WAGR Z class

The Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) Z class was a class consisting of three lightweight six-wheeled diesel-mechanical locomotives which were active in Western Australia from November 1953 to January 1983 and which have since been preserved.

Western Australian Government Railways Z class
Z1152 just after entering service on 24 November 1953
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-mechanical
BuilderRobert Stephenson and Hawthorns, Newcastle upon Tyne as subcontractor to Drewry Car Co
Serial numberRobert Stephenson and Hawthorns: 7736-7738
Drewry Car Co: 2401-2403
Build date1953
Total produced3
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0DM
 • AARC
 • UICC
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)
Loco weight15.13 tonnes (14.89 long tons; 16.68 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverGardner 8LW
RPM range600-1700 rpm
Engine typeFour-stroke Inline Eight-cylinder Water-cooled Diesel engine
Displacement11.16 litres (2.45 imp gal; 2.95 US gal)
Cylinders8
Cylinder size4.5 in × 6 in (110 mm × 150 mm)
TransmissionMechanical
Loco brakeAir brake
Train brakesVacuum brake
Performance figures
Maximum speed28 km/h (17 mph)
Power output140 hp (100 kW)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting38.21 kN (8,589.95 lbf)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways (former)
Number in class3
NumbersZ1151, Z1152 & Z1153
LocaleWestern Australia
First runNovember 1953
WithdrawnJanuary 1983
Current ownerSteamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society, Hotham Valley Railway & Boulder Loopline Railway
DispositionAll preserved

History

Ordered in 1951[1] by the WAGR as part of its post-war rehabilitation program, the Z class was ordered from the Drewry Car Company at a cost of £12,000 per locomotive,[2] with their construction being subcontracted to Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn Ltd (RSH) of Newcastle, England.[3] After the locomotives were built they were shipped from Britain to Australia, with Z1151 arriving at Fremantle harbor on 26 September 1953.[4][5] The remaining two Z class locomotives would arrive around five weeks later,[4] where after they, alongside Z1151, would enter service with the WAGR in November 1953.[6][7] This was despite the fact that their delivery date had originally being set for September 1952.[1]

After entering service with the WAGR they were assigned to works as shunters on the jetty's and wharfs at Busselton, Bunbury and other ports.[2][8][5] They were capable of working for 22 hours per day, operating in three shifts, and alongside this could operate for five days on a single fuel tank.[2]

By January 1954 the Z class were considered to have proven their worth to the WAGR.[2] All three Z class locomotives were withdrawn from service in January 1983 and subsequently were sold into preservation.[3]

Preservation

After being withdrawn from service by the WAGR in January 1983 all three Z class locomotives were sold into preservation.

The first member of the class, Z1151, would be sold to the Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society while the third, Z1153, was sold to the Boulder Loopline Railway.[3]

The second member of the class, Z1152, would be sold to the Hotham Valley Railway (HVR) and was used by them on work trains during the rehabilitation of the Dwellingup - Etmilyn section of track throughout 1985–86. In June 2003 a request was made to the HVR by Works Infrastructure (E.D.I) to allow the for the use of Z1152 to assist in the construction of the new Urban Rail Car Depot at Nowergup on the new extension of the Northern Suburbs Railway and was transferred by road to Nowergup which was not connected by rail at time of movement.[3]

After the return of Z1152 to the HVR, the locomotive has seen use as the shunter at Pinjarra depot.[3]

Design

The Z class is a lightweight diesel locomotive, weighing in at 15.13 tonnes (14.89 long tons; 16.68 short tons), which utilizes an 0-6-0 wheel arrangement and which is powered by a Gardner 8LW four-stroke eight cylinder in-line water-cooled diesel engine rated at 140 horsepower. The Gardner 8LW uses 110 mm (4.33 in) × 150 mm (5.91 in) cylinders and has a displacement of 11.16 L (2.45 imp gal; 2.95 US gal) while producing its power in the 600-1700 RPM range.[9]

Furthermore, the class uses a mechanical transmission, with the power being transmitted to the six driving wheels via external coupling rods. The class' braking system uses air for the locomotive and vacuum for the train. The class' maximum speed is 28 km/h (17 mph) and is capable of producing a tractive effort of 38.21 kN when starting.[3]

Class list
Number Serial – RSH Serial – Drewry Status Location
Z1151 7736 2401 Static Display Steamtown, Peterborough, South Australia
Z1152 7737 2402 Operational Hotham Valley Railway, Pinjarra
Z1153 7738 2403 Stored Boulder Loopline Railway, Kalgoorlie
  • Z1151 at rest in a siding
    Z1151 at rest in a siding
  • Z1151 preserved at Steamtown in a non-authentic livery, circa 2017
    Z1151 preserved at Steamtown in a non-authentic livery, circa 2017
  • Z1151 with a small train in Walloway, South Australia, circa 1996
    Z1151 with a small train in Walloway, South Australia, circa 1996

References
  1. "MAIN LINE DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES FOR W.A.G.R." Kalgoorlie Miner. 18 August 1951. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  2. "Diesel Locomotive Will Open New Era For W.A. Railways". West Australian. 1 February 1954. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. Z1152 Hotham Valley Railway
  4. "Jetty Diesel Arrives". Daily News. 24 September 1953. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  5. "No Title". West Australian. 26 September 1953. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  6. "The boys will pack in". Daily News. 5 October 1953. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. "Rail Heritage WA Archive Photo Gallery". www.railheritagewa.org.au. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  8. "FIRST NEW X-CLASS DIESEL ARRIVES IN KATANNING". Great Southern Herald. 9 July 1954. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  9. "Gardner Marine & Industrial Engine Data". realdiesels.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2022.

Further reading
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 37, 49. OCLC 219836193.
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