The S class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Forrestfield for Westrail in 1998.

Westrail S class
S2106 in July 2008
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Forrestfield
ModelElectro Motive Diesel JT42C
Build date1998
Total produced11
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length20.8 m (68 ft 3 in)
Loco weight116 long tons (117.9 t; 129.9 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverElectro Motive Diesel 12N-710GB-ES
Performance figures
Maximum speed115 km/h (71 mph)
Power output3,010 hp (2,240 kW)
Tractive effort74,440 lbf (331.1 kN)
Career
OperatorsWestrail
Number in class11
NumbersS3301–S3311
First run6 March 1998
Current ownerAurizon
Disposition11 in service

History

edit

The S class were the first and only dual-cab locomotives purchased by Westrail. In May 1996 nine were ordered from Clyde Engineering as part of an order that also included 15 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge Q class locomotives.[1][2] The order later extended to eleven.[3][4] They are an evolution of the FreightCorp 82 class. All were assembled at a facility established by Clyde Engineering within Westrail's Forrestfield Depot to fulfill the contract. The frames were built at Clyde's Somerton plant with other components manufactured at Kelso.[5]

The S class locomotives entered service in June 1998 hauling ore and mineral trains in South West Western Australia.[6] All were in service by November 1998[7]

All were included in the sale of Westrail to Australian Railroad Group in December 2000, with the class redesignated as the 3300 class.[8] In June 2006, all were included in the sale of Australian Railroad Group's Western Australian operation to QR National.[9]

In 2008, Rio Tinto ordered two standard gauge JT42Cs of the same design as the S class for the Weipa bauxite railway, numbered R1005 and R1006. They were delivered in 2009.[10] R1005 remains in service today, while R1006 was withdrawn and scrapped following a collision in September 2019.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Westrail Loco Contract Signed" Railway Digest July 1996 page 16
  2. ^ "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International volume 152 issue 8 August 1996 page 475
  3. ^ "Loco Order Extended" Railway Digest April 1997 page 15
  4. ^ "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International volume 153 issue 5 May 1997 page 281
  5. ^ "Westrail S Class" Railway Digest February 1998 page 35
  6. ^ "S Class Update" Railway Digest August 1998 page 36
  7. ^ " Westrail S Class" Railway Digest November 1998 page 37
  8. ^ S Class (diesel, WA) Railpage
  9. ^ Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s–2010s. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 401–403. ISBN 9781921719011.
  10. ^ "JT42C Class". mysite.