New South Wales X200 class locomotive explained

New South Wales X200 class
(Mark 1: X201–X206)
Powertype:Diesel-mechanical
Builder:Chullora Railway Workshops
Totalproduction:6
Uicclass:B
Wheeldiameter:360NaN0
Wheelbase:6feet
Length:Over headstocks:
20feet,
Over coupler pulling faces:
24feet
Width:9feet
Height:11feet
Fueltype:Diesel
Fuelcap:156abbr=on0abbr=on
Lubecap:Engine:
8impgal,
Transmission:
13.75abbr=on1abbr=on,
Final drive:
6abbr=on1abbr=on
Coolantcap:15abbr=on0abbr=on
Sandcap:4.5cuft
Primemover:Hercules DFXH-F
Rpmrange:650–1850
Enginetype:Four-stroke diesel
Aspiration:Naturally aspirated
Cylindercount:6
Cylindersize:5.75x
Transmission:Allison CRT5631-8, with NSWGR design final drive
Maxspeed: 240NaN0
Poweroutput:Gross:
2600NaN0
at 2100 rpm,
For traction:
2000NaN0
Tractiveeffort:Continuous:
177502NaN2
at 2.51NaN1
Operator:New South Wales Government Railways
Fleetnumbers:X201–X206
Firstrundate:2 December 1963
Disposition:X203, X204, and X206 preserved
New South Wales X200 class
(Mark 2: X207–X218)
Powertype:Diesel-mechanical
Builder:Chullora Railway Workshops
Totalproduction:12
Uicclass:B
Wheeldiameter:360NaN0
Wheelbase:7feet
Length:Over headstocks:
20feet,
Over coupler pulling faces:
24feet
Width:9feet
Height:12feet
Fueltype:Diesel
Fuelcap:156abbr=on0abbr=on
Lubecap:Engine:
5.875abbr=on1abbr=on,
Transmission:
13.75abbr=on1abbr=on,
Final drive:
6abbr=on1abbr=on
Coolantcap:17.5abbr=on0abbr=on
Sandcap:4.5cuft
Primemover:Cummins NHRS-6-BI
Rpmrange:625–1900
Enginetype:Four-stroke diesel
Aspiration:Scavenge-blown
Cylindercount:6
Cylindersize:5.125x
Transmission:Allison CRT5631-6, with NSWGR design final drive
Maxspeed:320NaN0
Poweroutput:Gross:
2900NaN0
at 2100 rpm,
For traction: 2600NaN0
Tractiveeffort:Continuous:
177502NaN2
at 3.61NaN1
Operator:New South Wales Government Railways
Fleetnumbers:X207–X218
Firstrundate:1967
Preservedunits:X214, X215, X217
Currentowner:SCT Logistics
Disposition:2 in service, 3 preserved

The X200 class were a class of rail tractors introduced in 1963 and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia. They were a development of the smaller and less numerous X100 class. The X200 class remained in service until 1990 when they were either withdrawn or sold off to private companies, and some remain operational today.

Mark 1 series

The Mark 1 series of the X200 class were 3 times more powerful and twice as heavy as the X100 class. Six examples were built and numbered X201-X206.

They were built using a number of steam locomotive spare parts. They were built on the inner bogies of the AD60 Beyer-Garratt class locomotives, and used spare C36 class locomotive windows in their cabs. Their engines were rated at 260hp at 2,100 rpm and had a top speed of 24 mph. The rounded shapes of the hoods and cab gave it a baby-brother appearance to the main line 42 and 44 classes. The addition of a train brake allowed them to be run on the main line and also to be used as replacements for various ageing shunting locomotives. X201 was the first of the class entering service in December 1963. The six Mark 1s were initially used in the Sydney metropolitan network, but did later find their ways beyond this region.[1]

Mark 2 series

The Mark 2 series of the X200 class were different again. Twelve examples were built and numbered X207-X218.

They were built on the outer bogies of the AD60 Beyer-Garratt class locomotives. Their engines were more powerful rated at 290hp at 2,100 rpm and they had a higher top speed of 32 mph. This made them more practical for light line use. One was even rostered on to the Yass Tramway, previously the domain of the Z13 class tank locomotives. The Z13 class were called back to Yass during periods after the X-200 failed due to transmission faults. The exterior design of the Mark 2 was squarer, giving it the appearance of a baby-brother to the 49 class diesel locomotives.

The first six were built in 1967. The second six being an additional order, were placed into traffic from May 1968, with the final member of the class entering service in December 1968. Despite differences in engine horsepower ratings, both variants were rated as having a tractive effort of 17750abbr=onNaNabbr=on. This was more powerful than many of the typical small and workshop steam shunting locomotives of the time.[1]

Summary

The X200 class must be considered largely successful, as they began to replace the various ageing steam shunting locomotives in various depots of the time. They were cleaner, more efficient to run, requiring less maintenance, and also giving locomotive crews more comfortable working conditions. Another indicator of the class' success is that several examples are still operational even today, at an age of around 45 years. Unfortunately, with the volatile and ever-changing nature of rail transport companies in the modern day, it is hard to keep a 100% accurate listing of their current owners and operational areas.

Some steam shunting locomotives of New South Wales Railways compared to an X200 class
Type Power [2] Wheel ArrangementTotal weight
X200 Rail Tractor 17,750 lbf0-4-030T
Z13 (4-4-2T) 13,000 lbf4-4-2T54T
Z18 (0-6-0T) 11,550 lbf0-6-0T31T
X10 (F351 2-4-0T) 9,090 lbf2-4-0T38T
X1044 6,050 lbf
X1046/X1047 12,540 lbf
X10 (7-ton luffing crane) 14,900 lbf0-4-0T39T

There is a certain amount of confusion with the numbering in this class. The numbers specified above apply to the class when first issued to traffic. In later years a certain amount of number-swapping was carried out by workshops. The biggest confusion being X101 and X212 swapping numbers, being two completely different types of locomotive! X217 and X218 later became X117 and X118, confusing the matter further. It appears that members of the X200 class were indiscriminately re-numbered into the X100 series. Many other renumberings exist. For the purposes of research it is often easier to refer to individual locomotives by their numbers when first issued to traffic and to note any number changes in brackets as below.

Remaining examples

Preserved

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Australian Model Railway Magazine, Vol. 12 No. 2, Issue 131, August 1985, SCMRA Publications
  2. Book: Grunbach. Alex. A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. 1989. 0-909650-27-6.