Thread: Alco 48 class loco pics

Hi 3-Gees and lucky you, that’s one of my favourite train watching spots. I’ve got loads of video from around and over the Liverpool Range, including heaps shots at Ardglen.

If I can ever get my finger out, I did a couple of cab rides over the range a few years back and shot video in both directions from the front of the Explorer set.

I’ll try to get some time over Christmas and post up some of the cab shots.

I would love to take you up on a trip the Tehachapi. BTW, have you ever heard of a sound recording called “Mr D’s Machine”. It was made in 1969 but is now available on CD.

That has some great sound recordings of the old type GMs working their way around the loop. Sounds incredible.

We used to hate it when they stuck a "bloody 48 class" on behind an 81.
As mentioned earlier, the 48's speed was limited (80km/h if I remember) and just slowed everything down.
The 81's could do the 125km/h on the South unencumbered.

It was rare to see a 48 on country passenger trains - usually 80's, 45's and 442's on the North Coast, 44's and 80's North and West and 81's and 422's on the South (sometimes a 421). I think that they ran to Illawarra, although they had the Grey-Ghost (44 class painted silver) at the head of the Budd set.

Another great thing to see was a 48 and 45 together as "Father and Son" -at first glance they looked the same, just that one was about %80 the size of the other - "scaled-down".

48s used to run all the time on the Illawarra line, was great to catch the 'steamer' from Central to home when I was at uni.

Martyn

I wasn't fortunate enough to see steam in Sydney - I can only imagine looking down towards the terminal on a Friday night with all the expresses and mail trains heading out.

Originally Posted by scanfor

As mentioned earlier, the 48's speed was limited (80km/h if I remember) and just slowed everything down.
The 81's could do the 125km/h on the South unencumbered.

Off the subject of 48s’ I spent my last years on the ETR ( suburban electrics ) and loved it.

I often got called in on days off to do foreign jobs, jobs in other depots.

One of the best foreign jobs I did was a Campbelltown Saturday night rostered job. Someone at Campbelltown went sick at the last minute and they couldn’t get a local to cover the running.

The normal running was to do a couple of runs around the Bankstown circle then after the meal break, I was to relive a driver at Central, run the train up to and over the emergency crossover just south of Goulburn Street and then change ends and work the train to Campbelltown.

The reason for running through the emergency crossover was to keep the tracks and overhead clean. I had never done that one before.

The night ( morning ) I was to work the train on the last leg to Campbelltown, there was overhead working being done between Liverpool and Campbelltown and my train was to be diesel hauled for the last section.

I worked the train as normal to Auburn and then into Clyde good yard.

There was an 80 class waiting and we coupled up and waited for the road ( waited for the signal to clear to allow use back out on the main line ).

While the guard and I coupled up, the fireman showed up with a some Chinese meals for him and the driver. ( don’t know where he got it, it was after 1 am ).

There was nothing else I had to do so I jumped up in the cab of the 80 class.

The driver and fireman were feeding away when we got the road.

I told the driver I hadn’t driven an 80 class before but if he wanted a break I’d be happy to a go.

He couldn’t get out of the seat quick enough.

Although a lot slower off the mark then a suburban electric, it was still pretty easy to run the time table. The 80 class pulling a 4 car suburban would be like a Mack truck pulling a camper trailer.

Between liverpool and Campbelltown is some pretty fast running and I just drove to the speed boards.

A couple of times the fireman got up and looked at the speedo.

On the third time I asked him if anything was wrong, we were doing 120 KPH.

His reply was’ No it’s just that I have never been this fast before”

If I had ever considered going back to the freight side, I was permanently cured there and then.

Originally Posted by scanfor

I wasn't fortunate enough to see steam in Sydney - I can only imagine looking down towards the terminal on a Friday night with all the expresses and mail trains heading out.

I started on the job during the last 3 years of of steam on the NSWGR and my first fireman's job was on a 19 class in Darling Harbour yard.

I still reckon there is nothing as spectacular as a steamer in full stride in the middle of winter, as long as someone else is firing it.

I HATED WORKING ON THEM.

Can you imagine firing the Brisbane Limited up the Cowan Bank with a 38? Those guys must have been fit. Mechanical stokers would have seemed like Christmas to them.

Originally Posted by Dreamer

Loved the art deco lines of the 42 class.

Couldn't agree more. Would have to be my fave diesel.

As for sound recordings someone mentioned earlier, Steel Rails Under Thundering Skies is a great vinyl I have which you can find on Amazon occasionally. But need surround processor as it was converted from original recordings, but sounds fantastic.