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5908 is
one of twenty (D)59 class goods locomotives ordered by the New South Wales
Government Railways (NSWGR) from Baldwin Lima Hamilton Corporation, the
famous American locomotive builders Baldwin having merged with
Lima-Hamilton in December 1950. The (D)59’s were
ordered at a turbulent time in the history of Australian labour relations,
with the 1949 coal strikes having crippled the railways and hence the
broader economy. In response, the NSWGR specified the (D)59 class as
oil-burners, while significant numbers of the earlier (D)55 class Standard
Goods Engines were also converted to oil firing. The NSWGR also specified
short ‘bobtail’ tenders so the (D)59’s could be turned on the fleet of
existing 60’ turntables, but the design and manufacture of these tenders
delayed the normally speedy delivery by Baldwin. The class was placed in
NSWGR service between 30 August 1952 and 31 March 1953.
The
(D)59 class display typical American locomotive features such as running
plates located high above the driving wheels, a generous cab, and external
pipe runs providing easy access during maintenance but at the expense of
aesthetics. The (D)59 design was a repeat of the United States Army
Transport Corp (USATC) S200
type, designed and built for Second World War service in the
Middle-East and deployed to Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon. A number of S200
type locomotives ended up with the Italian Railways (FS Class 747), others
in Iran (Trans-Iranian
Railway class 42) and
two batches were purchased by the Turkish Railways, where at least two survive including 46244 at Camlik Museum. The
similarity of these USATC S200 war locomotives to the NSWGR (D)59 class is
immediately apparent from photographs, excepting the much shorter NSWGR
bobtail tenders!
The
(D)59 class were well regarded by the NSWGR, with their power, acceleration
and speed providing operational flexibility. Due to these attributes, they were often
assigned to pick-up goods duties, particularly on the ‘short north’ main
line from Sydney to Newcastle. Most class members were converted to coal
firing between 1962 and 1966, excepting 5918 (withdrawn following accident
damage and progressively cannibalised for parts), 5908 & 5916. The oil
burning locos are easily distinguishable from coal-fired examples by the
smaller smokebox door, which is made airtight by numerous ‘dogs’ around the
circumference, together with the oil tank sitting high in tender.
Most
(D)59 class members survived until very late in the steam era, with 5910
being the last in revenue traffic when condemned on 11 August 1972. Some
inactive (D)59’s survived a few more years, with 5905, 5915 and 5920 stored
at Enfield Loco Depot until the final clear-out of that site in early 1975.
The 59’s
were a firm favourite of my father, who found in them a resemblance to the
700-series Mikados of his native South Australia;
for comparison, refer to SAR loco 702.
The
authorative ‘Steam Locomotive Data’ (July 1974 edition) provides the
following milestones for 5908:
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In Service:
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31 October 1952
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Withdrawn:
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January 1971
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Distance
Travelled:
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643,888
km
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The two
remaining oil burners 5908 & 5916 last worked as shunters in Grafton
and dodged the scrap heap by finding further use as stationary boilers at
Broadmeadow Loco Depot, Newcastle. 5916 was transferred to Eveleigh
Carriage Workshops in August 1974 for further stationary boiler use, with
both 5908 & 5916 lasting in this capacity until 1977. 5908 moved to the
New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM) at Thirlmere later in 1977,
where it was placed on static display as an example of a (D)59 in original
oil burning configuration. Being an oil-burner, it remains largely in its
original configuration as first delivered by Baldwin Lima Hamilton.
5908 was
rather grimy, worn and rust streaked when delivered to the NSWRTM Thirlmere
in 1977 and was already missing some parts. There was a proposal to section
the locomotive for display, but fortunately this never came to pass. The
webmaster gave 5908 a quick repaint to basic black during 1991 (during
which I was chastised by one member who said “Why are you doing that? It is
only for parts!”) Indeed both 5908 and 5916 occasionally donated parts to
help keep sister 5910 in traffic, however it is likely that any missing
parts could be found in the extensive stores at Thirlmere.
During
2008, 5908's boiler clothing and underlying lagging as removed by
specialist contractors. The boiler clothing and associated fittings were
not replaced at completion of the work.
A change
of location came for 5908 on 27 November 2009 when it was road hauled from
NSWRTM Thirlmere (together with 5916 and 3085) to the Goulburn Rail Heritage
Centre, which is housed within the historic Goulburn Roundhouse. Here
it is displayed under cover on one of the roundhouse roads. Hopefully one
day funds can be found to restore this locomotive, either statically or –
preferably - as an operable exhibit. I believe it would be a wonderful
operating exhibit which would reflect some significant themes in period
Australian history, including (as a USATC war locomotive design) the
contribution America made to the region in World War Two and afterwards,
and as an oil-burner, the 1949 coal strikes and following labour relations
& political developments.
The
definite history for the NSWGR (D)59 class can be found in the excellent
book ‘The 59 Class’ by Harry Wright, published by the New South Wales Rail
Transport Museum in 1996 and featuring many colour and B&W photographs.
Further information about 5908 can be found on the NSW Office on
Environment and Heritage fact sheet for this locomotive. Additional technical
details can also be found on the Wikipedia entry for the NSWGR (D)59 class.
UPDATE
January 2026:
Internet
newsgroup photos and posts in October 2019 showed that static restoration
of 5908 was now underway at the Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre, with the
locomotive and tender separated to allow better access to the cab and
frame. My visit on 30 August 2025 found the loco fully repainted in gloss
black livery with red highlights on the running boards, and on display in
one of the roundhouse roads; my congratulations go to the Goulburn
volunteers for their achievement with this restoration.
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