The 49 class were branchline diesel-electric locomotives order by and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways

New South Wales Government Railways

The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...

, similar to the 48

New South Wales 48 class locomotive

The 48 Class are a diesel electric locomotive ordered by the New South Wales Government Railways from 1959. Once the most ubiquitous locomotive in New South Wales , the locomotives were built by A. E. Goodwin, based on Alco frames and prime movers, using General Electric electrical equipment...

 and 47 classes

New South Wales 47 class locomotive

The 47 class is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia. Twenty locomotives were built altogether, intended for use on branchline services. The 47 class have a Caterpillar 16-D399TA engine, generating 840 kW / 1125 hp...

. When they were ordered from Clyde Engineering

Clyde Engineering

Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...

 at Granville, New South Wales

Granville, New South Wales

Granville, is a suburb in western Sydney, Australia. Granville is located west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Parramatta. A small part in the north-west is located in the Local Government Area of the City of Holroyd.South Granville is a...

 they were ordered in 3 batches, each of six locomotives: 4901 to 4906, 4907 to 4912 and finally 4913 to 4918. This was to keep Clyde interested in staying in New South Wales.

On delivery they were initially placed into service in the Central West of NSW and worked on all branchlines as well as mainlines. The need for these locomotives was to replace the last steam locomotives that were in government service in country locations, and were quite trouble free riders.

The locomotives had an EMD 8-567CR engine, EMD D25E generator, EMD D29 traction motors. They also were rated at 710 kW/950 HP, weighing in at 80t. They have a length of 15.35m, rode on standard gauge Co-Co bogies and had a top speed of 124 km/h.

These locomotives were retired in the 1990s along with fellow classes in their generation. The classes were bought out by various rail companies, including Ritz Rail, Interail

Interail

Interail is an Australian rail freight operator based in Casino, New South Wales.-Creation:Interail was launched on May 31, 2002, as the interstate running arm of Queensland Rail, entering railway operations in New South Wales with the acquisition of Northern Rivers Railroad...

, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, The Manildra Group and Patricks Portlink. Only 5 out of the 18 of the Class were scrapped, and 2 in preservation

The Remaining 49 class

• 4902 - Privately Owned, Stored
• 4903 - Lachlan Valley Railway - Preserved - Operational
• 4904 - State Rail (NSW), Sold , now KL80
• 4905 - Privately Owned, Stored
• 4906 - Lachlan Valley Railway - Preserved - Operational
• 4907 - State Rail (NSW), Sold , now MM01
• 4908 - Coote Industrial, brought from 3801 LTD, In Service
• 4910 - State Rail (NSW), Sold , now KL81
• 4911 - EDI-Rail, Stored
• 4913 - State Rail (NSW), Sold , now MM02
• 4916 - Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere, Preserved - Operational
• 4917 - State Rail (NSW), Sold , now KL82
• 4918 - 3801 Ltd, Preserved - Operational