AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY MODELS 87051 NSWR D55 Class 2-8-0 Steam Locomotive - #5502

Supplier information:

In 1916, Clyde Engineering was contracted to produce the K-Class locomotives. The first K Class, 1353, entered service in 1918, but the NSWGR wanted extensive testing, so the next K Class wasnt produced for another 2 years. During this time, the order had been reduced from an original 300 locomotives to 120. All 120 locomotives were in service by 1925 and fitted with large-capacity Wampu tenders. The K Class locomotives featured tapered boilers and the uncommon Southern Valve Gear. As part of the NSW reclassification scheme in 1924, the K Class became the D55 Class.

Industrial unrest after World War 2 threatened coal supplies, 70 of the existing D55s were converted to run on oil fuel. Once the unrest had passed only 16 D55 locomotives were converted back to coal. The remaining oil-fired D55s were retired due to the cost of oil being more expensive than coal.

The first D55 Class Locomotive to be converted to an Oil Burner, was 5502 in 1946.



Features:

Detailed cabin interior including floating foot plate
Separately applied detailed body parts
Pivoting bogies
Realistic mechanical mechanisms
Authentic knuckle style coupler on both Locomotive and Tender
Dual position drawbar for close tender coupling
H0 Gauge
8-pin DCC ready