Westrail N class
N1879 & N1871 at Bunbury Harbour
in December 1986 |
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | Comeng, Bassendean |
| Model | CE618 |
| Build date | 1977-1979 |
| Total produced | 11 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration: |
|
| • AAR | C-C |
| • UIC | Co-Co, Co′Co′ |
| Gauge |
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Length | 17.09 m (56 ft 1 in) |
| Width | 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in) |
| Axle load | 17.7 t (17.4 long tons; 19.5 short tons) |
| Loco weight | 106 t (104 long tons; 117 short tons) |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel capacity | 4,000 litres (880 imp gal; 1,100 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Alco 12-251CE |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged |
| Cylinders | 12 |
| Train brakes | N: Vacuum NA/NB: Air |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 105 km/h (65 mph) |
| Power output | 1,790 kW (2,400 hp) |
| Tractive effort | 282 kN (63,000 lbf) (starting) 240 kN (54,000 lbf) (continuous) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | Westrail |
| Number in class | 11 |
| Numbers | N1871-N1881 |
| First run | 5 December 1977 |
| Current owner |
Australian Locolease Greentrains |
| Disposition | 2 stored, 9 scrapped |
The N class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Comeng, Bassendean for Westrail between 1977 and 1979.
Eleven were built all for use on the Western Australian narrow gauge network, primarily to haul mineral trains in the south east. Between July 1982 and June 1983, the first four members of the class had their vacuum brake equipment replaced with Westinghouse air brake systems, and were redesignated as the NA class. While liked by crews for their ride quality and power, they suffered from reliability problems and most were withdrawn in the early 1990s. The last were withdrawn in 1997.
In January 1995 two of the NA class were converted to standard gauge using bogies from Mount Newman Alco M636s, and redesignated as the NB class. In February 1998 these two were sold to Austrac Ready Power, Junee. These were sold in 2004 to Patrick Port Link, Adelaide and again in September 2011 to Australian Locolease who redesignated as the 18 class and leased them to El Zorro for use in Victoria.
Austrac also purchased NA1874 but it was sold without use to South Spur Rail Services in 2001 and converted for standard gauge operation in January 2006. It was scrapped in 2014.
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