BHP Port Kembla D35 class

BHP Port Kembla D35 class

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Model STE101B Build date 1971-75 Total produced 11

Specifications UIC class Bo-Bo Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge Length 12.81 m (42 ft 0 in) Loco weight 90 t (89 long tons; 99 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover English Electric 6CSRTK Cylinders 6 Loco brake Dynamic

Performance figures Power output 692 kW (928 hp)

Career Operators Australian Iron & Steel Number in class 11 Numbers D35-D45 First run December 1959 Current owner Pacific National Disposition 8 in service, 1 stored, 2 scrapped

The D35 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for Australian Iron & Steel's, Port Kembla steelworks between 1971 and 1975.

History

The D35 class were purchased to haul trains on Australian Iron & Steel's, Port Kembla network. They were used on coal trains from Kimera, Nebo and Wongawilli collieries as well as steel mill services. A downturn in the late 1970s saw six leased to the Public Transport Commission where as well as operating services in the Illawarra region, they operated as far as Bombo and Sydney.^[1][2][3][4]

All passed to Pacific National in August 2007 when BlueScope Steel outsourced the operation of its rail network.^[5][6] The remaining examples are expected to be withdrawn in 2014.^[7]

References

1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 276. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
2. "Australian Iron & Steel" Railway Digest October 1986 pages 299-303
3. 1000 Class (Port Kembla) Railpage
4. Port Kembla - Diesel Locomotive Fleetlisting Light Rail Research Society of Australia
5. BlueScope announces further job losses at Port Kembla ABC News 5 May 2007
6. BlueScope to outsource Port Kembla rail ops to Pacific National Rail Express 7 May 2007
7. Pacific National orders genset locomotives International Rail Journal 11 July 2013