WAGR A class (diesel)

The WAGR A/AA/AB classes are classes of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales, Australia, for the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1960 and 1969.

WAGR A/AA/AB Classes
AA1517 near Kelmscott in December 1986
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville
Comeng, Bassendean
ModelElectro Motive Diesel G12CU (A1501-14), G22CU (AA, AB)
Build date1960-1970
Total producedA: 14
AA: 5
AB: 6
Specifications
Configuration:
  UICCo-Co
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Wheel diameter1,016mm (40")
LengthA/AA: 16.16m (53')
AB: 16.358m (53' 8")
Axle loadA: 15t
AA: 16t
AB: 16.4t
Loco weightA: 89.16t
AA: 96t
AB: 97.35t
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverA: Electro Motive Diesel 12-567C
AA/AB: Electro Motive Diesel 12-645E
RPM rangeA: 275-835
AA/AB: 307-900
GeneratorA1501-2: EMD D15E
A1503-14: EMD D25
AA: EMD D25
AB: EMD D32
Traction motorsEMD D29
Cylinders12
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power outputA: 1,200hp
AA/AB: 1,500hp
Tractive effort240kN (53,954lbf)
Career
Number in class25
NumbersA1501-A1514
AA1515-AA1519
AB1531-AA1536
LocaleWestern Australia, South Australia, Chile, South Africa, Guinea
DeliveredJune 1960
First runJuly 1960
PreservedA1501, AB1535
Current ownerAurizon
Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia
Genesee & Wyoming Australia
Rail Heritage WA
Rusal
Disposition13 in service, 2 preserved, 1 stored, 3 unknown, 6 scrapped

History

In July 1960 Clyde Engineering delivered the first of the WAGR's 14 A class locomotives. Six were assembled under contract by Commonwealth Engineering at Bassendean becoming the first diesel locomotives built in Western Australia. The last two were financed by Western Mining Corporation. A1506, A1513-14 were fitted with dynamic brakes.[1][2]

In 1967 five improved AA class[3] were delivered, followed by six AB classes in 1969.[4] All were built at Granville and fitted with more powerful Electro Motive Diesel 12-645E engines.[1]

Former AA1518 (right) in service with Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia in April 2012

In January 1998 ten (A1502-A1510 & AB1533) were sold to Tranz Rail.[5] All were shipped to New Zealand in February 1998. Five were scrapped for parts, one sold to Tasrail for parts[6] and in November 2005, four were sold as hulks to National Railway Equipment Company and shipped to Mount Vernon, Illinois.[7] Two of the latter were rebuilt and in 2010 sold to Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia. There they were reunited with seven (A1512, AA1515-AA1519 & AB1532) that had been sold to the Chile operator in September 1998.[8][9]

Those remaining with Westrail were included in the sale of the business to Australian Railroad Group in October 2000. When the business was split in June 2006, A1513 and A1514 were transferred to Genesee & Wyoming Australia with the South Australian operations and were reclassified as the 1200 class[10] while A1501 and the remaining four ABs passed to QR National with the Western Australian operations, and were renumbered AB1501-AB1504.[4][8] In January 2008, A1501 was withdrawn and donated to Rail Heritage WA.[11] A1202, AB1501 and AB1502 were exported to South Africa in January 2015.

In April 2017, AB1535 was donated to Rail Heritage WA for use with the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project at Minnivale.

A portrait photo of ex-WAGR AB Class #1535 (previously owned by Australian Railroad Group, then owned by Aurizon), an EMD G22CU built by Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales, Australia. Taken at the opening of "Stage 1" for Wheatbelt Heritage Rail (30 April 2017).

Class list (A)

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial NumberDate builtOriginal road numberRenumbered asCurrent/Last OwnerStatus
60-216 June 1960 A1501 - Rail Heritage WA Preserved, Western Australian Rail Transport Museum, Bassendean.
60-217 July 1960 A1502 1443 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
62-263 September 1962 A1503 CC5 Rusal Rebuilt by NREX with low short-end hood and converted to metre gauge, exported to Guinea for use on bauxite trains in 2008.
62-264 October 1962 A1504 CC6 Rusal Rebuilt by NREX with low short-end hood and converted to metre gauge, exported to Guinea for use on bauxite trains in 2008.
62-265 October 1962 A1505 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
63-274 June 1963 A1506 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
64-371 December 1964 A1507 - Tasrail Exported to Tasmania for parts, later scrapped
64-372 February 1965 A1508 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
64-373 February 1965 A1509 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
65-374 April 1965 A1510 1444 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
65-375 June 1965 A1511 1202 Rovos Rail Exported to Durban, South Africa, January 2015
65-376 July 1965 A1512 1431 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
65-427 December 1965 A1513 1203 Genesee & Wyoming Australia Thevenard, Eyre Peninsula, as A class no. 1203
65-428 December 1965 A1514 1204 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In service at Thevenard, Eyre Peninsula, as A class no. 1204

Class list (AA)

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial NumberDate builtOriginal road numberRenumbered asCurrent/Last OwnerStatus
67-534 August 1967 AA1515 1432 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-535 September 1967 AA1516 1433 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-536 October 1967 AA1517 1434 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-537 October 1967 AA1518 1435 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-538 November 1967 AA1519 1436 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile

Class list (AB)

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial NumberDate builtOriginal road numberRenumbered asCurrent/Last OwnerStatus
69-676 November 1969 AB1531 AB1501 Apex Industrial Exported to South Africa, January 2015
69-677 December 1969 AB1532 1437 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
69-678 February 1970 AB1533 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
69-679 February 1970 AB1534 AB1502 Apex Industrial Exported to South Africa, January 2015
69-680 March 1970 AB1535 AB1503 (ARG),

AB1535 (RHWA)

Rail Heritage WA Preserved, currently leased to Watco for use on maintenance and construction trains
69-681 April 1970 AB1536 AB1504 Aurizon Stored at Forrestfield

References

Notes

  1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 235. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  2. A Class (diesel, WA) Railpage
  3. AA Class (diesel, WA) Railpage
  4. AB Class (diesel, WA) Railpage
  5. "Westrail Motive Power" Railway Digest April 1998 page 14
  6. A Class Rail Tasmania
  7. A1504 Rail Pictures
  8. Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 312–313. ISBN 978-1877058547.
  9. "Westrail" Railway Digest November 1998 page 37
  10. 1200 Class (GWA, diesel) Railpage
  11. Members Newsletter February 2008 Rail Heritage WA

Bibliography

  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 30–31, 48. OCLC 219836193.

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