MRWA G class

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Midland Railway of Western Australia G class
G51 Northcliffe, 1986(3).JPG
G51 at Northcliffe in July 1986
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder English Electric, Rocklea
Build date1963
Total produced2
Specifications
Configuration:
   AAR C-C
   UIC Co-Co
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Wheel diameter3 ft 1+12 in (0.953 m)
Minimum curve 250 ft (76.200 m)
Wheelbase 32 ft (9.754 m) total, 11 ft 6 in (3.505 m) bogie
Length41 ft (12.497 m) over headstocks
Width8 ft 11 in (2.718 m)
Height12 ft 7 in (3.835 m)
Axle load 12+12 long tons (12.7 t; 14.0 short tons)
Loco weight75 long tons (76.2 t; 84.0 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity700 imp gal (840 US gal; 3,200 L)
Prime mover English Electric 8SVT Mk II
RPM range450–850 rpm
Engine type Four-stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration turbocharged
Generator EE819/7E
Traction motors Six EE548A
Cylinders 8 Vee
Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle
Loco brake straight air
Train brakes vacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed55 miles per hour (89 km/h)
Power output1,030 hp (770 kW) gross, 950 hp (710 kW) net
Tractive effort 43,000 lbf (191.3 kN) at 5.9 mph (10 km/h)
Career
Operators Midland Railway of Western Australia
Number in class2
NumbersG50-G51
First run7 May 1963
PreservedG50
Disposition1 preserved, 1 scrapped

The G class were a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Midland Railway of Western Australia in 1963. They were later sold to the Western Australian Government Railways.

Contents

History

The G class was a class of diesel-electric locomotives based upon the British Rail Class 20, with a cab similar to the Jamaican Railways Class 81 and its Australian derivatives. The two members of the class entered service with the Midland Railway of Western Australia in May 1963 after being shipped from Rocklea. They entered service on the Midland to Watheroo line. [1] [2]

Together with the rest of the company's assets and operations, they were taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways in 1964. In their later years they operated out of Bunbury and Perth. [2]

Disposal

G51 was withdrawn from service in May 1990, and scrapped in January 1991. [2]

G50 was withdrawn in March 1991 and preserved by the Australian Railway Historical Society. As of 2014, it is on loan to the Hotham Valley Railway. [2]

References

  1. Part 3 – Dieselization Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Perth Republika
  2. 1 2 3 4 G Class Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Hotham Valley Railway

Further reading

Commons-logo.svg Media related to MRWA G class at Wikimedia Commons