Steelworks Locomotives
There was a time when the steelworks in Newcastle and Port Kembla were hives of industry served by an amazing fleet of industrial locomotives ranging from chunky saddle tank locomotives to unusual diesels that came from various manufacturers.
Today the steelworks and their locomotive fleet are gone. The steelworks in Port Kembla are still in production and the plant is still served by an interesting collection of locomotives but Pacific National now have the contract to operate the industrial network so thinks are likely to change.
Back in 1995 and 1997 things were different though and Brad Peadon shot these photos.
BHP 16 was deep in the steelworks at Port Kembla in October 1995. This loco was the first of 12 English Electric locomotives that began arriving in 1959. They’re powered by a 635kW/850HP EE 8SRKT engine.
Now lets head north to Newcastle and November 1997.
BHP 48 was one of 22 locomotives built by Goninan’s at Broadmeadow. These were introduced in 1960 and used within the plant on various duties. When the Newcastle steelworks closed a number of the locos were offered for sale and BHP 48 was purchased by Manildra Flour Mills.
These days it wears a nice shade of blue and is numbered MM04.
BHP 53 was from the same group as the previous loco. When the steelworks closed this loco was passed to the Richmond Vale Railway where it’s reportedly preserved in an operational condition.
The majority of these locomotives were powered by a Cummins diesel but both 48 and 53 were part of a small group that were powered by a Rolls Royce diesel. Both the Cummins and the Rolls Royce units produce 403kW/540HP.