WAGR Z class explained

Western Australian Government Railways Z class
Powertype:Diesel-mechanical
Builder:Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns, Newcastle upon Tyne as subcontractor to Drewry Car Co
Serialnumber:Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns

7736-7738
Drewry Car Co: 2401-2403

Builddate:1953
Whytetype:0-6-0DM
Totalproduction:3
Aarwheels:C
Uicclass:C
Length:5.750NaN0
Fueltype:Diesel
Primemover:Gardner 8LW
Rpmrange:600-1700 rpm
Enginetype:Four-stroke Inline Eight-cylinder Water-cooled Diesel engine
Cylindercount:8
Cylindersize:4.5x
Transmission:Mechanical
Maxspeed:28km/h
Poweroutput:140hp
T/E Starting:38.212NaN2
Locobrakes:Air brake
Trainbrakes:Vacuum brake
Operator:Western Australian Government Railways (former)
Numinclass:3
Fleetnumbers:Z1151, Z1152 & Z1153
Locale:Western Australia
Firstrundate:October 1953
Withdrawndate:January 1983
Currentowner:Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society, Hotham Valley Railway & Boulder Loopline Railway
Disposition:All preserved

The Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) Z class was a class consisting of three lightweight six-wheeled diesel-mechanical locomotives which were active in Western Australia from November 1953 to January 1983 and which have since been preserved.

History

Ordered in 1951[1] by the WAGR as part of its post-war rehabilitation program, the Z class was ordered from the Drewry Car Company at a cost of £12,000 per locomotive,[2] with their construction being subcontracted to Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn Ltd (RSH) of Newcastle, England. After the locomotives were built they were shipped from Britain to Australia, with Z1151 arriving at Fremantle harbour on 26 September 1953.[3] [4] Z1151 was demonstrated at the Perth Royal Show in October 1953[5] and entered service with the WAGR on 14 October 1953. The remaining two Z class locomotives would arrive around five weeks later.[6] This was despite the fact that their delivery date had originally being set for September 1952.

After entering service with the WAGR they were assigned to works as shunters on the jetty's and wharfs at Busselton, Bunbury and other ports.[7] They were capable of working for 22 hours per day, operating in three shifts, and alongside this could operate for five days on a single fuel tank.

By January 1954 the Z class were considered to have proven their worth to the WAGR. All three Z class locomotives were withdrawn from service on 1 January 1983 and subsequently were sold into preservation.[8]

Preservation

After being withdrawn from service by the WAGR on 1 January 1983 all three Z class locomotives were sold into preservation.

The first member of the class, Z1151, would be sold to the Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society while the third, Z1153, was sold to the Boulder Loopline Railway.

The second member of the class, Z1152, would be sold to the Hotham Valley Railway (HVR) and was used by them on work trains during the rehabilitation of the Dwellingup - Etmilyn section of track throughout 1985–86. In June 2003 a request was made to the HVR by Works Infrastructure (E.D.I) to allow the for the use of Z1152 to assist in the construction of the new Urban Rail Car Depot at Nowergup on the new extension of the Northern Suburbs Railway and was transferred by road to Nowergup which was not connected by rail at time of movement.

After the return of Z1152 to the HVR, the locomotive has seen use as the shunter at Pinjarra depot.

Design

The Z class is a lightweight diesel locomotive, weighing in at, which utilizes an 0-6-0 wheel arrangement and which is powered by a Gardner 8LW four-stroke eight cylinder in-line water-cooled diesel engine rated at 140 horsepower. The Gardner 8LW uses 110mm × 150mm cylinders and has a displacement of 11.160NaN0 while producing its power in the 600-1700 RPM range.[9]

Furthermore, the class uses a mechanical transmission, with the power being transmitted to the six driving wheels via external coupling rods. The class' braking system uses air for the locomotive and vacuum for the train. The class' maximum speed is 28 km/h (17 mph) and is capable of producing a tractive effort of 38.21 kN when starting.

Class list

NumberSerial – RSHSerial – DrewryStatusLocation
Z115177362401Static DisplaySteamtown, Peterborough, South Australia
Z115277372402OperationalHotham Valley Railway, Pinjarra
Z115377382403StoredBoulder Loopline Railway, Kalgoorlie

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 1951-08-18 . MAIN LINE DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES FOR W.A.G.R. . Kalgoorlie Miner . 2022-08-30.
  2. News: 1954-02-01 . Diesel Locomotive Will Open New Era For W.A. Railways . West Australian . 2022-08-26.
  3. News: 1953-09-24 . Jetty Diesel Arrives . Daily News . 2022-08-31.
  4. News: 1953-09-26 . No Title . West Australian . 2022-08-31.
  5. News: 1953-10-05 . The boys will pack in . Daily News . 2022-08-26.
  6. Web site: Rail Heritage WA Archive Photo Gallery . 2022-08-30 . www.railheritagewa.org.au.
  7. News: 1954-07-09 . FIRST NEW X-CLASS DIESEL ARRIVES IN KATANNING . Great Southern Herald . 2022-08-30.
  8. http://www.hothamvalleyrailway.com.au/z_1152.htm Z1152
  9. Web site: Gardner Marine & Industrial Engine Data . 2022-08-26 . realdiesels.co.uk.