WAGR R class (diesel)

The R Class are diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1968. They were followed by the revised RA class.

Western Australian Government Railways R class
R1905 at Manjimup in July 1986
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderEnglish Electric, Rocklea
Serial numberA.166-A.167, A.171, A.173-A.174
Build date1968
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo-Co, Co′Co′
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
BogiesEnglish Electric low weight transfer
Wheel diameter3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (0.953 m)
Minimum curve264 ft (80.467 m)
Wheelbase40 ft 8 in (12.395 m) total, 11 ft 3 in (3.429 m) bogie
Length50 ft (15.240 m) over headstocks
Width9 ft 4 in (2.845 m)
Height13 ft (3.962 m)
Axle loadR1901-R1902: 15 long tons (15 t; 17 short tons), R1903-R1905: 16 long tons (16 t; 18 short tons)
Loco weightR1901-R1902: 88 long tons (89 t; 99 short tons)
R1903-R1905: 95.5 long tons (97.0 t; 107.0 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity1,200 imp gal (5,500 L)
Coolant cap.200 imp gal (910 L)
Prime moverEE 12CSVT Mk II
RPM range850rpm
Engine typefour stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspirationturbo, intercooled
GeneratorEE822/16J
Traction motorsEE548
Cylinders12 Vee
Cylinder size10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle
Loco brakeAir, proportional control, dynamic
Train brakesDual air and vacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed60 miles per hour (97 km/h)
Power output1,950 hp (1,450 kW), gross, 1,795 hp (1,340 kW) net
Tractive effort50,500 lbf (224.6 kN) at 10.8 mph (20 km/h)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
Number in class5
NumbersR1901-R1905
First runFebruary 12th, 1968
Disposition5 scrapped

Description

The R class were a hood type general purpose diesel-electric locomotive. They were similar to the Queensland Railways 1300 class. All equipment, except traction motors, were interchangeable with the standard gauge K class. The bogies are an English Electric design with low weight transfer characteristics. They feature fully equalised primary spring gear, all traction motors in each bogie mounted with the nose-suspension facing inwards, traction thrust at near axle level and long pivot centres to reduce inter-bogie transfer. Adhesion loss at maximum tractive effort is limited to 4.5 per cent allowing 1,830 long tons (1,860 t; 2,050 short tons) trailing load to be hauled up a 1 in 100 grade.[1]

History

In 1968 the Western Australian Government Railways took delivery of five narrow gauge versions of the K class for use on bauxite traffic, the last three being fitted with 6 tonnes (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons) of ballast to improve their tractive effort. All were fitted with dynamic brakes.[2][3][4]

Class list
Serial numberEntered serviceRoad numberLast ownerStatus
A.166 12 February 1968 R1901 Westrail Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)
A.167 15 March 1968 R1902 Greentrains Scrapped, Bellevue (28 May 2016)
A.171 2 May 1968 R1903 Westrail Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)
A.173 14 June 1968 R1904 Westrail Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)
A.174 26 June 1968 R1905 Westrail Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)

References
  1. Railway Transportation, April 1968, 'Low weight transfer bogie is feature of new WAGR diesels'
  2. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 260. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  3. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010s. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 351–352. ISBN 9781921719011.
  4. R Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 35, 48. OCLC 219836193.
  • Milne, Rod (1998). Westrail's English Electric Experience (The English Electric locomotives of the WAGR). Elizabeth, SA: Railmac Publications. ISBN 0958650098.
  • Railway Transportation, April 1968

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