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{{Short description|Australian diesel-electric locomotive class}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=
{{Infobox locomotive
|name =
|powertype = Diesel-electric
|image = XA1401.jpg
|alt =
|caption = Preserved XA 1401 at the [[Hotham Valley Railway]]
|builder = {{unbulleted list
| [[Beyer, Peacock | [[Metropolitan-Vickers]] }}
|ordernumber =
|serialnumber =
|buildmodel =
|builddate =
|totalproduction = 48
|rebuilder =
Line 42 ⟶ 46:
|primemover = [[Crossley]] HST-Vee8
|rpmrange =
|enginetype =
|aspiration = [[exhaust pulse pressure charging|Exhaust pulse-charged]]
|displacement =
Line 53 ⟶ 57:
|transmission =
|multipleworking =
|maxspeed = {{
|poweroutput = {{cvt|779
|tractiveeffort =
|factorofadhesion =
Line 66 ⟶ 70:
|powerclass =
|numinclass = 48
|fleetnumbers = {{unbulleted
| X 1001–X 1032
| XA 1401–XA 1416
}}
|officialname =
|nicknames =
| Hummingbirds
| Submarines
}}
|axleloadclass =
|locale =
Line 76 ⟶ 86:
|retiredate = 31 March 1988
|withdrawndate =
|preservedunits =
| X 1001
| XA 1401
| XA 1402
| XA 1405
| XA 1411
| XA 1415
}}
|restoredate =
|scrapdate =
|currentowner =
|disposition = 6 preserved, remainder scrapped
}} The '''WAGR X
==Construction==
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.
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
==Operation==
[[File:XA1402, Forrestfield, 1987.JPG|left|upright|thumb|XA 1402 at [[Forrestfield, Western Australia|Forrestfield]] Yard in August 1987]]
The X class revolutionised operations on the WAGR. Their light axle load of
==The Crossley engine==
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:
The engines used Crossley's system of [[exhaust pulse pressure charging]] and developed 1,200 horsepower (895 kW) at 625 rpm, though in 1981 they were down-rated to 875 hp at
Failures commenced within weeks of the first locomotives being unveiled. It was only the skill of staff at WAGR's [[Midland Railway Workshops]] that saved the day. In their early days, availability was less than for steam.
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
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
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
==Multiple unit working==
[[File:X1007.jpg|thumb|X 1007 in [[Old Bunbury railway station|Bunbury]]]]
During construction, 16 locomotives were fitted with multiple unit control and denoted as XA class.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Richardson |first=L.C. |title=The Western Australian Government Railways X-Class Diesel-Electric Locomotive |journal=[[
From December 1963, Midland Workshops fitted 10 of the X class for multiple unit working, and these were reclassified as Xb class.<ref name=LOberg/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/xb-class-diesel-wa |title=XB Class (diesel, WA) |website=Railpage |location=Australia |access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref> Units so converted were not fitted with communication doors, and retained their original 10XX series numbers.
==Other modifications==
Whilst the class were built with locomotive pneumatic braking and train vacuum braking systems, during 1969 and 1970 eight
==End of career==
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 up to the last retirement in 1988.
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 |pages=
The last to operate on the public network was
==Names==
The locomotives carried the names of
Within the WAGR, the class
==Status list==
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 |location=Australia |access-date=2020-04-27
===X Class===
{|cellpadding="2"
|
{| class="wikitable
!No.
!Locomotive Name
!Entered Service
!Converted to XB
!Written Off
!Status
|-
|1001
|''[[Yellagonga|Yalagonga]]''
|8 March 1954
|
|28 March 1983
|Preserved by [[Rail Heritage WA]], Bassendean on 7 April 1983
|-
|1002
|''[[Bibulman|Bibbulmun]]''
|20 April 1954
|
|28 January 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1003
|''[[Nangatadjara|Ditu-Wonga]]''
|30 April 1954
|
|12 February 1980
|Scrapped
|-
|1004
|''[[Gajirrawoong|Kadjerden]]''
|31 May 1954
|15 July 1965
