| Western Australian Government Railways RA class | |
| Powertype: | Diesel-electric |
| Serialnumber: | A.202-A.207, A.218-A.222, A.244, A.248 |
| Builddate: | 1968-72 |
| Totalproduction: | 13 |
| Aarwheels: | C-C |
| Uicclass: | Co-Co, Co′Co′ |
| Bogies: | English Electric low weight transfer |
| Wheeldiameter: | 3feet |
| Minimumcurve: | 2643NaN3 |
| Wheelbase: | 44feet total, 11feet bogie |
| Length: | 53feet over headstocks |
| Width: | 9feet |
| Height: | 133NaN3 |
| Axleload: | 15.5LT |
| Locoweight: | 93LT |
| Fueltype: | Diesel |
| Fuelcap: | 1200impgal |
| Coolantcap: | 200impgal |
| Primemover: | EE 12CSVT Mk II |
| Rpmrange: | 850rpm |
| Enginetype: | four stroke, four valves per cylinder |
| Aspiration: | turbo, intercooled |
| Generator: | EE822/16J |
| Tractionmotors: | EE548 |
| Cylindercount: | 12 Vee |
| Cylindersize: | 10x |
| Multipleworking: | 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle |
| Poweroutput: | 1950-1NaN-1, gross, 1795-1NaN-1 net |
| T/E Starting: | 670001NaN1 |
| T/E Continuous: | 505001NaN1 at 10.8-1NaN-1 |
| Locobrakes: | Air, proportional control |
| Trainbrakes: | Dual air and vacuum |
| Operator: | Western Australian Government Railways |
| Disposition: | 12 scrapped, 1 preserved |
The RA Class are diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1969 and 1972. They were a revised version of the R class.
The RA class were a hood type general purpose diesel-electric locomotive. They were similar to the Queensland Railways 1300 class. All equipment, except traction motors, were interchangeable with the standard gauge K class. The main differences with the R class were a slight increase in length and wheelbase and deletion of the dynamic brake. They were otherwise identical mechanically and electrically.
The bogies were identical to those fitted to the R class and were an English Electric design with low weight transfer characteristics. They feature fully equalised primary spring gear, all traction motors in each bogie mounted with the nose-suspension facing inwards, traction thrust at near axle level and long pivot centres to reduce inter-bogie transfer. Adhesion loss at maximum tractive effort is limited to 4.5 per cent allowing 1830LT trailing load to be hauled up a 1 in 100 grade.
Following on from the R class, a further 11 were ordered, but without dynamic brakes. A further two were financed by the Lefroy Salt Company for use over a 13km (08miles) spur off the Esperance line.[1] [2] [3] [4]
In 1973, a version of the RA class with a low nose was ordered for Tasmanian Government Railways, which classed them Z.
In 1974 the RA1914, RA1917 and RA1918 were fitted with standard gauge bogies and renumbered KA211-KA213.[1] [5] RA1918 has been preserved by Rail Heritage WA.[6]
| Key: | In Service | Withdrawn | Preserved | Converted | Scrapped |
|---|
| Serial Number | Entered Service | Road Number | Current/Last Owner | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.203 | November 8, 1969 | RA1906 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.204 | November 21, 1969 | RA1907 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.205 | December 3, 1969 | RA1908 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.206 | December 23, 1969 | RA1909 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.202 | February 6, 1970 | RA1910 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.207 | February 5, 1970 | RA1911 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.218 | April 8, 1971 | RA1912 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.219 | March 4, 1971 | RA1913 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.220 | May 6, 1971 | RA1914, KA211 | UGL Rail | Used as an engine test bed at UGL Bassendean | |
| A.221 | May 6, 1971 | RA1915 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.222 | March 17, 1971 | RA1916 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) | |
| A.244 | July 11, 1972 | RA1917, KA212 | Qube | Scrapped, Bellevue (May 29, 2016) | |
| A.248 | July 19, 1972 | RA1918, KA213 | Rail Heritage WA | Preserved by Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean |