Westrail N class

The N class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Comeng, Bassendean for Westrail between 1977 and 1979.

Westrail N class
N1879 & N1871 at Bunbury Harbour in December 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Comeng, Bassendean Model CE618 Build date 1977-1979 Total produced 11
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC 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 1 stored, 10 scrapped

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 While liked by crews for their ride quality and power, they suffered from reliability problems and most were withdrawn in the early 1990s. The last were withdrawn in 1997.[2][3][4]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 1982	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]
	1872			Scrapped Feb 2020
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. 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. "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

External links

Media related to Westrail N class at Wikimedia Commons