| In this picture, you can see the traction motor blower fans and associated ducting through the floor and to the left is the air compressor. There are 13 of the NSU class locomotives built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Ltd, Crompton Parkinson Ltd and Sulzer Brothers in England for the Trans Australian Railway from Port Augusta to Darwin via Marree. They have a 955hp Sulzer engine, A1A-A1A wheel arangement with a 10.5 ton axle loading. Tractive effort of at least 21,000lbs Ability to operate in extreme conditions, with temperatures in excess of 45C, poor quality water and dry & dusty air, heavily laden with sand. The greatest altitude was only 190 feet, temperatures and humidity varied but the Central section (Port Augusta - Alice Springs, 771 miles) endures long periods of 100F+ temperatures, with highs to 120F. Capacity to haul 202 tons up a 1 in 60 uncompensated grade with main line curves of 7 chains radius and sidings with 4 chains radius. |