WAGR X class
Encyclopedia
The WAGR X class was a class of 48 diesel electric locomotives built for Western Australian Government Railways
by Beyer Peacock and Metropolitan Vickers, at Bowesfield Works
, Stockton-on-Tees
between 1954 and 1956.
The engines used exhaust pulse pressure charging
and developed 1,200 horsepower (895 kW) at 625 rpm. There were no valves, and inlet and exhaust were via ports in the cylinder walls.
The same engine, and some of its derivatives, were used in CIE locomotives (e.g. CIE 001 Class
), and the British Rail Co-Bo (BR Class 28
).
Crossley Brothers, like many others at the time, were hoping to expand into railway traction. Their foray was an unmitigated disaster.
Failures commenced within weeks of the first locomotives being unveiled. It was only the skill of staff at Midland that saved the day. The Smith Royal Commission into the class identified blind faith in the British, and chided the WAGR for ignoring the advise of supervising engineers in the UK, who reported problems with the traction motor during testing.
In their early days, availability was less than for steam. Whilst the Irish re-motored their Crossley locomotives to rid themselves of the problem, The Smith Royal Commission recommended against this, and proposed the purchase of further locomotives of "proven design" to remove the class completely.
The motors burnt oil, had underfed bearings, vibrated and popped heads and pistons. It was only the engineering excellence, and perseverance of Midland Workshops
staff that kept the locomotives operating, and performance improving. In the end, over 600 design faults, mainly in the Crossley Engine, were overcome.
In their final years, those still in service were reputed to have performed well. They ran grain trains in the South West as late as 1984, and provided power for trains following the reopening of the Fremantle line.
The last of the class in service was XA1402, stored 31 March 1988.
During construction, 16 locomotives were fitted with multiple unit control and denoted XA class. These locomotives were numbered sequentially from 1401-1416, and included communication doors in the front of the locomotive cab.
Midland Workshops later adapted an additional 10 units for multiple unit working, becoming the Xb Class. The Xb were identical in appearance to the X Class.
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
by Beyer Peacock and Metropolitan Vickers, at Bowesfield Works
Bowesfield Works
Bowesfield Works was a railway locomotive manufacturing plant in Stockton-on-Tees. The works was operated by a joint venture company called Metropolitan Vickers-Beyer Peacock from 1949 until 1960.-Works history:...
, Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
between 1954 and 1956.
The Crossley engine
At the time of construction, the HST-Vee8 was an untested concept, though the engine itself was an evolution of a design used successfully in patrol boats during World War Two. The engine was not used for submaritime service.The engines used exhaust pulse pressure charging
Exhaust pulse pressure charging
Exhaust pulse pressure charging is a system for supercharging two-stroke diesel engines of the loop-scavenge type. Loop-scavenge engines cannot be pressure-charged in the same way as uniflow engines or four-stroke engines because the inlet and exhaust ports are open at the same time.-Overview:The...
and developed 1,200 horsepower (895 kW) at 625 rpm. There were no valves, and inlet and exhaust were via ports in the cylinder walls.
The same engine, and some of its derivatives, were used in CIE locomotives (e.g. CIE 001 Class
CIE 001 Class
The Córas Iompair Éireann 001 Class locomotive was manufactured by Metropolitan-Vickers at their Dukinfield Works in Manchester.The 001 Class locomotive was the backbone of mainline passenger and freight train services on the Irish railway network for forty years from 1955 until the mid-1990s when...
), and the British Rail Co-Bo (BR Class 28
British Rail Class 28
The British Rail Class 28 diesel locomotives, or 'Metrovicks' as they were popularly known, were built as part of the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan. The locomotives had a Co-Bo wheel arrangement – unique in British Railways practice though not uncommon in other countries, notably Japan...
).
Crossley Brothers, like many others at the time, were hoping to expand into railway traction. Their foray was an unmitigated disaster.
