WAGR S class (diesel)
Encyclopedia
The WAGR S Class Diesel Locomotive is a dual-cabin diesel-electric locomotive ordered in 1996 by Westrail
for the intrastate railway lines in Western Australia
. Nine units were ordered by Westrail from Clyde Engineering
in a nine-month period and an additional two units were also ordered. The S Class locomotives are an improved version of the NSWGR
Ready Power 82 class locomotives, equipped with an upgraded 12-710G-ES diesel engine, which includes a new firing order cam.
The revision to the 12-710G engine came from vibration problems the locomotives had in both Australia and England. The S Class locomotive was assembled in Perth
, Western Australia and parts were shipped from Clyde Engineering's Camperfield plant (Victoria) to the Bathurst (NSW) plant where they were fitted with the builder radial steer fabricated bogie
, which reduced rail and wheel wear, while at the same time improves adhesion on curves. Extra heavy duty couplers and draft gear was also supplied with these locomotives. The locomotive's continuous tractive effort amounts to 74440 lbf (331.1 kN).
The two cabins were fitted with Rockwell integrated cab electronics with fully computerised driver information displays. Other special cab features include:
The S Class locomotive are capable of a 90 km/h speed limit. The locomotives' first trials were on 6 March 1998. All had been delivered to Westrail by August of that year and engaged in the haulage of the South/West ore and mineral traffic. This resulted in the transfer of the company's DB Class locomotives to the Great Southern and Lakes District although a number of these locomotives can be seen on caustic and aluminum trains in the southwest.
The locomotives passed into the ownership of ARG
on 2 December 2000 as part of Western Australia's privatisation policy. The company was then further sold onto QRNational-Western Australia in June 2006. At that time the locomotives were being renumbered into the 3300 class and were generally operating on the southwestern Kwinana to Bunbury mainlines and up to Collie to the east of Bunbury.
Two locomotives similar to the S class were built in 2009 for the Rio Tinto Weipa line on Standard Gauge at EDI Rail Port Augusta and were shipped to Pt Pire.
Westrail
Westrail was the name of Western Australia’s public rail service between 1975 and 2000.It had its origins in 1877 as the Department of Works and Railways. This became Western Australian Government Railways in 1890 — a name that persisted for almost a century...
for the intrastate railway lines in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Nine units were ordered by Westrail from Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
in a nine-month period and an additional two units were also ordered. The S Class locomotives are an improved version of the NSWGR
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
Ready Power 82 class locomotives, equipped with an upgraded 12-710G-ES diesel engine, which includes a new firing order cam.
The revision to the 12-710G engine came from vibration problems the locomotives had in both Australia and England. The S Class locomotive was assembled in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia and parts were shipped from Clyde Engineering's Camperfield plant (Victoria) to the Bathurst (NSW) plant where they were fitted with the builder radial steer fabricated bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
, which reduced rail and wheel wear, while at the same time improves adhesion on curves. Extra heavy duty couplers and draft gear was also supplied with these locomotives. The locomotive's continuous tractive effort amounts to 74440 lbf (331.1 kN).
The two cabins were fitted with Rockwell integrated cab electronics with fully computerised driver information displays. Other special cab features include:
- a safety device for driver only operation
- microwave oven
- refrigerator
- CD/tape radio
- crew seats feature headrests, lumbar support, armrests and a variety of adjustment configurations.
The S Class locomotive are capable of a 90 km/h speed limit. The locomotives' first trials were on 6 March 1998. All had been delivered to Westrail by August of that year and engaged in the haulage of the South/West ore and mineral traffic. This resulted in the transfer of the company's DB Class locomotives to the Great Southern and Lakes District although a number of these locomotives can be seen on caustic and aluminum trains in the southwest.
The locomotives passed into the ownership of ARG
Australian Railroad Group
Australian Railroad Group was one of Australia's largest private rail operators, operating across almost 10,000 kilometres of track and began operating in Western Australia on 17 December 2000 following its purchase of the Westrail freight business. It was acquired by QR National...
on 2 December 2000 as part of Western Australia's privatisation policy. The company was then further sold onto QRNational-Western Australia in June 2006. At that time the locomotives were being renumbered into the 3300 class and were generally operating on the southwestern Kwinana to Bunbury mainlines and up to Collie to the east of Bunbury.
Two locomotives similar to the S class were built in 2009 for the Rio Tinto Weipa line on Standard Gauge at EDI Rail Port Augusta and were shipped to Pt Pire.