WAGR K class (diesel)

The K class are a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1966 and 1969.

Western Australian Government Railways K Class
K201 at South Dynon Locomotive Depot, June 2006
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-Electric
BuilderEnglish Electric, Rocklea
Serial numberA.109-A.111, A.133-A.137, A.142, A.186
Build date1966-1969
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo-Co, Co′Co′
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter40 inches (1.016 m)
Minimum curve330 ft (100.6 m)
Wheelbase13 ft 6 in (4.115 m) bogie
Length55 ft (16.764 m) over headstocks
Width9 ft 6 in (2.896 m)
Height13 ft 8 in (4.166 m)
Axle load18 long tons (18.3 t; 20.2 short tons)
Loco weight108 long tons (109.7 t; 121.0 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity1,500 imp gal (6,800 L)
Prime moverEnglish Electric 12CSVT Mk II
RPM range450 - 850 rpm
Engine typefour stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspirationturbocharged, intercooled
GeneratorEE 822/16J
Traction motorsEE 538
Cylinders12 Vee
Cylinder size10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesair
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 miles per hour (130 km/h)
Power output2,025 hp (1,510 kW) gross, 1,850 hp (1,380 kW) net
Tractive effort:
​
 • Continuous44,500 lbf (197.9 kN) at 10.5 mph (20 km/h)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways, Westrail, Goldsworthy Mining Ltd, BlueScope Steel, South Spur Rail Services, SCT Logistics, Greentrains
Number in class10
NumbersK201-K210
First runJanuary 1966
Current ownerGreentrains
SCT Logistics
Disposition1 in service, 2 stored, 7 scrapped

History
K205 in February 2006 painted in Spirit of the West livery

Nine K class were delivered in 1966/67 to operate services on the 657-kilometre (408 mi) Eastern Goldfields Railway from Perth to Kalgoorlie that was being converted to standard gauge. After initially working construction trains, in November 1966 they began working wheat trains from Merredin to Fremantle and once the full line was opened began working services to Kalgoorlie and Esperance.[1]

In January 1966, K201 became the first locomotive to travel across Australia. It hauled freight trains from Brisbane to Melbourne, before being hauled for the rest of the journey. It passed through five states, travelled on six railway systems and required a change of bogies at Melbourne, Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie.[2]

Goldsworthy Mining Ltd had purchased six similar locomotives, and after having one destroyed in an accident, purchased K202 with K210 ordered as a replacement. In July 1986 Goldsworth Mining purchased K203.[1]

The Western Australian Government Railways also purchased 16 similar R class locomotives mounted on narrow gauge bogies. In 1974 three were fitted with standard gauge bogies and reclassified as the Ka class.[3]

Four have been sold to SCT Logistics and three had gone to South Spur Rail Services by August 2000.[4][5][6] The latter three are now owned by Greentrains and have been used as Broken Hill shunters as well as in Western Australia.[7][8]

The two sold to Goldsworthy Mining were transferred to BHP's Port Kembla operation in November 1992.[9]

Class List (K)
Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Scrapped
Serial numberDate deliveredOriginal Road numberRenumbered AsNameCurrent/Last OwnerStatus
A.109 7 February 1966 K201 - - SCT Logistics Stored, Dynon.
A.110 8 March 1966 K202 8, D50 - Greentrains Scrapped, Port Kembla (May 2002).
A.111 21 March 1966 K203 9, D51 - Greentrains Scrapped, Bellevue (20 June 2014)
A.134 13 October 1966 K204 - - Westrail Scrapped, Midland Railway Workshops (24 October 1998)
A.135 25 October 1966 K205 - - Greentrains Scrapped, Bellevue (20 June 2014)
A.133 8 December 1966 K206 - - Greentrains Scrapped, Bellevue (27 June 2014)
A.136 19 December 1966 K207 - - SCT Logistics Scrapped, Laverton, Victoria (August 2011)
A.137 31 December 1966 K208 - Thomas Smith SCT Logistics In Service
A.142 23 February 1967 K209 - - SCT Logistics Stored, Dynon
A.186 27 March 1969 K210 - - Greentrains Scrapped, Bellevue (3 July 2014)

References
  1. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010s. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 340–342. ISBN 9781921719011.
  2. "20 Years Ago" Railway Digest January 1986 page 30
  3. KA Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  4. "Western Australian Roundup" Railway Digest January 2001 page 40
  5. K Class (diesel, WA) Railpage
  6. K Class Vicsig
  7. K205 Western Australian Railscene e-Mag issue 1 5 January 2009 page 4
  8. K205 Western Australian Railscene e-Mag issue 178 27 February 2012 page 8
  9. Port Kembla - Diesel Locomotive Fleetlisting Light Rail Research Society of Australia
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 44, 50. OCLC 219836193.
  • Milne, Rod (1998). Westrail's English Electric Experience (The English Electric locomotives of the WAGR). Elizabeth, SA: Railmac Publications. ISBN 0958650098.
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