Commonwealth Railways NC class
| Company type | Locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Lakewood Firewood Company ownership |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Headquarters | Granville, New South Wales (manufacturer) , Australia |
| Products | Diesel-hydraulic locomotives |
The Commonwealth Railways NC class consisted of a pair of diesel-hydraulic locomotives constructed by Clyde Engineering at their Granville, New South Wales facility in 1956. Originally owned by the Lakewood Firewood Company based in Kalgoorlie, these units were purchased by Commonwealth Railways in 1965 and remained in service until the early 1980s.
Description
The DH series, produced by Clyde Engineering, was promoted as adaptable locomotives ideal for light railway lines and sugar cane transport operations. Their design incorporated features such as compatibility with multiple unit control, dynamic braking capabilities, and a combined air and vacuum braking system.
Each locomotive was equipped with a single two-stroke diesel engine, the General Motors 6/110 model, paired with an Allison CRT5630 hydraulic transmission that powered mechanically linked wheels. The cab design included two control consoles oriented forward. These locomotives had a top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph).
History
The Lakewood Firewood Company (LFC) operated in the "Golden Mile" mining district of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, supplying timber to mines and extending its rail network south and east toward Lake Lefroy and along the Eyre Highway. At the time they ordered these locomotives, LFC’s fleet primarily consisted of aging small steam engines. However, by the time the new diesels arrived, demand had significantly decreased due to mine closures and shifts in energy sources, leading to traffic dropping from two daily trains to just two per week. The introduction of these diesel units marked the end of steam operations, though they were not well received by crews who were accustomed to steam power. By 1962, LFC’s workforce had diminished to fewer than 50 employees from a previous high of 550. The final train ran in December 1964 to clear remaining infrastructure, after which all rolling stock except for the two diesels was scrapped.
In 1965, Commonwealth Railways acquired both locomotives. The unit designated LFC1 was renumbered NC1 and underwent modifications to its Westinghouse brake system at Port Augusta workshops before being assigned as a yard shunter on the North Australia Railway at Darwin starting November 1966. It returned southward in 1972.
NC2 operated as a yard shunter at Port Augusta until 1970 when it was replaced by NB30. In 1972, NC1 took over NB30’s role as yard shunter while NC2 was relegated to serve as a source of spare parts.
Both locomotives were transferred to Australian National in July 1975.
By 1982, NC1 had become largely outdated due to diminished demand for narrow gauge shunting following the closure of the Central Australia Railway in 1980. NC2 was sold to the Pichi Richi Railway in July 1982, while NC1 was relocated to the Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society in 1985.
NC1
NC1 remained stationed at Port Augusta until 1985 when Australian National traded it for tank cars with the Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society to facilitate Mereenie crude oil operations. It arrived at Peterborough in April 1985 and became vital for hauling passenger services during steam locomotive outages, performing maintenance trains, as well as providing auxiliary power and braking support.
While assisting with the recovery effort of the derailed steam locomotive W901 in Eurelia yard in 1988, NC1 experienced a seizure in its rear drive assembly; extensive repairs were completed by mid-1991.
Originally painted in South Australian Railways’ Peterborough Division “invisible green” (a black base with hawthorn green), NC1 was later repainted in Commonwealth Railways’ maroon-and-silver scheme in 1998. , it is exhibited at the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre located in Peterborough.
NC2
In July 1982, NC2 was moved to the Pichi Richi Railway located at Quorn, where its engine and mechanical components were removed for safety reasons, followed by a repaint in LFC colours. By November 1982, it had been transferred to Port Lincoln to serve as a playground exhibit in Hermitage Park, taking the place of the steam locomotive Yx141. In 2008, the Port Lincoln Council enclosed the cab and restored the body shell to enhance safety. As of , NC2 continues to be exhibited as a static display in the park.
Livery
- LFC – green cab with cream-coloured sides and red headstocks; "LFC" displayed in cream on a red roundel on the cab sides
- CR – maroon combined with silver; "Commonwealth Railways" lettering on the cab side
- Steamtown – initially painted "invisible green" (a black shade with a green tint) before returning to the CR maroon and silver scheme
Locomotives
| Locomotive | Service Entry | Owner | Current Status |
| LFC1 - NC1 | 1956 | District Council of Peterborough | Displayed statically at Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre |
| LFC2 - NC2 | 1956 | City of Port Lincoln | Static exhibit at Hermitage Park, Port Lincoln |