Westrail N class

Westrail N class

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N1879 & N1871 at Bunbury Harbour
in December 1986
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Comeng, Bassendean
Model CE618
Build date 1977-79
Total produced 11
Specifications
AAR wheel arr. C-C
UIC classification Co-Co, Co′Co′
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length 17.09 m (56 ft 1 in)
Width 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
Axle load 17.7 t (17.4 long tons; 19.5 short tons)
Locomotive weight 106 t (104 long tons; 117 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 4,000 litres (880 imp gal; 1,100 US gal)
Prime mover Alco 12-251CE
Aspiration Turbocharged
Cylinders 12
Performance figures
Maximum speed 105 km/h (65 mph)
Power output 1,790 kW (2,400 hp)
Tractive effort 282 kN (63,000 lbf) (starting)
240 kN (54,000 lbf) (continuous)
Train brakes N: Vacuum
NA/NB: Air
Career
Operator(s) Westrail
Number in class 11
Number(s) N1871-N1881
First run 5 December 1977
Current owner Australian LocoLease
Greentrains
Disposition 3 stored, 8 scrapped

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

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 While liked by crews for their ride quality and power, they suffered from reliability problems and most were withdrawn in the early 1990s. The last were withdrawn in 1997.[2][3][4]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 El Zorro for use in Victoria.[6][7][8] These were later sold to Australian LocoLease.[9]

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 is currently owned by Greentrains.[2][9][10][11]

Status table

Loco No Revised No Builders No Entered Service Status
N1871 C-6099-01 05 Dec 1977 Converted to NA 1982
NA1871 29 Dec 1989 Scrapped 1994
N1872 C-6099-02 20 Aug 1977 Converted to NA 1983
NA1872 16 Jun 1983 Converted to NB 1994
NB1872 Jan 1995 Stored South Dynon Locomotive Depot[9]
N1873 C-6099-03 17 Nov 1977 Converted to NA 1982
NA1873 09 Nov 1982 Converted to NB 1994
NB1873 Dec 1994 Stored Islington Railway Workshops[9]
N1874 C-6099-04 30 Nov 1977 Converted to NA 1982
NA1874 15 July 1982 Stored Islington Railway Workshops[9]
N1875 C-6099-05 15 Feb 1978 Scrapped 1994
N1876 C-6099-06 09 Aug 1978 Scrapped 1997
N1877 C-6099-07 27 Sep 1978 Scrapped 1997
N1878 C-6099-08 22 Dec 1978 Scrapped 1994
N1879 C-6099-09 22 Dec 1978 Scrapped 1994
N1880 C-6099-10 10 Jan 1979 Scrapped 1997
N1881 C-6099-11 26 Jun 1979 Scrapped 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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. ↑ "El Zorro buys ex Westrail locomotives" Railway Digest November 2011
  7. ↑ NB Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  8. ↑ 18 Class Vicsig
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Australia Wide Fleet List 2014" Motive Power issue 96 pages 65, 67
  10. ↑ NA Class (diesel, South Spur) Railpage
  11. ↑ 1874 Vicsig

External links

Media related to Westrail N class at Wikimedia Commons