WAGR B class (diesel)

{{Short description|Class of Australian diesel-hydraulic locomotives}}

{{Infobox locomotive

|name = Western Australian Government Railways B class

|powertype = Diesel-hydraulic

|image = Hugh llewelyn B 1601 (5680878435).jpg

|alt =

|caption = B1601 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum

|builder = Commonwealth Engineering

|ordernumber =

|serialnumber =

|buildmodel =

|builddate = 1962-1965

|totalproduction = 10

|rebuilder =

|rebuilddate =

|numberrebuilt =

|aarwheels = 0-6-0

|uicclass = C

|gauge = {{track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

|trucks =

|bogies =

|wheeldiameter =

|trailingdiameter =

|minimumcurve =

|wheelbase =

|length =

|width =

|height =

|axleload =

|weightondrivers =

|locoweight = {{convert|39.2|LT|t ST}}

|fueltype = Diesel

|fuelcap = {{convert|340|impgal|L USgal|abbr=on}}

|lubecap =

|coolantcap =

|watercap =

|sandcap =

|powersupply =

|consumption =

|watercons =

|primemover = Cummins VT-12-BI

|rpmrange =

|enginetype = Four-stroke V12 diesel

|aspiration = Turbocharged

|displacement =

|alternator =

|generator =

|tractionmotors =

|headendpower =

|cylindercount = 12

|cylindersize =

|transmission = Twin Disc CF11,500 series
MS450 hydraulic torque converter
Wiseman 15 RLGB/H final drive

|multipleworking =

|maxspeed = {{convert|26|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}

|poweroutput = {{convert|473|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on}}

|tractiveeffort = {{convert|23,000|lb-f|kN|abbr=on}} (starting)
{{convert|18,000|lb-f|kN|abbr=on}} (continuous)

|factorofadhesion =

|trainheating =

|locobrakes =

|locobrakeforce =

|trainbrakes =

|safety =

|operator = Western Australian Government Railways

|operatorclass =

|powerclass =

|numinclass = 10

|fleetnumbers = B1601-B1610

|officialname =

|nicknames =

|axleloadclass =

|locale =

|deliverydate =

|firstrundate = 21 March 1962

|lastrundate = 28 September 1984

|retiredate =

|withdrawndate =

|preservedunits =

|restoredate =

|scrapdate =

|currentowner =

|disposition = 4 preserved, 6 scrapped}}

The B class were a class of diesel locomotives built by Commonwealth Engineering for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1962 and 1965.

History

The first five B class units entered service in 1962. Three years later, a second batch of five was delivered.{{cite book|last=Gray|first=Bill|title=Guide to the Collection - The Railway Museum - Western Australia|year=2010|publisher=Rail Heritage WA|location=Bassendean, WA|isbn=9780980392234|page=26}}

The second batch differed from the first only in having sloping cab sides, to enable the second batch to pass underneath the limited clearance cranes on the Fremantle wharves.

All members of the class spent the whole of their working lives in the Perth metropolitan area, and were written off as a group in September 1984."Western Australia" Railway Digest February 1985 page 55 Some of them have since been preserved.{{cite web|title=Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive|url=http://www.our-australia.com/railway/comeng/wagr-bclass-diesel.html|work=The Comeng Book|publisher=Our Australia|accessdate=2012-07-22}}[http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/b-class-wagr B Class WAGR] Railpage

WAGR B class (diesel)

History

References

Further reading