WAGR D class (diesel)

The D/DA class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1971-1972.

Western Australian Government Railways D/DA Class
D1562 at Bunbury Port in January 2004
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales
ModelEMD G26CU
Build date1971–1972
Total produced12
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo′Co′
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length17.2 m (56 ft 5 in)
Loco weightD: 109.7 tonnes (108.0 long tons; 120.9 short tons)
DA: 97.5 tonnes (96.0 long tons; 107.5 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEMD 16-645E
GeneratorEMD D32
Traction motorsEMD 548
Loco brakeD: Dynamic
DA:Air
Performance figures
Power output1,491 kW (2,000 hp)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
Number in class12
NumbersD1561–D1565
DA1571–DA1577
First runFebruary 1971
Current ownerAurizon
Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia
Genesee & Wyoming Australia
Disposition4 in service, 2 stored, 5 unknown, 1 scrapped

History

Five D class were ordered by the Western Australian Government Railways to haul bauxite services. These were followed by seven DA class locomotives. These differed in not having dynamic brakes and were 12 tonnes lighter.[1]

In August 1998, D1564-65 were sold to Tranz Rail and rebuilt with new cabs at Hutt Workshops before being sent to TasRail in June 2001 entering service as 2020-21.[2][3] The new cabs resembled the cab that was fitted to DXR8007 at the time. In September 1998, D1563 was exported to Chile, where it would be overhauled and operated by the Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia.[4][5][6]

The remaining nine locomotives were included in the sale of Westrail to Australian Railroad Group in October 2000. When this was split in June 2006, DA 1577 was transferred to Genesee & Wyoming Australia with the South Australian business[7] with the other eight passed to QR National with the Western Australian operations.[8][9] D1562 and DAZ1902-06 were exported to South Africa in January 2015 and are now owned by APEX Industrial.

TasRail D class
TasRail D Class
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville
ModelEMD G26CU
Build date1971
Total produced2
RebuilderHutt Workshops
Rebuild date2001
Number rebuilt2
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length17.1 m (56 ft 1 in)
Axle load18 tonnes (18 long tons; 20 short tons)
Loco weight111 tonnes (109 long tons; 122 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEMD 16-645E
GeneratorEMD D32
Traction motorsEMD 548
Loco brakeHand brakes/Westinghouse 26L air brake/Dynamic
Train brakesWestinghouse 26L air brake
Performance figures
Power output1,490 kW (2,000 hp)
Career
OperatorsATN Tasrail
Pacific National
TasRail
Watco Australia
Number in class2
Numbers2020–2021
Delivered15 June 2001
First runAugust 2001
Last run2014
Retired2014
Withdrawn2014
Current ownerWatco Australia
DispositionUnder overhaul

The two D class locomotives purchased by Tranz Rail in 1998 were rebuilt at Hutt Workshops, as a cheaper alternative to buying new locomotives. Tranz Rail rebuilt the two locomotives before transferring them to ATN Tasrail of which they were a shareholder.

The locomotives were rebuilt with a new design of universal cab with a shorter low hood and more angular appearance (the same cab style used on Tranz Rail's DXR 8007 first cab rebuild). The two locos were repainted into the Wisconsin Central Maroon livery,[10] and were renumbered in the 202X series from the 156X series as they were in Western Australia.

The two locomotives arrived at Bell Bay on 15 June 2001.[11] Because they lacked traction motors when the locos were rebuilt, surplus English Electric EE548 traction motors were fitted to the locos at East Tamar Workshops.[11] The two locos entered service a few months after arrival. Following a large number of traction motor failures, the traction motors were replaced by second hand GM motors in 2009.[11]

Withdrawals and disposal

With the introduction of the TR class, both were withdrawn in mid-2014.[11] Both were stored at East Tamar Workshops and sold to Watco Australia in 2017 for use on infrastructure trains. D 2020 was shipped from Burnie on 5 May 2017 on Toll ship called the Victorian Reliance, while 2021 was shipped on 13 May on Toll ship named the Tasmanian Achiever. Both locomotives were rebuilt at Bendigo Workshops, Victoria, and shipped to Perth in January 2018.[11]

Class list (D)
Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial NumberDate BuiltOriginal Road NumberRenumbered AsCurrent/Last OwnerStatus
70-723 February 1971 D1561 - Aurizon Scrapped (September 2011)
70-724 1971 D1562 - Rovos Rail For use on Rovos Rail's Pretoria - Dar es Salaam service.
70-725 May 1971 D1563 2001 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
70-726 June 1971 D1564 2020 (TasRail), DR1564 (Watco) Watco Australia Rebuilt by Tranz Rail before being sent to TasRail.
70-727 July 1971 D1565 2021 (TasRail), DR1565 (Watco) Watco Australia Rebuilt by Tranz Rail before being sent to TasRail.

Class list (DA)
Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial NumberDate BuiltOriginal road numberRenumbered asOwnerStatus
72-758 April 1972 DA1571 DAZ1901 Aurizon Stabled at Forrestfield
72-759 1972 DA1572 DAZ1902 APEX Industrial Exported to South Africa
72-760 1972 DA1573 DAZ1903 APEX Industrial Exported to South Africa
72-761 1972 DA1574 DAZ1904 APEX Industrial Exported to South Africa
72-762 1972 DA1575 DAZ1905 APEX Industrial Exported to South Africa
72-763 1972 DA1576 DAZ1906 APEX Industrial Exported to South Africa
72-764 October 1972 DA1577 1907 Genesee & Wyoming Australia Used on the Whyalla-Iron Knob railway

See also

Westrail DB class

References
  1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 275. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  2. 2020 Class Railpage
  3. D class Rail Tasmania
  4. "Westrail" Railway Digest November 1998 page 37
  5. D Class Railpage
  6. DA Class Railpage
  7. 1900 Class Railpage
  8. DAZ Class Railpage
  9. Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 364–366. ISBN 978-1877058547.
  10. "Locomotive Colour Schemes". RailTasmania.com. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  11. "D Class". RailTasmania.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017.

Media related to WAGR D class (diesel) at Wikimedia Commons

D1562 at Kwinana in January 2004
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