NSWGR Class C38

The 38 class were first conceived in the 1930s being heavily influenced by American and other streamlined locomotives of the time. The NSWGR needed a locomotive to eliminate the complications of doubleheading required on a number of fast interstate passenger trains.

The design team was headed by Harold Young, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the NSWGR. The conditions of trackwork with frequent sharp curvature to be traversed at high speed would require six-coupled driving wheels in a 'Pacific' 4-6-2 configuration. Maintenance considerations suggested a two-cylinder simple steam locomotive.

The design was carried out by the NSWGR Locomotive Section of the Design Office and incorporated the latest developments in locomotive design from Australia and overseas. The incorporation of as many Australian manufactured components as possible was a requirement at the design stage.