft (6.04 m2)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface3,390 sq ft (314.94 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area775 sq ft (72.00 m2)
CylindersThree
Cylinder size21.5 in × 28 in
(546 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gearOutside: Walschaerts. Derived (middle): Rack and pinion
Performance figures
Tractive effort55,008 lbf (244.7 kN)
Factor of adh.3.84
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
ClassD58
Numbers5801–5813
DispositionAll scrapped, with exceptions to some tenders.

The D58 class was a class of steam locomotives built by the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia. They were built with the 4-8-2 wheel arrangement.

Design

In 1943, approval was given for the New South Wales Government Railways Workshops to build 25 freight locomotives. The design was a modified version of the 57 class. The main alterations were the use of a rack and pinion valve gear[1] in lieu of the Gresley 2:1 conjugated valve gear for the middle cylinder and the use of smaller cylinders to enable the locomotives to run to on the Main North line to Broadmeadow, a route which had a tighter loading gauge. They also used a Woodard divided drive of twin coupling rods between the second and third driving wheels. A valance was fitted over the valve gear on the front platform.[2] Similarly to the earlier D57 class and the later AD60 class, the 58 class were fitted with a mechanical stoker to feed the large firebox

Construction

Eveleigh Railway Workshops built 11 locomotives and Cardiff Locomotive Workshops with two. The first entered service in March 1950. The decision to move to diesel power saw only 13 locomotives completed.[2]

Operations

5801 hauls a South Coast freight train into Sutherland station

Whilst the derived rack and pinion valve gear appeared superior in theory, in practice it required more maintenance and lubrication. The smaller diameter cylinders of the 58 class (21.1/2") compared to the earlier 57 class (23.1/4") demanded a later cut-off and thus used more steam. This could cause the locomotives to be uneconomical in the use of coal and water when compared with the 57 class, but the 58's longer valve travel ameliorated this objection if driven as designed to be so. Despite the design being made to enable use on the Main Northern line from Sydney to Broadmeadow, few journeys were ever made on this route. They mainly were used on the Main Western line to Lithgow and in a limited capacity on the Main South line to Junee.[2][3]

After a very short service life, the entire class had been withdrawn by July 1957 and were all cut up by March 1964. Some parts were recovered and used on 57 class locomotives. There are no surviving examples, however the tender of 5808 lies near Canberra station as an old fuel tank for a Canberra-based diesel shunter (now disused). Some 58 class tenders saw further use as water tankers around New South Wales. One is at the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum.[3][4]

5801 under construction at Eveleigh Railway Workshops in 1949

References

  1. ↑ Slee, David E (January 2000). "D57 and D58 Classes—Design Differences and Power Comparisons". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 3–19.
  2. 1 2 3 Grunbach, Alex (1989). A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives. Sydney: Australian Railway Historical Society, NSW Division. pp. 232–235. ISBN 0 909650 27 6.
  3. 1 2 Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 168–170. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
  4. ↑ Wright, H (July 1964). "The Last of the 58-Class 'Mountain' Locomotives". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 130–132.
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