New South Wales 4-6-2 Locomotives in Australia

Class C38 (Locobase 2413)

Data from John Forsythe (Archive Officer, Transport House), Steam Locomotive Data, Public Transport Commission of NSW [New South Wales], July 1974, p.85, archived at [], last accessed 12 March 2015. (Many thanks to Brett Fitzpatrick for his 11 March 2015 email supplying the link to the CoalsToNewcastle website.) Other data from [], visited 11 October 2002) and Some data from Peter Cokley in Bryan Attewell ([] Steam locomotive simulator (April 2000 edition). Data supplemented by 2 Jan 1961 publicity handout from the NSW reproduced at []

NSW - Everleigh shops turned out thirteen of these Pacifics, NSW - Cardiff contributed another twelve, and Clyde Engineering delivered five streamlined versions. CME Harold Young of the NSWGR was the designer, who built these engines only after his proposal for exotic 4-6-4+4-6-4 Express Double Baltic Garratt was turned down. (This engine would have had Cossart-driven poppet valves on 4 18" x 28" cylinders, 65 sq ft of firegrate, 70" drivers, and a tractive effort of 55,000 lb.)

C38s represented the latest in conventional steam locomotive design, having cast steel frames with integral cylinders, roller bearings on all the axles, power reverse, air sanding, rocking and dumping sections in the grates. As the specs show, the boiler was huge in relation to the cylinders and steam was distributed using 12" piston (305 mm) valves -- clearly this locomotive was meant to steam easily. The Belpaire firebox included five arch tubes that contributed 26.7 sq ft (2.5 sq m) to direct heating surface area.

One limitation the Powerhouse museum site ([], 10 Oct 2004) notes:

"Despite their size, the 38s were hand fired and required constant feed of their 48 square foot grate. A typical run from Sydney to Newcastle would consume 4 and a half tons of coal, giving the toiling fireman no opportunity to rest."

All of this enabled the C38s to take 450 tons up the 1.33% Albury incline. One mild criticism from OS Nock (RWC VI, pl 28): "Like all Pacifics, they were inclined to slip on starting ...But with more generous provision of sand and increased experience, this was largely overcome. " He adds that despite their relatively small drivers, they hit speeds of more than 70 mph "with ease." Steaming_south claims that these engines regularly produced more than 2,000 hp at the rail and reached speeds of better than 80 mph.

The class carried on well into the 1960s with the last leaving service in 1969.