BHP Whyalla DE class
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The BHP Whyalla DE class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for BHP between 1956 and 1965.
History
In 1956 BHP purchased two Electro-Motive Diesel G8 locomotives from Clyde Engineering for use at its narrow gauge Iron Knob iron-ore quarry.[1]
In 1956 the first of four larger Electro-Motive Diesel G12 locomotives was delivered from Clyde Engineering for use on the narrow gauge Iron Knob and Iron Baron tramway, a fifth was delivered in June 1961.[1]
Following the construction of a new 39.5 kilometre standard gauge line between Rapid Bay and Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, two standard gauge G12s were purchased in 1965.[1][2] Following the quarry railway being closed in 1968, the G8s were both transferred to the standard gauge railway.[1]
Between 1993 and 1995, six were remanufactured by Morrison-Knudsen Australia, at their Whyalla factory, receiving new cabs.[3][4][5]
In 2003 the Whyalla Steelworks became part of OneSteel and the rail operations transferred to Australian Railroad Group. The DEs were renumbered as the 1250 and 1300 classes.[6] With the split up of Australian Railroad Group in 2006, the remaining five DE class transferred to Genesee & Wyoming Australia.
During the 1990s remanufacturing program, DE02 had been stripped as a source of parts. In 2005/06 it was rebuilt at Islington Railway Workshops for SCT Logistics for use in Parkes. As it was very similar to the Victorian Railways T class it was renumbered T414.[7]
Status table
| Locomotive | Model | In Service | Owner | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE01 | EMD G8 | Oct 1956 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In service | Rebuilt as DE1 Feb 1994, renumbered 1301 |
| DE02 | EMD G8 | Nov 1956 | SCT Logistics | In service | Rebuilt by Islington Railway Workshops as T414 |
| DE03 | EMD G12 | Nov 1956 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In service | Rebuilt as DE3 Sep 1994, renumbered 1302 |
| DE04 | EMD G12 | Dec 1956 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In service | Rebuilt as DE4 Mar 1995, renumbered 1303 |
| DE05 | EMD G12 | May 1957 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In service | Renumbered 1251 |
| DE06 | EMD G12 | Aug 1957 | BHP | Scrapped Nov 1996 | |
| DE07 | EMD G12 | Jun 1961 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In service | Rebuilt as DE7 Mar 1994, renumbered 1304 |
| DE08 | EMD G12 | Nov 1965 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | Scrapped Oct 02 | Rebuilt as DE8 May 1994, destroyed in accident Apr 02 |
| DE09 | EMD G12 | Dec 1965 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | Scrapped Oct 02 | Rebuilt as DE9 May 1993, destroyed in accident Apr 02 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 221, 222, 224. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
- ↑ "Traffic" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 754 August 2000 page 318
- ↑ "Morrison Knudsen Australia and the CLPs" Railway Digest June 1994 page 18
- ↑ BHP / Onesteel / Arrium Whyalla Diesel Locomotives Minnipa Siding
- ↑ DE Class (BHP Whyalla) Railpage
- ↑ 1300 Class (ARG) Railpage
- ↑ T Class (T414) Railpage