MRWA G class

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.

Midland Railway of Western Australia G class
G51 at Northcliffe in July 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Build date 1963 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 3 ft 1+1⁄2 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 Length 41 ft (12.497 m) over headstocks Width 8 ft 11 in (2.718 m) Height 12 ft 7 in (3.835 m) Axle load 12+1⁄2 long tons (12.7 t; 14.0 short tons) Loco weight 75 long tons (76.2 t; 84.0 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 700 imp gal (840 US gal; 3,200 L) Prime mover English Electric 8SVT Mk II RPM range 450–850 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 speed 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) Power output 1,030 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 class 2 Numbers G50-G51 First run 7 May 1963 Preserved G50 Disposition 1 preserved, 1 scrapped

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.

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.

Disposal

G51 was withdrawn from service in May 1990, and scrapped in January 1991.

G50 was withdrawn in March 1991 and preserved by the Australian Railway Historical Society.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.

Further reading

• Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 34, 48. OCLC 219836193.
• Gunzburg, Adrian (1989). The Midland Railway Company Locomotives of Western Australia. Melbourne: Light Railway Research Society of Australia. ISBN 0909340277.
• Milne, Rod (1998). Westrail's English Electric Experience (The English Electric locomotives of the WAGR). Elizabeth, SA: Railmac Publications. ISBN 0958650098.
• "Midland's New Medium Powered Diesels (G-Class)". Railway Transportation. Surry Hills, NSW: Shennen Publishing & Publicity Co. October 1963. ISSN 0033-9024. OCLC 220305870.

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