MRWA F class

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Midland Railway of Western Australia F class
F45 Picton Yard, 1986.JPG
F45 at Picton Yard in March 1986
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder English Electric, Rocklea
Build date1958
Total produced7
Specifications
Configuration:
   AAR A1A-A1A
   UIC (A1A)(A1A)
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Wheel diameter3 ft 1+12 in (0.953 m)
Minimum curve 330 ft (100.584 m)
Wheelbase 34 ft (10.363 m) total, 11 ft 6 in (3.505 m) bogie
Length42 ft (12.802 m) over headstocks
Width8 ft 10+12 in (2.705 m)
Height13 ft 7 in (4.140 m)
Axle load 10.7 long tons (10.9 t; 12.0 short tons)
Loco weight63 long tons (64.0 t; 70.6 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity500 imp gal (2,300 L)
Lubricant cap.90 imp gal (410 L)
Coolant cap.88 imp gal (400 L)
Prime mover English Electric 6SRKT Mk II
RPM range450–850 rpm
Engine type Four-stroke diesel, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration Turbocharged
Generator English Electric 827/4C
Traction motors English Electric 525/9A
Cylinders 6 Inline
Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle
Loco brake Air
Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed50 miles per hour (80 km/h)
Power output750 hp (560 kW) gross, 685 hp (510 kW) net
Tractive effort 22,400 lbf (99.6 kN) at 9.6 mph (20 km/h)
Career
Operators Midland Railway of Western Australia
Number in class7
NumbersF40-F46
DeliveredMay 1958
PreservedF40, F41, F43, F44
Disposition4 preserved, 3 scrapped

The F class were a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Midland Railway of Western Australia in 1958. They were later taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways.

Contents

History

The F class was based upon the South Australian Railways 800 class. The seven members of the class entered service with the Midland Railway of Western Australia in 1958, and, together with the rest of the company's assets and operations, were taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways in 1964. [1] [2] [3] [4]

The first (F42) was withdrawn in November 1984. [5]

Hotham Valley Railway have preserved F40 and F44 [6] [7] while Rail Heritage WA have F43. F41 is also on display at Moora.

References

  1. Diesels replace steam power on Midland Railway, reproduced from Railway Transportation August 1959 Commissioners Notebook, volume 3 no 2, 8 January 2006)
  2. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010s. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 306. ISBN   9781921719011.
  3. F (MRWA diesel) Railpage
  4. Part 3 – Dieselization Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Perth Republika
  5. "Western Australia" Railway Digest March 1985 page 97
  6. F40 West Australian Railscene e-Mag issue 103 4 October 2010 pages 4-5
  7. F44 West Australian Railscene e-Mag issue 129 28 March 2011 page 8

Further reading