The New South Wales 42 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Department of Railways in 1955/56.

History

The design was based on the Electro-Motive Diesel EMD F9 locomotive, and was very similar to the GM 12 class then being built by Clyde Engineering for the Commonwealth Railways. The locos initially worked express passenger services including the Brisbane Limited, Intercapital Daylight and Melbourne Limited and later the Southern Aurora and Spirit of Progress. As newer locomotives arrived they were concentrated on the Main South line operating freight services. By April 1978, the Goulburn branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen had placed a ban on operating the 42 class as lead engines due to cab conditions. In 1980, to overcome those problems, 4201 had its cab upgraded during an overhaul but, with their replacement imminent, it was decided not to modify the rest of the class. All were withdrawn in 1983.

Preservation

Three have been preserved. A fourth was preserved, but this has since been mostly cut up: