WAGR X class: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=NovemberOctober 20122022}}

|name = Western Australian Government RailwaysWAGR X class

|caption = Preserved XA 1401 at the [[Hotham Valley Railway]]<br> in July 2011

|builder = {{unbulleted list
| [[Beyer, Peacock and Company]]/
| [[Metropolitan-Vickers]]

|serialnumber = 830-877830–877

|builddate = 1954-19561954–1956

|enginetype = [[Two-stroke engine|Two-stroke]] [[V8 engine|V8]] [[Diesel engine|diesel]]

|maxspeed = {{convertcvt|89|km/h|abbr=on0}}

|poweroutput = {{cvt|779&nbsp;kw (1,045&nbsp;|kW|bhp)|0}}

|fleetnumbers = {{unbulleted X 1001-X 1032<br>XA 140l-XA 1416list

|nicknames = Hummingbirds<br/>Submarines{{unbulleted list

|preservedunits = X{{unbulleted 1001, XA 1401, XA 1402, XA 1405, XA 1411, XA 1415list

|disposition = 6 preserved, remainder scrapped
}}

The '''WAGR X Classclass''' wereis a now-withdrawn class of diesel locomotivelocomotives built by [[Beyer, Peacock and Company|Beyer, Peacock & Company]] and [[Metropolitan-Vickers]], [[Bowesfield Works]], [[Stockton-on-Tees]] for the [[Western Australian Government Railways]] (WAGR) between 1954 and 1956. Several members of the class have been preserved.

In the early 1950s the [[Western Australian Government Railways]] placed the largest single Australian order for diesel locomotives, when it ordered 48 2-Do-2 locomotives from [[Beyer, Peacock and Company]] and [[Metropolitan-Vickers]]. All were delivered between 1954 and 1956.<ref>{{cite webcitation needed|urldate=http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/x-class-diesel-waDecember |title=X Class (diesel, WA) |website=Railpage |location=Australia |access-date=2020-04-232022}}</ref>

The seeds for the construction of the class were laid in by the then WAGR Chief Mechanical Engineer, Tom Marsland, with a proposal for the acquisition of 87 diesel locomotives, including 3 small jetty shunters, 18 diesel shunters and 66 mainline locomotives, later reduced to 48 when railcars wherewere selected for suburban service. The proposal developed further during discussions with Beyer, Peacock regarding issues with the design of the W Class locomotive.<ref name=Pusenjak/>

The X class revolutionised operations on the WAGR. Their light axle load of aroundless 12than 10 tons meant they could travel on all lines, and the dual cab arrangement eliminated the need for turning. They were quickly allocated to express passenger trains including the ''[[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] Express'', ''[[Transwa Australind|Australind]]'', ''[[Kalgoorlie]] Express'' and ''[[The Westland]]''. Although considered as good runners, the eight driving wheels being attached to the rigid main frame caused these locomotives to ride roughly.

At the time of construction, the HST-V8 was an untested concept, though the engine itself was an evolution of a design used successfully in patrol boats during World War Two.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Doncaster |first=N |title=The Crossley Experience |journal=The Partyline: - theThe inIn-houseHouse magazineMagazine of Steamtown Peterborough |number=71 |date=Spring 1998}}</ref> One line of thought is the motor was an evolution of either of the HRN8 marine diesel, or the HRP8 stationary diesel.<ref name=Pusenjak>{{cite journal |last=Pusenjak |first=N |year=2014 |title=The WAGR X Class Locomotive; A look back with today's hindsight |journal=The Westland: The Journal of Rail Heritage WA |edition=Special Edition X Class 60th Anniversary, |pages=5-185–18}}</ref>

The engines used Crossley's system of [[exhaust pulse pressure charging]] and developed 1,200 horsepower (895&nbsp;kW) at 625&nbsp;rpm, though in 1981 they were down-rated to 875&nbsp;hp at 600rpm600 rpm. There were no valves, and inlet and exhaust were via ports in the cylinder walls.

The engines burnt and leaked oil, had underfed bearings, vibrated and popped heads and pistons, and suffered from ring scuffing for most of their lives. It was only the engineering excellence, and perseverance of Midland Railway Workshops staff that kept the locomotives operating, and performance improving. In the end, over 600 design faults, mainly in the Crossley engine, were overcome. One of the strategies used to minimise problems was to de-rate the engine to 1045hp1045&nbsp;hp (officially quoted as 1000hp1000&nbsp;hp).

Rumours persisted that the engine was either war surplus, or formerly from a sub-maritime application.<ref name=OB1 >{{cite book |last=Oberg |first=Leon |title=Locomotives of Australia |publisher=Reed Books |year=1975}}</ref> Neither of these are correct, despite some publications suggesting this.<ref name=LOberg >{{cite book|last=Oberg|first=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s|year=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0 -730100 -05 -7|page=214}}</ref> The myth may have arisen from CrossleysCrossley's success in delivering robust engines for marine and other modes of transport. Experience in Western Australia with both Metropolitan Vickers and CrosslyCrossley engines was otherwise positive.<ref name=Pusenjak/> It has been noted that the Irish Railways [[Córas Iompair Éireann|(CIÉ)]], through the respected Engineer [[Oliver Bulleid]], had "heard" through the British Admiralty that the "Crossley unit gave no trouble".<ref name=rhen>{{cite journal |last=Renehan |first=D |title=Crossley diesels of CIE |journal=Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society |volume=Vol 15 |pages=pp. 25-3525–35, pp.70-7970–79}}</ref>

The Smith Royal Commission into the class identified blind faith in the British manufacturers, and chided the WAGR for ignoring the advice of supervising engineers in the UK who reported problems with the diesel motor during testing.<ref>Smith Royal Commission (dates pending)</ref> Whilst CIÉ re-engined their similarly powered Crossley [[CIE 001 Class|001 Class]] locomotives to rid themselves of the problem,<ref name=rhen/> The Smith Royal Commission recommended against rebuilding, proposing that the entire class be replaced wholesale. To be fair to the WAGR, they were not the only ones that rushed into buying unproven traction: [[British Rail|British Railways]]ways also did the same, buying many different types of diesel locomotives from many different manufacturers in their haste to dieselise, including purchasing the [[British Rail Class 28|unsuccessful Class 28 Co-Bo locomotives]], which could be regarded as "first cousins" to the WAGR X class.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wragg, |first=D |year=2004 : |title=Signal Failure.: Politics and BritainsBritain's Railways |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Britain |isbn=978-0750932936}}</ref>

FromDuring December 1963construction, Midland16 Workshopslocomotives were fitted 10 of the X class forwith multiple unit working,control and these were reclassifieddenoted as XBXA class.<ref>{{cite journal name|last=LObergRichardson |first=L.C. |title=The Western Australian Government Railways X-Class Diesel-Electric Locomotive |journal=[[Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]] |date=March 1955 |pages=25–28}}</ref><ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/xbxa-class-diesel-wa XB|title=XA Class (diesel, WA)] |website=Railpage |location=Australia |access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref> UnitsThese solocomotives convertedincluded werecommunication notdoors fittedat witheach communication doorsend, and retainedwere numbered in a theirseparate originalblock 10XXstarting seriesfrom numbers1401.

Whilst the class were built with locomotive pneumatic braking and train vacuum braking systems, during 1969 and 1970 eight of the XA class (1402, 1403, 1406, 1408, 1409, 1410, 1413 and 1416) were modified to operate with dual vacuum/air braking systems manufactured by [[Davies and Metcalfe]] to allow them to operate air-braked salt traffic on the Esperance Branch. This equipment was removed in the early 1980s, only to be reinstalled in XA 1406 (October 1986) and XA 1403 (November 1986) to allow these units to haul ex-hired [[Queensland Rail|Queensland Railways]] coaches[[SX carriages]] on suburban services.

The first were withdrawn in 1973, primarily as sources of spare parts. The last in service, XA1402 was withdrawn on 31 March 1988, after completing a transfer working.<ref name=Barbs>{{cite journal |last=Barber, |first=S. |year=2014: |title=X Class Reminders: |journal=The Westland: The Journal of Rail Heritage WA - |edition=Special Edition X Class 60th Anniversary, Myths and Memories pp25-26 |pages=25–26}}</ref>

The last to operate on the public network was Xa1401XA1401, under the stewardship of Hotham Valley Railway, working a consist of sleeping cars back from Dowerin on 27 August 2004.<ref name=Barbs/>

The locomotives carried the names of tribes,[[Indigenous tribalAustralians|Indigenous]] [[List of Australian Aboriginal group names|language groups]], leaders and warriors from around Australia. However, confusion at the time resulted in several duplications and irregular spellings. Within the WAGR, proposals were made to code the class as "T", and for the class to be known as the "Tribal class". This was not adopted. However, confusion at the time resulted in duplications and incorrect spellings.

Within the WAGR, the class earntearned the nickname "Hummingbirds" due their distinctive engine noise, while they were called "Submarines" by rail enthusiasts due to the widely circulated myth that they had submarine engines.

The 48 locomotives were:{{sfn|Gould|2020|pages=162-163}}<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.hothamvalleyrailway.com.au/xa_diesel_loco.htm |title=XA Class Diesel Electric Locomotive] |publisher=Hotham Valley Railway</ref><ref>{{cite web|titlelocation=Tindale'sAustralia Catalogue of Australian Aboriginal Tribes|urlaccess-date=http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/index.html|publisher=[[South Australian Museum]]|accessdate=18 September 20122020-04-27}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|''[[Bibulman|Bibbulmun]]''

|''[[Nangatadjara|Ditu-Wonga]]''

|''[[Gajirrawoong|Kadjerden]]''

|''[[Minangkabau people|Meananger]]''

|''[[Nyangumarta people|Nangamada]]''

|''[[Kalamaia|Natingaro]]''

|''[[Koreng|Warrangoo]]''

|''[[Arnga]]''

|''[[Arnga|Arawodi]]''

|''[[Bailgu|Balgua]]''

|''[[Ballardong]]''

|''[[Ngardi|Boonara]]''

|''[[Tjuroro people|Churoro]]''

|''[[Wajarri|Cheangwa]]''

|''[[Jugun|Djukin]]''

|''[[Jawi people|Ewenyoon]]''

|''[[Yingkarta|Inpirra]]''

|''[[Yingkarta|Ingarra]]''

|''[[Ngarlawangga|Jargurdi]]''

|''[[Djaru people|Jarroo]]''

|''[[Wardandi|Kardagur]]''

|''[[Kariera people|Kariera]]''

|''[[Murunitja|Kogara]]''

|''[[Gija people|Loonga]]''

|''[[Mangarla|Mangala]]''

|''[[Pindjarup|Marangal]]''

|''[[Bibulman|Meeraman]]''

|''[[Wajarri|Muliarra]]''

|''[[Murunitja|Mooroon]]''

|''[[Yawuru|Yauera]]''

|''[[Yeidji|Yeithi]]''

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|''[[Kukatja (Western Australia)|Pedong]]''

|''[[Tharrkari|Targari]]''

|''[[Mirning|Wanbiri]]''

|''[[Kukatja (Western Australia)|Pardoo]]''

|''[[Warriyangga|Warienga]]''

|''[[Ngarinyin|Ungarinyin]]''

|''[[Wirngir]]''

|''[[Walmadjari|Wolmeri]]''

|''[[Wunambal|Unambal]]''

|''[[Tenma people|Tenma]]''

|''[[Nyamal|Weedookarri]]''

|''[[Nhuwala|Noala]]''

|''[[Wardandi|Yabaroo]]''

|''[[Maduwongga|Yindi]]''

|''[[Worrorra|Wurara]]''

* X 1001 ''Yalagonga'' -– [[Rail Heritage WA]], [[Bassendean, Western Australia|Bassendean]]

* XA 1401 ''Pedong'' -– [[Hotham Valley Railway]], [[Dwellingup, Western Australia|Dwellingup]]

* XA 1402 ''Targari'' – Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean<ref name=RailHeritageWA>[{{cite web |url=http://www.railheritagewa.org.au/museum/pages/exhibits.htm |title=Bassendean Museum Exhibits] |publisher=Rail Heritage WA |access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref>

* XA 1411 ''Weedookarri'' -– Hotham Valley Railway, DwellingupPinjarra

* XA 1415 ''Wurara'' -– [[Narrogin, Western Australia|Narrogin]] (in place of Pm706 -– on loan to Hotham Valley Railway)

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEn-eos8wnE X Class at Collie -– Video]