44 class through Wagga

 The NSWGR 44 class diesel electric locomotive

Introduced in 1957, the NSWGR 44 class was a development of the Alco DL-500 design, using the proven Alco244 V12 engine, generating 1600 horse power.  These were built under licence by A.E. Goodwin of St.Marys, and Auburn.

Class Leader 4401, preserved at the Junee Roundhouse Museum

The NSW 44 class eventually grew to a fleet of 100 locos (numbered 4401 to 44100), with minor differences between batches, the last loco entering service in 1968.  For the next 37 years, they gave sterling service.  An excellent  book, "44 The World down Under" by Ron Preston, published by Eveleigh Press, covers the class in government service.  A few 44s were later sold into private ownership and continued until a few years ago.

44s at Wagga.  

A 44 with mail train connection, approaches the station platform.  An FX holden crosses the Best Street bridge in the background.

A 44 class is second unit on this northbound freight.  The doubleslip (connection to the goods shed road) had been recently decommissioned, with fresh ballast showing

Richard Austin captured 4455 with a mail train in this undated image

 4418, #2 end leading,  also by Richard Austin.  A great picture,  showing a CPH/CTH pair in the southbound dock.  

Another angle by Richard

Nose and tail

4498 with short train departs Wagga on this ARHS archive image.  The railway cottages in the background will be a subject of a later scratchbuilding project

The second last intercapital daylight into Wagga was headed by a pair of 44 locos, in a tribute to the train's history.  My picture from early 1990s 

44 running on borrowed time, in Junee.

One of the attractions of relocating from Queanbeyan to Junee was the proximity of the railway.  I was really happy to discover that the VISY paper train shuttle from Bomen, ran twice a day, and often featured ALCO power, with the distinctive burble of engines working hard up the grade.  The engines were owned by Independant Rail, with their attractive silver livery.

August 2017, three 44s in Junee Yard 4488, 4497 & 4458

June 2017 - Pair of 44s, 4497, and 4458 headed by ex AN 872 (another alco), drift downgrade towards Junee with the VISY shuttle

By August 2019, 4497 had been grafittied.  Unfortunately, this was never cleaned off, and "graced" (if that is the word) until 2024, when 4497 (the last one running),  was put aside with a fault, that stopped it running any faster than 30Kph. (Thanks Shaun for that information)

Detail pictures

Last Tuesday, a few of us had an opportunity to inspect, and photograph a number of privately owned 44 class locomotives, that are out of use at Junee Roundhouse Workshops.  Thanks to Geoff (from the Roundhouse Museum)  for arranging, and Wayne (JRW) for guiding us.   Below are some of the pictures we took in the 40C+ heatwave temperatures.  

"Minto" depot plate under the number

Speedometer cable

Fuel tank gauge

Airtanks

Fuel Tank

Automatic Staff exchanger on 4458.  I was surprised that this mechanical signalling artifact had not been removed.  4477, and 4497 also had staff exchangers.  

4401 at Junee Roundhouse Museum.

We were unable to access any of the interiors of the stored locomotives, so Geoff suggested that we could inspect 4401, which is one of the museum exhibits.  4401's interior is normally off limits, so we are grateful for the opportunity to access.

The Junee Roundhouse was completed in 1947, and is a full roundhouse.  The Junee Roundhouse Workshops use over half the bays, whilst the Junee Roundhouse Museum has access to the rest.

#2 end

Driver position at #1 end of 4401

Observer seat at #1 end of 4401

Controls and dials for the driver

Speed and odometer at #1 end

Electrical switchboard at the back of #1 cab.  Walkway on both sides to access the motor, and eventually the cab at #2 end

Electrical Generator at one end of the diesel motor

The walkway to the rear cab is tight, with very little headroom.  I would not like to traverse this passage when the locomotive is in motion

Observer seat in #2 cab

View of the roundhouse from the#2 cab driver seat

#2 cab appeared to be more spacious than #1 cab.  

Pull cord for air horn.  Fantastic. 

Modelling

The 44 class in HO scale was the first RTR NSW plastic model, introduced in the 1970s by Lima.  It was well received, and most of the train layouts I saw at exhibitions in the 1980s used this model.   In reality, the lima model was fairly basic, dimensionally suspect (particularly the windows at #1 end) poorly painted, and not the best running.

Lima 4469 - original condition

There were skilled modellers who were able to correct some of the deficiencies.  One of the  "Modelling the Railways of NSW" conventions I attended included a talk on how to do this. 

I limited my efforts to detailing, new chassis (Mansfield 44), and a complete repaint.  Alas, another project awaiting completion. 

Lima 44 - detailed with new pilots, horns, repainted, with mansfield 44 chassis

AR Kits, under the Mains West banner, also introduced a 44 class body kit.  The body components are Resin, with some etched brass.  The recommended chassis was the Australian made K&M, which was solid, reliable, and noisy.

Mains West 44.  (Not shown is the flush glaze.)

And there have been brass models by both Mansfield and Precision Scale Models.  

 

Mansfield Hobbies, 44 phase 1

Mansfield 4483, in original NSWGR scheme

Mansfield 4461, in the attractive Candy Livery.  This model professionally painted by Bill Otty.  Immaculate.

A much improved 44 class model was introduced by Trainorama around 20 years ago.  It was well detailed, ran well.  Many  livery options were available.  Included an 8 pin DCC socket.  The only major fault was the gears in the wheel axles were prone to splitting, but replacement gears are available

And, pushing the detailing bar even further, Auscision produced a 44 class model to match the standards of their other locos.  Below is a picture from their website, showing the livery options for the new run, due early in 2026.  Fitted with DCC/Locsound 5, the realism is astounding

Builders Plates and other trinkets

I have been collecting stuff for my train room since the 1980s.  Here are my 44 class items  

Goodwin-Alco 4456 plate is lightly etched, painted aluminium.  

4461.  This plate is the match for the Mansfield  4461 pictured above

Westinghouse brake gauge from 4436.

Last thoughts

The 44 class is a firm favourite of mine, and it is sad to see this once great class fade into the background.  Model trains though will rekindle the memories.

Until next time, construct a model (or two).