BHP Newcastle 32 class

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gaugeWheel diameter33 in (838 mm)Minimum curve75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)Length38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)Width9 ft 9 in (2,972 mm)Height13 ft 11 in (4,242 mm)Fuel typeDieselFuel capacity400 imp gal
(1,800 L; 480 US gal)Lubricant cap.100 imp gal
(450 L; 120 US gal)Coolant cap.80 imp gal
(360 L; 96 US gal)Sandbox cap.12 cu ft (0.34 m³)Prime moverCooper Bessemer FWL-6-TRPM range350-1010Engine type4 stroke, 6 in line, dieselAspirationTurbochargedGeneratorGeneral Electric GT-571Traction motors4 off General Electric GE-747Cylinders6Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in
(230 mm × 270 mm)
bore x strokeLoco brakeWestinghouse A7
Railway air brakeTrain brakesWestinghouse AH7

Performance figures
Power output	Gross: 627 hp (470 kW), For traction: 600 hp (450 kW)

Career
Operators	BHP Newcastle Steelworks
Number in class	5
Numbers	32-36
Preserved	32, 34
Disposition	2 preserved, 3 scrapped

The BHP Newcastle 32 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for the BHP, Newcastle Steelworks between 1954 and 1956.

History

In 1954 BHP took delivery of three GE 70-ton switchers for use on its Newcastle Steelworks network from A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow with a further two delivered in 1956.^[1][2]

Class list

Locomotive	Builder's No	Entered service	Withdrawn	Notes
32	1/S0001	Jul 1954	Aug 1986	preserved on static display at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum
33	2/S0002	Aug 1954	Feb 1987	-
34	3/S0003	Dec 1954	Jan 1990	stored at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum
35	10/S3006	Dec 1956	Aug 1988	-
36	11/S3007	Dec 1956	Jun 1985	-

References

• Men, Steel and Rails by David Jehan 1999, Published by BHP ISBN 1-876634-09-X
• Australian Diesel Scene 5 2002, Published by Eveleigh Press ISBN 1-876568-23-2
• Specification sheet ex BHP Newcastle Steelworks diesel shop
• Steel and Rails in Newcastle, by Keith McDonald 1981, Published by Light Railway Research Society of Australia ISBN 0-909340-15-3