First 60, GE t/m: 18 long tons 14 cwt (41,900 lb or 19 t), First 60, AEI t/m: 17 long tons 14 cwt (39,600 lb or 18 t), Last 40: 18 long tons 8 cwt (41,200 lb or 18.7 t)
Loco weight
First 60, GE t/m: 112 long tons 1 cwt (251,000 lb or 113.8 t), First 60, AEI t/m: 106 long tons 3 cwt (237,800 lb or 107.9 t), Last 40: 110 long tons 3 cwt (246,700 lb or 111.9 t)
The 44 class were built by AE Goodwin, the Australian licensee of US company Alco, and were based on the Alco DL500B model. The locomotives were fitted with Alco 12-251B engines, developing 1343 kW. They were built in two batches, the first 60 between July 1957 and April 1961 and the second 40 between October 1965 and December 1967. The last 40 had Associated Electrical Industries as opposed to General Electric generators and traction motors, as well as illuminated segregated number boxes at the No.2 end. The model was very similar to dual cab South Australian Railways 930 class.
With driving cabs within both ends, the front (No.1 end) of the locomotive had a rounded nose (although not as round as the Clyde/GM "Bulldog nose" type) and a flat nose at the No.2 end. During their career, the locomotives served every part of New South Wales and operated every type of train.
In the late 1980s, some earlier examples in need of rewiring began to be withdrawn, but many survived into the 1990s, with the last being withdrawn in July 1997. Over forty still owned by the State Rail Authority were auctioned off in December 1994.[1]
