Tasmanian Government Railways Z class

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Tasmanian Government Railways Z class
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder English Electric, Rocklea
Serial numberA.249 to A.252
Build date1973
Total produced4
Specifications
Configuration:
   UIC Co-Co
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Wheel diameter3 ft 1+12 in (0.953 m)
Wheelbase 42 ft 5 in (12.929 m) total, 11 ft 3 in (3.429 m) bogie
Length55 ft (16.764 m) over headstocks
Width9 ft 4 in (2.845 m)
Height12 ft 4+12 in (3.772 m)
Axle load 16 long tons (16.3 t; 17.9 short tons)
Loco weight96 long tons (97.5 t; 107.5 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity1,200 imp gal (5,500 L)
Prime mover English Electric 12CSVT Mk II
RPM range450–850 rpm
Engine typefour stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration Turbocharged, intercooled
Generator EE822/16J
Traction motors Six EE558
Cylinders V12
Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle
Train brakes Vacuum, converted to air (1984–1985)
Performance figures
Maximum speed60 miles per hour (97 km/h)
Power output2,025 hp (1,510 kW) gross, 1,850 hp (1,380 kW) net
Tractive effort:
  Continuous54,000 lbf (240.2 kN) at 10.5 mph (20 km/h)
Career
Operators Tasmanian Government Railways
AN Tasrail
TasRail
Number in class4
NumbersZ1-Z4
First runJune 1973
Current owner Bellarine Railway
Don River Railway
DispositionAll preserved

The Tasmanian Government Railway Z class are a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Tasmanian Government Railways in 1973. They were a development of the Western Australian Government Railways R class and were the last of a line of very successful locomotives fitted with the English Electric 12CSVT Mk II engine.

Contents

History

With the construction of the new line from Launceston to Bell Bay, the Tasmanian Government Railways placed an order for four 1752 kW locomotives with English Electric. However, with the locomotive still under development, it was decided to purchase four 1380 kW locomotives that were an evolution of the Western Australian RA class locomotives with a low nose profile and vacuum brakes. [1] [2] At 96 tons, they were considerably heavier than the previous heaviest locomotives on the network, the Y class at 58 tons, requiring significant upgrades to infrastructure. [3] The first was delivered in December 1972. [4] [5]

In March 1978 the Z class were included in the transfer of the Tasmanian Government Railways to Australian National. In 1984/85 all had their vacuum brakes replaced with air brakes. [6] [7]

In June 1998, they were renumbered as the 2110 class. [8] All four locomotives were modified for driver-only operation between 1998 and 2001, by having their noses lowered further and the size of the front cab windows increased.

All remained in service with TasRail until stored in May 2014 with the entry into service of the new TR class.

In 2022, The Q Train acquired Z1 and Z4 for revenue use on their restaurant rail services on the Bellarine Railway. Z1 was delivered in March and Z4 in May. [9] Z2 and Z3 were donated to the Don River Railway. Z4 entered service in February 2024, with Z1 following in June 2025. It is common to see the Bellarine locomotives running long end leading, something which was never done in Tasmania.

Status table

NameOriginal noCurrent noOwnerLiveryStatus
Northern ProgressZ12110The Q TrainTGR yellowPreserved / Operational
Bell Bay PioneerZ22111 Don River Railway AN/Tasrail reverse yellow and greenPreserved
Z32112Don River RailwayATN/Tasrail burgundy and yellowPreserved
Z4Z4The Q TrainAN/Tasrail green and yellowPreserved / Operational

References

  1. Market Railway Gazette International February 1972 page 47
  2. TGR Orders Massive Power for Bell Bay Line Railway Transportation June 1972 page 9
  3. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 284–285. ISBN   0-730100-05-7.
  4. First TGR Super Power Locomotive Delivered Railway Transportation January 1973 page 3
  5. Tasmanian Railways: 150 years in the making - Part 2 Australian Railway History issue 1014 August 2032 pages 13/14
  6. Tasmania Railway Digest June 1985 page 183
  7. Z Class Archived 4 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Rail Tasmania
  8. Tasrail Loco Renumbering Railway Digest October 1998 page 36
  9. Heavy maintenance on new locomotives The Q Train