New South Wales D57 class locomotive
| Company type | Steam locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Headquarters | New South Wales , Australia |
| Products | Steam locomotives |
The New South Wales D57 class comprises a fleet of 4-8-2 steam locomotives manufactured by Clyde Engineering for the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia, with their tenders produced by Mort's Dock & Engineering Company.
History
Regarded as some of the heaviest locomotives in Australia, the D57 class had an axle load that restricted their operation to select lines, such as Thirroul on the Illawarra line, Wallerawang on the Main Western line, and Junee on the Main South line.
These locomotives featured large fireboxes that necessitated the installation of mechanical stokers, marking the first implementation of this technology in New South Wales steam engines. This advancement was subsequently incorporated into the 58 class and 60 class. Due to weight and clearance constraints, the D57 class was prohibited from operating on the Main Northern line. They delivered the greatest tractive effort among Australian non-articulated steam locomotives, comparable to modified 60 class Garratts. Known affectionately as Lazy Lizzies for their smooth power delivery and Chuckling Charlies for their distinctive exhaust cadence, these locomotives earned a reputation for dependability.
The three-cylinder configuration combined with Gresley conjugating valve gear generated a distinctive off-beat exhaust tone during ascents. Although generally effective, some discussion persisted regarding this valve gear's efficiency. A comparable mechanism was employed in 13 additional locomotives constructed in 1950 under the D58 classification.
Primarily assigned to freight duties, one unit (5719) was tested on the Melbourne Limited passenger route between Sydney and Cootamundra in 1942. The retirement process commenced in October 1957 and was completed by September 1961. The last remaining operational example, number 5711, was preserved by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum and has been relocated multiple times, most recently moving to the Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum in 2008.
Current initiatives aim to transfer 5711 to Chullora in Sydney for cosmetic restoration work.