72 Class

The 72 class is a class of diesel locomotive built and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia.

Construction
Locomotive 7201 was a diesel-hydraulic locomotive, with B-B wheel arrangement. Built in the N.S.W.G.R. Water Supply Workshops at Chullora, it performed its first light engine trials on 27 August 1965. It was built on the lengthened underframe of a unused D58-class locomotive tender, but using the bogies from a Standard Goods locomotive turret tender. The cab was similar to an X200-class cab and the livery was similar to a 48-class. The prime-mover was a Cummins VT 12-825-BI; V12 engine, developing 640 h.p. at 2000 r.p.m.. Power was distributed to the bogies through a Clark C 16911 torque converter with Clark 16421 transmission.

Operations
Following some modifications, it entered service on 8 September 1965 as a shunter at Cooks River Goods Yard. Over the next 6 months, it spent time shunting in yards at Goulburn, Junee, Broadmeadow and Werris Creek. 7201 even had a brief sojourn on the Yass Tramway. During this time, it re-entered the workshops for modifications and repairs. After this initial period, it spent extended periods at the Rozelle yards, however by 1970 it was regularly struggling with the loads. It was then trialled at the ACDEP (Eveleigh) sheds where it shunted the carriages from air-conditioned locomotive-hauled trains which were serviced at this location. It was deemed a success in this duty and was stationed there until 2 March 1976 when it suffered a seized engine.

Demise
Being a one-off and therefore non-standard, the decision was made not to repair the locomotive. 7201 was condemned on 4 August 1976 and scrapped in December that year.