| Westrail DB Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DB1588 at Forrestfield Yard in April 1986. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Westrail DB Class is a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater, for Westrail in 1982-1983.
| Westrail DB Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1588 at Forrestfield Yard in April 1986. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Westrail DB Class is a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater, for Westrail in 1982-1983.
In 1980, Westrail ordered ten DB Class locomotives from Clyde Engineering, Rosewater. Designated as the EMD G26CU-2, they were an evolution of the D and DA Classes. The original order was extended to thirteen in October 1980. [1] The class were fitted with a full width cab, dual braking (air and vacuum) systems, a pressurised body to exclude dust and were the first Westrail locomotives to have air-conditioned cabs. [2]
They were not owned by Westrail, but leverage leased from LVL Nominees, entering service between April 1982 and May 1983. All were named after cities and shires in South West Western Australia. [3] Brass nameplates were originally fitted, but these were later replaced by painted names. [2]
All were included in the sale of Westrail to Australian Railroad Group in December 2000, the State Government having bought out the leases shortly before. As part of a policy to drop letter classifications in favour of a numeric system based on horsepower, they became the 2300 Class. In May 2003, 2313 was transferred to Australian Southern Railroad's Whyalla operation, it returned in August 2006. [1] [2]
In June 2006, all were included in the sale of Australian Railroad Group's Western Australian operation to QR National. Between 2006 and 2012, all were equipped with ZTR engine control equipment. A change in policy saw letter classifications reintroduced, with the class again becoming the DB Class. Upon being fitted with ZTR equipment, they were reclassified as DBZs. [1] [2]
All remained in service at the beginning of 2013, however 12 months later this was down to five with the last two withdrawn in March 2014. By June 2014, seven had returned to service. [2]
In December 2017, CBH Group purchased 10 units from Aurizon (DBZ2301-2308, 2312-2313) for use on their wheat train services, operated by Watco Australia at the time. These units were transferred to Beverley for further storage pending reactivation. By July 2019, three units, DBZ2301, 2302 and 2305, had entered service with their new owners.
In 2023, all CBH owned locomotives were stored pending shipping to South Africa before the sale fell through just two days before they were due to leave. One year later, Watco had purchased the units from CBH and have transferred them from Beverley to the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Centre in Minnivale. [4]
| Key: | In Service | Withdrawn | Unknown |
|---|
| Serial Number | Entered Service | Original Road Number | Renumbered As | Name | Current/Last Owner | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81-989 | Tuesday, 27th April, 1982 | DB1581 | DBZ2301 | City of Bunbury | Watco Australia | In Service | - |
| 81-990 | May 1982 | DB1582 | DBZ2302 | Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-991 | June 1982 | DB1583 | DBZ2303 | Shire of Murray | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-992 | July 1982 | DB1584 | DBZ2304 | Shire of Waroona | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-993 | August 1982 | DB1585 | DBZ2305 | Shire of Harvey | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-994 | September 1982 | DB1586 | DBZ2306 | Shire of Dardanup | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-995 | October 1982 | DB1587 | DBZ2307 | Shire of Capel | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-996 | November 1982 | DB1588 | DBZ2308 | Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 81-997 | December 1982 | DB1589 | DBZ2309 | Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes | Aurizon | In Service | - |
| 81-998 | February 1983 | DB1590 | DBZ2310 | Shire of Collie | Aurizon | Stored (Forrestfield) | Swapped names with DBZ2311 during overhaul. |
| 82-1122 | March 1983 | DB1591 | DBZ2311 | Shire of Manjimup | Aurizon | Swapped names with DBZ2310 during overhaul. | |
| 82-1123 | May 1983 | DB1592 | DBZ2312 | Shire of Toodyay | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | - |
| 82-1124 | May 1983 | DB1593 | DBZ2313 | Shire of Northam/Iron Duke/Shire of Dowerin | Watco Australia | Stored (Minnivale) | Transferred to Australian Southern Railroad, Whyalla in May 2003 and renamed "Iron Duke". Returned to Western Australia in August 2006 and renamed "Shire of Dowerin". |
Australian Railroad Group (ARG) was an Australian rail freight operator. It began operations in Western Australia on 17 December 2000 following its purchase of the Westrail freight business. It was purchased by QR National in June 2006. The main commodities hauled by ARG included grain, mineral sands, alumina, bauxite, coal, woodchips, quartz, nickel and iron ore around Western Australia. In June 2011, it ceased trading as a separate brand, and became part of QR National.
The NR class are Australian diesel-electric locomotives built by A Goninan & Co for National Rail between 1996 and 1998. They are currently operated by Pacific National. The C44aci model locomotives built by UGL Rail at Broadmeadow adopted the design from the NR Class.
The 422 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Department of Railways New South Wales in 1969/70.
The C Class are a class of diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater for the Victorian Railways in 1977–1978.
Clyde Engineering was an Australian manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, and other industrial products.
The GT46C is a model of diesel-electric locomotive designed and built by Clyde Engineering using Electro-Motive Diesel components. A number of Australian rail freight operators purchased them from 1997: Westrail as the Q class, FreightLink as the FQ class, and Freight Australia as the single-locomotive V class. As of 2022, all 24 locomotives were owned by Aurizon following its purchase of certain One Rail Australia assets in July 2022.
The X class are a class of mainline diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville and Rosewater for the Victorian Railways between 1966 and 1976.
The G Class are a class of diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater and Somerton for V/Line between 1984 and 1989.
The CL class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Commonwealth Railways in several batches between 1970 and 1972. The class was the last in the world to be built with the Electro-Motive Diesel bulldog nose but differed from previous builds in having a mansard roof.
The GT46C-ACe is a model of Australian diesel-electric locomotive designed and built between 2007–present by Downer Rail at its Cardiff Locomotive Workshops using Electro-Motive Diesel components until 2014, later units were built in Muncie, Indiana.
The L Class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville and Eagle Farm, and Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1967 and 1973.
The S class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Forrestfield for Westrail in 1998.
The WAGR A/AA/AB classes are classes of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales, Australia, for the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1960 and 1969.
The D/DA class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1971-1972.
The P class are a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Bassendean for Westrail between 1989 and 1991.
The CBH class is a class of diesel-electric freight locomotives designed and manufactured in the United States by MotivePower in Boise, Idaho, for Western Australian grain growers' co-operative CBH Group.
GML10 is a diesel-electric locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Kelso for the Goldsworthy Mining Company in 1990. It is currently operated by Qube.
Watco Australia is a rail haulage operator that was formed in 2010 to haul grain for the CBH Group in Western Australia. In 2019, it commenced operating in Queensland under a contract with GrainCorp. It is a subsidiary of Watco.
The Queensland Railways 2170 class is an Australian diesel-electric locomotive.
Avon Yard is a railway yard west of Northam, Western Australia. It lies on the southern side of the Avon River on the Eastern Railway between Toodyay and Northam.
Media related to WAGR DB class at Wikimedia Commons
| Steam tender (1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)) |    | |
|---|---|---|
| Steam tank (narrow gauge) | ||
| Steam Garratt (narrow gauge) | ||
| Diesel-hydraulic (narrow gauge) | ||
| Diesel-mechanical (narrow gauge) | ||
| Diesel-electric (narrow gauge) | ||
| Diesel-electric (standard gauge) | ||