Westrail N class

The N class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Comeng, Bassendean for Westrail between 1977 and 1979.

Westrail N class
N1879 & N1871 at Bunbury Harbour
in December 1986
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderComeng, Bassendean
ModelCE618
Build date1977-1979
Total produced11
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo-Co, Co′Co'
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length17.09 m (56 ft 1 in)
Width2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
Axle load17.7 t (17.4 long tons; 19.5 short tons)
Loco weight106 t (104 long tons; 117 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity4,000 litres (880 imp gal; 1,100 US gal)
Prime moverAlco 12-251CE
AspirationTurbocharged
Cylinders12
Train brakesN: Vacuum
NA/NB: Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed105 km/h (65 mph)
Power output1,790 kW (2,400 hp)
Tractive effort282 kN (63,000 lbf) (starting)
240 kN (54,000 lbf) (continuous)
Career
OperatorsWestrail
Number in class11
NumbersN1871-N1881
First run5 December 1977
Current ownerAustralian Locolease
Greentrains
Disposition11 scrapped

History
N1879 at Bunbury in December 1986

Eleven were built all for use on the Western Australian narrow gauge network, primarily to haul mineral trains in the south east.[1] Between July 1982 and June 1983, the first four members of the class had their vacuum brake equipment replaced with Westinghouse air brake systems, and were redesignated as the NA class. While liked by crews for their ride quality and power, they suffered from reliability problems and most were withdrawn in the early 1990s. The last were withdrawn in 1997.[2][3][4]

In January 1995 two of the NA class were converted to standard gauge using bogies from Mount Newman Alco M636s, and redesignated as the NB class. In February 1998 these two were sold to Austrac Ready Power, Junee.[2][5] These were sold in 2004 to Patrick Port Link, Adelaide and again in September 2011 to Australian Locolease who redesignated as the 18 class and leased them to El Zorro for use in Victoria.[6][7][8]

Austrac also purchased NA1874 but it was sold without use to South Spur Rail Services in 2001 and converted for standard gauge operation in January 2006. It was scrapped in 2014.[2][6][9][10]

Status table
Loco NoRevised NoBuilders NoEntered ServiceStatus
N1871C-6099-015 Dec 1977Converted to NA1871 1982
NA187129 Dec 1982Scrapped 1994
N1872C-6099-0220 Aug 1977Converted to NA1872 1983
NA187216 Jun 1983Converted to NB1872 1994
NB1872Sep 2011Renumbered to 1872 2011
1872Jan 1995Stored South Dynon Locomotive Depot[6]
1872 Scrapped Feb 2020
N1873C-6099-0317 Nov 1977Converted to NA1873 1982
NA18739 Nov 1982Converted to NB1873 1994
NB1873Dec 1994Renumbered to 1873 2011
1873Sep 2011Scrapped mid-2022
N1874C-6099-0430 Nov 1977Converted to NA1874 1982
NA187415 July 1982Scrapped 2014[6]
N1875C-6099-0515 Feb 1978Scrapped 1994
N1876C-6099-069 Aug 1978Scrapped 1997
N1877C-6099-0727 Sep 1978Scrapped 1997
N1878C-6099-0822 Dec 1978Scrapped 1994
N1879C-6099-0922 Dec 1978Scrapped 1994
N1880C-6099-1010 Jan 1979Scrapped 1997
N1881C-6099-1126 Jun 1979Scrapped 1994

References
  1. Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3: 1967-1977. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 215–219. ISBN 9781877058905.
  2. Westrail N / NA / NB classes Westrail Alcos 9 March 2002
  3. Oberg, Leon (2008). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Sydney: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 383. ISBN 9781877058547.
  4. N Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  5. "Westrail Motive Power Coming and Going" Railway Digest April 1998 page 14
  6. "Australia Wide Fleet List 2014" Motive Power issue 96 pages 65, 67
  7. NB Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  8. 18 Class Vicsig
  9. NA Class (diesel, South Spur) Railpage
  10. 1874 Vicsig

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