Operation
The X class revolutionised operations on the WAGR. Their light axle load (around 12t) meant they could travel anywhere. The dual cab arrangement eliminated the need for turning. They were quickly allocated to crack trains, taking as much as four hours off scheduled timetables. They displaced steam in the remote depots, and made substantial contributions to cutting the WAGRs operational costs.Failures commenced within weeks of the first locomotives being unveiled. It was only the skill of staff at Midland that saved the day. The Smith Royal Commission into the class identified blind faith in the British, and chided the WAGR for ignoring the advise of supervising engineers in the UK, who reported problems with the traction motor during testing.
In their early days, availability was less than for steam. Whilst the Irish re-motored their Crossley locomotives to rid themselves of the problem, The Smith Royal Commission recommended against this, and proposed the purchase of further locomotives of "proven design" to remove the class completely.
Midland Railway Workshops
The Midland Railway Workshops in Midland, Western Australia were the main workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways for over 80 years.-History:...
staff that kept the locomotives operating, and performance improving. In the end, over 600 design faults, mainly in the Crossley Engine, were overcome.
In their final years, those still in service were reputed to have performed well. They ran grain trains in the South West as late as 1984, and provided power for trains following the reopening of the Fremantle line.
The last of the class in service was XA1402, stored 31 March 1988.
Multiple unit working
Midland Workshops later adapted an additional 10 units for multiple unit working, becoming the Xb Class. The Xb were identical in appearance to the X Class.
Names
The X Class were named in honour of the Indigenous people of Western Australia. They carried the names of Tribes, Tribal Leaders, and Warriors. However, confusion at the time meant a number named the same tribe, leader or warrior.List of numbers and names
The following is the list of names and numbers of the 48 X /XA / XB class locomotives:- X 1001 Yalagonga
- X 1002 Bibbulmun
- X 1003 Ditu-Wonga
- X/XB 1004 Kadjerden
- X 1005 Meananger
- X/XB 1006 Nangamada
- X 1007 Natingaro
- X/XB 1008 Warrangoo
- X 1009 Arnga
- X 1010 Arawodi
- X 1011 Balgua
- X 1012 Ballardong
- X 1013 Boonara
- X 1014 Churoro
- X 1015 Cheangwa
- X 1016 Djukin
- X/XB 1017 Ewenyoon
- X/XB 1018 Inpirra
- X 1019 Ingarra
- X/XB 1020 Jargurdi
- X 1021 Jarroo
- X/XB 1022 Kardagur
- X 1023 Kariera
- X/XB 1024 Kogara
- X 1025 Loonga
- X 1026 Mangala
- X/XB 1027 Marangal
- X 1028 Meeraman
- X 1029 Muliarra
- X 1030 Mooroon
- X 1031 Yauera
- X/XB 1032 Yeithi
- XA 1401 Pedong
- XA 1402 Targari
- XA 1403 Wanbiri
- XA 1404 Pardoo
- XA 1405 Warienga
- XA 1406 Ungarinyin
- XA 1407 Wirngir
- XA 1408 Wolmeri
- XA 1409 Unambal
- XA 1410 Tenma
- XA 1411 Weedookarri
- XA 1412 Noala
- XA 1413 Yabaroo
- XA 1414 Yindi
- XA 1415 Wurara
- XA 1416 Niligara
Preservation
One X class and five XA class locomotives are preserved.- X1001 "Yalagonga" - ARHS Bassendean (Written off 17 May 1983: 2,218,350km)
- XA1401 "Pedong" - Hotham Valley Railway (Written off 19 March 1987: 2,251,917km)
- XA1402 "Targari" - ARHS Bassendean (Written off 8 May 1988: 2,239,273km)
- XA1405 "Warienga" - ARHS Bassendean (Written off 19 March 1987; 2,271,516km)
- XA1411 "Weedookarri" - Hotham Valley Railway (Written off 8 May 1988; 2,161,013km)
- XA1415 "Wurara" - Narrogin (in place of Pm706 - on loan to Hotham Valley Railway) (Written off 8 May 1988; 2,099,875km)
Further reading
- Pearce, Kenn (1981). Westrail Locomotives Elizabeth Downs: Railmac Publications. ISBN 0959415394.