Featuring ALCo's at work.
The first main line diesel electric locomotives used in New South Wales, Australia, were designed by the American Locomotive Co., built by the Montreal Locomotive Works of Canada and powered by Alco diesel engines. These entered service from 1951 as the 40 class, and began the demise of steam locos in NSW.
All later classes were built in Australia, and of the subsequent loco classes 40 to 49, the following were Alco powered:- 40, 43, 44, 45 & 48. Subsequent Alco powered classes were:- 442, and 80. This video looks at all the Alco powered locos, generally in the order in which they were introduced, however, as the majority of the locos remain in service (at the time of filming), with only the 40 and 43 classes being totally withdrawn, later scenes show all remaining classes at work.
There are nostalgic scenes of the midday Newcastle Flyer with a 40 class, a pair of 44s on the Spirit Of Progress, a 48 on end-platform wooden suburban cars, a goods train with guard's van and non-airconditioned trains on the Southern Line.
The modern scene is covered including big power, 442, 80 and multiple 48 class on block coal and wheat trains, and 44s on air conditioned trains. Locations include Wondabyne 64 km north of Sydney, Menangle in some detail, to Picton and Bargo 60 to 100 km south, the lower Blue Mountains area of the western line 50 km west, Neath Signal Box on the private South Maitland Railways 200 km north and the beautiful Liverpool Range area where the northern line crosses the Great Dividing Range at Ardglen 360km north of Sydney.
Spectacular working is seen in the Liverpool Range, with three 35/45 class banking (on the front) 2 GM 81 class, followed by, four 48 class on a bulk wheat train with three 35 class pushing on the rear. See the bankers coming on at Willow Tree, dropping off at Ardglen and between, blasting up the steep curvy grade, an operating nightmare but a railfan's delight!.
All this and more, taken mostly on professional Betacam, or 16mm film. Some older segments were taken on 8mm, super 8 and 9.5mm formats, professionally transferred, plus some professional Umatic. All has been edited on one inch tape and directly duplicated. The 1" tape master has been transferred to digital format for release on DVD.
An Original Rowlingstock Production.
Approximate run time: 55 minutes.