WAGR A/AA/AB Classes
AA1517 near Kelmscott in December 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Granville Comeng, Bassendean Model Electro Motive Diesel G12CU (A1501-14), G22CU (AA, AB) Build date 1960-1970 Total produced A: 14 AA: 5 AB: 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Wheel diameter 1,016mm (40") Length A/AA: 16.16m (53') AB: 16.358m (53' 8") Axle load A: 15t AA: 16t AB: 16.4t Loco weight A: 89.16t AA: 96t AB: 97.35t Fuel type Diesel Prime mover A: Electro Motive Diesel 12-567C AA/AB: Electro Motive Diesel 12-645E RPM range A: 275-835 AA/AB: 307-900 Generator A1501-2: EMD D15E A1503-14: EMD D25 AA: EMD D25 AB: EMD D32 Traction motors EMD D29 Cylinders 12
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output A: 1,200hp AA/AB: 1,500hp Tractive effort 240kN (53,954lbf)
Career Number in class 25 Numbers A1501-A1514 AA1515-AA1519 AB1531-AB1536 Locale Western Australia, South Australia, Chile, South Africa, Guinea Delivered June 1960 First run July 1960 Preserved A1501, AB1535 Current owner Aurizon Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia Genesee & Wyoming Australia Rail Heritage WA Rusal Disposition 13 in service, 2 preserved, 1 stored, 3 unknown, 6 scrapped

The WAGR A/AA/AB classes are classes of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales, Australia, for the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1960 and 1969.

History

In July 1960 Clyde Engineering delivered the first of the WAGR's 14 A class locomotives. Six were assembled under contract by Commonwealth Engineering at Bassendean becoming the first diesel locomotives built in Western Australia. The last two were financed by Western Mining Corporation. A1506, A1513-14 were fitted with dynamic brakes.^[1][2]

In 1967 five improved AA class^[3] were delivered, followed by six AB classes in 1969.^[4] All were built at Granville and fitted with more powerful Electro Motive Diesel 12-645E engines.^[1]

Former AA1518 (right) in service with Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia in April 2012

In January 1998 ten (A1502-A1510 & AB1533) were sold to Tranz Rail.^[5] All were shipped to New Zealand in February 1998. Five were scrapped for parts, one sold to Tasrail for parts^[6] and in November 2005, four were sold as hulks to National Railway Equipment Company and shipped to Mount Vernon, Illinois.^[7] Two of the latter were rebuilt and in 2010 sold to Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia. There they were reunited with seven (A1512, AA1515-AA1519 & AB1532) that had been sold to the Chile operator in September 1998.^[8][9]

Those remaining with Westrail were included in the sale of the business to Australian Railroad Group in October 2000. When the business was split in June 2006, A1513 and A1514 were transferred to Genesee & Wyoming Australia with the South Australian operations and were reclassified as the 1200 class^[10] while A1501 and the remaining four ABs passed to QR National with the Western Australian operations, and were renumbered AB1501-AB1504.^[4][8] In January 2008, A1501 was withdrawn and donated to Rail Heritage WA.^[11] A1202, AB1501 and AB1502 were exported to South Africa in January 2015.

In April 2017, AB1535 was donated to Rail Heritage WA for use with the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project at Minnivale.

A portrait photo of ex-WAGR AB Class #1535 (previously owned by Australian Railroad Group, then owned by Aurizon), an EMD G22CU built by Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales, Australia. Taken at the opening of "Stage 1" for Wheatbelt Heritage Rail (30 April 2017).

Class list (A)

Class list (AA)

Class list (AB)

References

External links

Media related to WAGR A class (diesel) at Wikimedia Commons

• A class History of Western Australia Railways & Stations gallery
• AB class History of Western Australia Railways & Stations gallery