New South Wales 38 class locomotive

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38 Class
38 Class
Class leader 3801 - a streamlined example of the class
Power type Steam
Builder NSWGR
Build date 1941-45
Configuration 4-6-2
Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Driver size 5 ft 9 in (1,752 mm)
Wheelbase 65 ft 7 1/8 in (23,282 mm)
Locomotive weight 201 tons (204,000 kg) when in steam
Tender capacity 14 tons (14,224 kg) coal; 8,100 gallons (36,450 l) water
Boiler pressure 245 psi (1,688 kPa)
Fire grate area 47 ft² (4.32 m²)
Heating surface: Tubes 142 tubes, 2¼ in (51.7 mm) dia each
Heating surface: Flues 36 flues, 2¼ in (139 mm) dia each
Heating surface: Total 3,367.79 ft² (309.82 m²)
Superheater type 36 element
Cylinders 2
Tractive effort 36,200 lbf (161,017 N)
Career NSWGR
Class 38 class
Number in class 30
Number 3801-3830
Locale New South Wales, Australia
First run 1943-5
Last run ???
Disposition 2 preserved operational, 2 preserved statically, remainder scrapped

The 38 class was a class of steam locomotive built and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia. Built from 1943, the 30 locomotives in the class were designed to haul express trains and replace the 36 class on these premium workings. They were the first NSW locomotives to use the popular Pacific 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.

Unstreamlined 3820 preserved at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, wearing the black livery applied to many of the 38 class locomotives.
Unstreamlined 3820 preserved at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, wearing the black livery applied to many of the 38 class locomotives.
3803
3803

[edit] History

The 38 class were first conceived in 1938. They suffered many delays during construction - mostly due to the Second World War. 3801 was the first engine completed and entered service in January 1943. The last in the class, 3830 entered service in November 1949. The first five locomotives were built in the Clyde Railway Workshops and wore distinctive streamlined boiler casing. The remaining 25 locomotives were built at the New South Wales Government Railway Workshops at Eveleigh, New South Wales (13 locomotives) and NSWGR Workshops at Cardiff in Newcastle (12 locomotives).

By 1951 diesel locomotives started appearing on the rails of NSW. These gradually took the "glamour workings" away from the 38 class, who would be confined to all-stations passenger and even goods trains. They could still be found working The Newcastle Flyer up until December 1970.

[edit] Today

Four 38 class locomotives were saved from scrap. Currently only 3801 and 3830 (the first and last locomotives in the class) are operational (3801 by New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (previously by 3801 Limited until Nov 2006) and 3830 by the Powerhouse Museum), while 3820 is maintained as a static exhibit at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. 3813 suffered at the hands of a new railway commissioner after a complete restoration was begun in the mid 1970s. It is now in a stripped condition at the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum.

[edit] References

[edit] External links


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