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 class 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)
Loco 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
Train brakes N: Vacuum
NA/NB: Air
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)
Career
Operators Westrail
Number in class 11
Numbers N1871-N1881
First run 5 December 1977
Current owner Australian Locolease
Greentrains
Disposition 2 stored, 9 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 While liked by crews for their ride quality and power, they suffered from reliability problems and most were withdrawn in the early 1990s. The last were withdrawn in 1997.[2][3][4]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 Australian Locolease who redesignated as the 18 class and leased them to El Zorro for use in Victoria.[6][7][8]

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 was scrapped in 2014.[2][6][9][10]

Status table

Loco No Revised No Builders No Entered Service Status
N1871 C-6099-01 05 Dec 1977 Converted to NA1871 1982
NA1871 29 Dec 1989 Scrapped 1994
N1872 C-6099-02 20 Aug 1977 Converted to NA1872 1983
NA1872 16 Jun 1983 Converted to NB1872 1994
NB1872 Sep 2011 Renumbered to 1872 2011
1872 Jan 1995 Stored South Dynon Locomotive Depot[6]
N1873 C-6099-03 17 Nov 1977 Converted to NA1873 1982
NA1873 09 Nov 1982 Converted to NB1873 1994
NB1873 Dec 1994 Renumbered to 1873 2011
1873 Sep 2011 Stored Islington Railway Workshops[6]
N1874 C-6099-04 30 Nov 1977 Converted to NA1874 1982
NA1874 15 July 1982 Scrapped 2014[6]
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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Australia Wide Fleet List 2014" Motive Power issue 96 pages 65, 67
  7. ↑ NB Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  8. ↑ 18 Class Vicsig
  9. ↑ NA Class (diesel, South Spur) Railpage
  10. ↑ 1874 Vicsig

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