WAGR C class (diesel)

The C class are a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1962.

Western Australian Government Railways C class
C1702 at Busselton with a Hotham Valley Railway tour train in March 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Build date 1962 Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m) Minimum curve 250 ft (76.200 m) Wheelbase 40 ft (12.192 m) total, 12 ft 6 in (3.810 m) bogie Length 49 ft 6 in (15.088 m) over headstocks Width 9 ft (2.743 m) Height 12 ft 11 in (3.937 m) Axle load 14.8 long tons (15.0 t; 16.6 short tons) Loco weight 89 long tons (90 t; 100 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 800 imp gal (3,636.872 L) Prime mover English Electric 12SVT mark 2 RPM range 850rpm max Engine type four stroke, four valves per cylinder Aspiration turbocharged Generator English Electric 822 Traction motors English Electric 548 Cylinders 12 vee Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm) Transmission electric MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle Loco brake straight air Train brakes vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) Power output 1,535 hp (1,140 kW) gross, 1,388 hp (1,040 kW) net Tractive effort 45,500 lbf (202.4 kN) at 8.8 mph (10 km/h)
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways Number in class 3 Numbers C1701-C1703 First run September 1962 Preserved C1701, C1702, C1703 Disposition All 3 preserved

History

The C class was developed from the Queensland Railways 1250 class. The three members of the class entered service in 1962.^[1][2]

They initially hauled passenger services including The Australind, The Kalgoorlie and The Westland before being relegated to hauling suburban passenger services in Perth and shunting at Avon, Forestfield and Geraldton. The last was withdrawn by Westrail in the March 1992 with all three preserved. C1703 is accredited for mainline operation and is periodically used on infrastructure trains.^[3]

C1702 at the Hotham Valley Railway in September 2011