New South Wales 422 class
Aurizon 2210
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering,Granville Serial number 69-656 to 69-674, 70-675 Model EMD J26C (42220 rebuilt to J26C-2SS) Build date 1969–1970 Total produced 20
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Length Overheadstocks: 56 ft 4 in (17.17 m) Overcoupler pulling faces: 60 ft 6 in (18.44 m) Width 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) Height 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m) Axle load 18 long tons 0 cwt (40,300 lb or 18.3 t) Loco weight 108 long tons 0 cwt (241,900 lb or 109.7 t) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,200 imp gal (5,500 L; 1,400 US gal) Lubricant cap. 166 imp gal (750 L; 199 US gal) Coolant cap. 175 imp gal (800 L; 210 US gal) Sandbox cap. 12 cu ft (0.34 m3) Prime mover EMD 16-645E RPM range 315–900 Engine type Two-strokeV16diesel Aspiration Roots blower Generator EMD D32B-D14 Traction motors EMD D77B, 6 of Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 9.0625 in × 10 in (230 mm × 254 mm) Transmission Electric MU working Equipped Train heating No Loco brake Air, Dynamic Train brakes Air Safety systems Deadman switch
Performance figures Maximum speed 77 mph (124 km/h) Power output 2,000 hp (1,490 kW) Tractive effort Continuous: 70,920 lbf (315.47 kN) at 7.7 mph (12.4 km/h)
Career Operators Magnetic Rail Group Aurizon Watco Australia Southern Shorthaul Railroad Number in class 20 Numbers 42201–42220 Nicknames Rattlesnakes Delivered 1969 First run 10 January 1969 Last run 21 January 1970 Current owner Aurizon Magnetic Rail Group Watco Australia Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 10 in service, 4 stored, 6scrapped

The422 class are a class of diesel locomotives built byClyde Engineering,Granville for theDepartment of Railways New South Wales in 1969/70.

The 422 class were the first Australian locomotives built with non-streamlined dual cab bodies. Manufactured byClyde Engineering,Granville, they were introduced into service on theMain South andIllawarra lines where they would spend most of their New South Wales careers hauling passenger and freight services. Among the services they hauled were theCanberra Express,Intercapital Daylight,South Coast Daylight Express,Southern Aurora,Spirit of Progress,Griffith Express andSydney/Melbourne Express.

In 1980, 42220 was rebuilt by Clyde Engineering,Rosewater, receiving an AR16 alternator, a new electrical system andSuper Series wheel slip technology. It was a test bed for many of the features incorporated into the81 class.^[1]

From 1982, they began to operate through toMelbourne. This ceased in February 1990 when non air-conditioned locomotives would no longer be accepted by Victorian drivers.^[2]

With the formation ofNational Rail, the 422s were all allocated to the new interstate carrier in July 1995 pending delivery of itsNR class locomotives.^[3] This saw them again frequently operating to Melbourne, albeit usually as second units and over new territory toParkes viaForbes and from August 1996 via theNorth Coast line toBrisbane.^[1][4] When they were returned toFreightCorp in September 1997, their Southern duties were now being handled byClass 81s so most were stored.^[5]

In 1999, 42202 and 42206 were sold to FreightCorp's North Coast sub-contractor,Northern Rivers Railroad passing with the business toAurizon in May 2002.^[6]

By January 2000, only 42203 and 42220 remained in service with FreightCorp; these having been fitted with air-conditioning. These were retained primarily to operateCountryLink services fromSydney toGriffith and from January 2000 over new ground on theOutback Express toBroken Hill.^[7] These were sold toChicago Freight Car Leasing Australia in 2001 and later rebuilt as HL203 and FL220.^[6]

In May 2000, the other 16 were sold to theAustralian Southern Railroad and transferred in one movement fromWerris Creek where they had been stored toDry Creek,Adelaide^[8] where they were gradually reactivated. Some were placed in service operating construction trains on theAlice Springs to Darwin line as well as in South Australia and Western Australia. Others returned to New South Wales on hire to other operators. It was decided to rebuild all 16 as the 22 class which among other modifications saw air-conditioning fitted, although only 14 ended up being completed atDowner Rail,Port Augusta.^[6][9][10]

With the splitting up of 10 passed toAurizon in early 2023 and 1 toMagnetic Rail Group in early 2023.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

In early 2023, 14 remained in service withAurizon,SSR,watco, andMagnetic Rail with seven in store.^[16] In 2016Watco Australia units and transferred toPerth to operateBrookfield Rail infrastructure trains.^[17][18]

As of November 2023 10 were owned byAurizon, 2 bywatco, 1 byMagnetic Rail Group & 1 bySSR.

In early 2023, 42202, 42206, and 2202 went to Cardiff for reactivation for Aurizon intermodal services. But 2202 has been road hauled to dry creek in June 2024 for reactivation.

• New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.
• A Guide to Australian Locomotion 2009 Edition Published by Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW)

Media related toNew South Wales 422 class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons

• Aurizon diesel locomotives
• Clyde Engineering locomotives
• Co-Co locomotives
• Diesel locomotives of New South Wales
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1969
• Standard-gauge locomotives of Australia
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Australia

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