WAGR A class (diesel)

Western Australian Government Railways A/AA/AB classes

AA1517 near Kelmscott in December 1986
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Clyde Engineering
Bassendean & Granville
Model Electro Motive Diesel GR12CU (A1501-02), G12CU (A1503-14), G22CU (AA, AB)
Build date 1960-69
Total produced A: 14
AA: 5
AB: 6
Specifications
UIC class Co-Co
Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in), 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Loco weight A: 91 t
AA: 94 t
AB: 99 t
Fuel type Diesel
Prime mover A: Electro Motive Diesel 12-567C
AA/AB: Electro Motive Diesel 12-645E
Generator Electro Motive Diesel D25
Traction motors A/AA: Electro Motive Diesel D29
AB: Electro Motive Diesel D32
Cylinders 12
Performance figures
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output A: 1,200hp
AA/AB: 1,500hp
Career
Operators Western Australian Government Railways
Number in class 25
Numbers A1501-A1514
AA1515-AA1519
AB1531-AA1536
First run July 1960
Preserved A1501, AB1535 (AB1503)
Current owner Aurizon
Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia
Genesee & Wyoming Australia
Rail Heritage WA
Wheatbelt Heritage Rail
Disposition 13 in service, 2 preserved, 3 stored, 1 unknown, 6 scrapped

The A/AA/AB classes are diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1960 and 1969.

History

In July 1960 Clyde Engineering delivered the first of 14 A class locomotives. Six were assembled aunder 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]

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. AB1503 has been preserved by Wheatbelt Heritage Rail.

Class list (A)

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial Number Date built Original road number Renumbered as Current/Last Owner Status
60-216 July 1960 A1501 - Rail Heritage WA Preserved by Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean.
60-217 1960 A1502 1443 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
62-263 1962 A1503 - National Railway Equipment Company Stored, Mount Vernon, Illinois
62-264 1962 A1504 - National Railway Equipment Comapany Stored, Mount Vernon, Illinois
62-265 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 1965 A1508 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
64-373 February 1965 A1509 - - Scrapped
65-374 April 1965 A1510 1444 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
65-375 1965 A1511 1202 ? Exported to Durban, South Africa, January 2015
65-376 July 1965 A1512 1431 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
65-427 November 1965 A1513 1203 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In Service
65-428 December 1965 A1514 1204 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In Service

Class list (AA)

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Unknown Scrapped
Serial Number Date built Original road number Renumbered as Owner Status
67-534 August 1967 AA1515 1432 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-535 1967 AA1516 1433 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-536 1967 AA1517 1434 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
67-537 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 Number Date built Original road number Renumbered as Owner Status
69-676 1969 AB1531 AB1501 ? Exported to South Africa, January 2015
69-677 1969 AB1532 1437 Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Exported to Chile
69-678 1969 AB1533 - Tranz Rail Scrapped
69-679 1969 AB1534 AB1502 ? Exported to South Africa, January 2015
69-680 1969 AB1535 AB1503 Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Preserved for use on the Wheatbelt Heritage Railway
69-681 1969 AB1536 AB1504 Aurizon Stored, Forrestfield

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 312-313. ISBN 1877058548.
    9. ↑ "Westrail" Railway Digest November 1998 page 37
    10. ↑ 1200 Class (GWA, diesel) Railpage
    11. ↑ Members Newsletter February 2008 Rail Heritage WA

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

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