NSW SRA 73 Class Candy

NSW SRA 73 Class Candy

In 1969 the NSWGR was striving to eliminate the last pockets of steam in NSW depots and so was in the market for a light shunting locomotive. The diesel-hydraulic mechanism also appeared ideal to haul trains through light floodwaters where conventional diesel-electric locos could not. After noting the success of the diesel-hydraulic locomotives used by the Emu Bay and Queensland Railways, the NSWGR placed an order with Walkers Ltd of Maryborough Queensland for 30 units in October 1969.

Locomotive 7302 was the first of the class in service on October 20th 1970. Several teething problems were evident during early trials with the class with insufficient horsepower being predominant. Many trials and tests were conducted on the class until a final rating of 300 tons at 5.4mph was decided upon as satisfactory.

Later years saw the little locomotives struggle with increased freight tonnages at various depots, with the result that branch-line units were often used for shunting instead. The 73s returned to Sydney where they were often used in pairs for shunting work at the Port Botany container terminal. The class also saw work in the Newcastle area on trip-train duties, however ongoing reliability problems and the increased loads meant they were never really successful in their later years.

Today class leader 7301 survives as the Meeks Road XPT depot shunter, whilst 7333 and 7344 are in active service with 3801 Ltd on the Cockatoo run.


Company: State Rail Authority
Model: 73 Class Bo-Bo
Year: 1970-73
Engine: Caterpillar D379 Series B
Engine BHP: 700hp
Power at Rail: 650hp
Max Speed: 64 kph (40 mph)
Length: 11.99m
Weight: 49.8 tonnes

Author: David Taylor

NSW SRA 73 Class Candy
• config.txt 5.49KB
nswgr_73_candy_alpha_numbers
alphanumber_0a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_0b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_1a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_1b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_2a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_2b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_3a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_3b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_4a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_4b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_5a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_5b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_6a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_6b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_7a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_7b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_8a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_8b.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_9a.tga 4.53KB
alphanumber_9b.tga 4.53KB
nswgr_73_candy_art
nswgr_73_candy_art_512.texture.txt 91 bytes
nswgr_73_candy_art_512.tga 1.00MB
nswgr_73_candy_art_icon.texture.txt 93 bytes
nswgr_73_candy_art_icon.tga 32.53KB
nswgr_73_candy_body
digit_3a.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_3a.tga 3.53KB
digit_3b.texture.txt 33 bytes
digit_3b.tga 3.53KB
digit_4a.texture.txt 33 bytes
digit_4a.tga 3.53KB
digit_4b.texture.txt 33 bytes
digit_4b.tga 3.53KB
digit_5a.texture.txt 33 bytes
digit_5a.tga 3.53KB
digit_5b.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_5b.tga 3.53KB
digit_6a.texture.txt 33 bytes
digit_6a.tga 3.53KB
digit_6b.texture.txt 33 bytes
digit_6b.tga 3.53KB
env_metal.bmp 48.05KB
env_metal.texture.txt 34 bytes
main.texture.txt 29 bytes
main.tga 768.53KB
nswgr_73_candy_body.pm 605.28KB
window.texture.txt 31 bytes
window.tga 12.53KB
nswgr_73_candy_shadow
black.texture.txt 28 bytes
black.tga 812 bytes
nswgr_73_candy_shadow.pm 78.10KB