|27 June 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1005
|''[[Minangkabau people|Meananger]]''
|26 June 1954
|
|30 January 1985
|Scrapped
|-
|1006
|''[[Nyangumarta people|Nangamada]]''
|17 August 1954
|27 February 1968
|9 November 1985
|Scrapped
|-
|1007
|''[[Kalamaia|Natingaro]]''
|15 September 1954
|
|30 March 1984
|Scrapped
|-
|1008
|''[[Koreng|Warrangoo]]''
|1 October 1954
|12 December 1967
|17 September 1985
|Scrapped
|-
|1009
|''[[Arnga]]''
|9 December 1954
|
|31 March 1980
|Scrapped
|-
|1010
|''[[Arnga|Arawodi]]''
|5 November 1954
|
|29 May 1981
|Scrapped
|-
|1011
|''[[Bailgu|Balgua]]''
|9 February 1954
|
|31 March 1980
|Scrapped
|-
|1012
|''[[Ballardong]]''
|14 December 1954
|
|3 December 1982
|Scrapped
|-
|1013
|''[[Ngardi|Boonara]]''
|23 December 1954
|
|31 March 1980
|Scrapped
|-
|1014
|''[[Tjuroro people|Churoro]]''
|11 February 1955
|
|22 June 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1015
|''[[Wajarri|Cheangwa]]''
|11 February 1955
|
|17 November 1976
|Scrapped
|-
|1016
|''[[Jugun|Djukin]]''
|11 February 1955
|
|31 March 1980
|Scrapped
|-
|1017
|''[[Jawi people|Ewenyoon]]''
|22 February 1955
|15 May 1968
|17 October 1986
|Scrapped
|-
|1018
|''[[Yingkarta|Inpirra]]''
|28 March 1955
|20 February 1964
|28 January 1986
|Scrapped
|-
|1019
|''[[Yingkarta|Ingarra]]''
|13 April 1955
|
|31 March 1980
|Scrapped
|-
|1020
|''[[Ngarlawangga|Jargurdi]]''
|22 April 1955
|16 December 1964
|29 June 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1021
|''[[Djaru people|Jarroo]]''
|4 May 1955
|
|30 March 1984
|Scrapped
|-
|1022
|''[[Wardandi|Kardagur]]''
|1 June 1955
|17 November 1967
|9 November 1982
|Scrapped
|-
|1023
|''[[Kariera people|Kariera]]''
|23 May 1955
|
|8 of August 1984
|Scrapped
|-
|1024
|''[[Murunitja|Kogara]]''
|26 May 1955
|14 September 1966
|27 March 1986
|Scrapped
|-
|1025
|''[[Gija people|Loonga]]''
|17 June 1955
|
|30 June 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1026
|''[[Mangarla|Mangala]]''
|16 June 1955
|
|9 November 1982
|Scrapped
|-
|1027
|''[[Pindjarup|Marangal]]''
|30 June 1955
|29 March 1968
|30 March 1984
|Scrapped
|-
|1028
|''[[Bibulman|Meeraman]]''
|11 August 1955
|
|30 June 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1029
|''[[Wajarri|Muliarra]]''
|8 July 1955
|
|17 November 1976
|Scrapped
|-
|1030
|''[[Murunitja|Mooroon]]''
|18 August 1955
|
|9 December 1982
|Scrapped
|-
|1031
|''[[Yawuru|Yauera]]''
|21 August 1956
|
|28 January 1986
|Scrapped
|-
|1032
|''[[Yeidji|Yeithi]]''
|19 September 1956
|20 December 1963
|31 March 1980
|Scrapped
|-
Line 338 ⟶ 389:
|}
===XA Class===
{|cellpadding="2"
|
{| class="wikitable
!No.
!Locomotive Name
!Entered Service
!Written Off
!Status
|-
|1401
|''[[Kukatja (Western Australia)|Pedong]]''
|30 September 1955
|19 March 1987
|Preserved by the [[Hotham Valley Railway]] in March 1989, currently stored at Dwellingup
|-
|1402
|''[[Tharrkari|Targari]]''
|7 October 1955
|8 May 1988
|Preserved by [[Rail Heritage WA]], Bassendean on 20 April 1989
|-
|1403
|''[[Mirning|Wanbiri]]''
|8 November 1955
|8 May 1988
|Scrapped, cab preserved at [[Gosnells, Western Australia|Gosnells]] Railway Markets
|-
|1404
|''[[Kukatja (Western Australia)|Pardoo]]''
|11 November 1955
|17 September 1985
|Scrapped
|-
|1405
|''[[Warriyangga|Warienga]]''
|9 December 1955
|19 March 1987
|Preserved by [[Rail Heritage WA]] on 19 July 1987
|-
|1406
|''[[Ngarinyin|Ungarinyin]]''
|22 November 1955
|19 March 1987
|Scrapped
|-
|1407
|''[[Wirngir]]''
|9 December 1955
|25 February 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1408
|''[[Walmadjari|Wolmeri]]''
|21 January 1956
|1 July 1986
|Scrapped
|-
|1409
|''[[Wunambal|Unambal]]''
|9 February 1956
|9 December 1982
|Scrapped
|-
|1410
|''[[Tenma people|Tenma]]''
|6 March 1956
|9 November 1982
|Scrapped
|-
|1411
|''[[Nyamal|Weedookarri]]''
|29 March 1956
|8 May 1988
|Preserved by the [[Hotham Valley Railway]] on 7 July 1989, currently stored at Pinjarra, used for parts
|-
|1412
|''[[Nhuwala|Noala]]''
|14 May 1956
|2 April 1985
|Scrapped
|-
|1413
|''[[Wardandi|Yabaroo]]''
|13 June 1956
|8 May 1988
|Scrapped
|-
|1414
|''[[Maduwongga|Yindi]]''
|28 June 1956
|25 February 1983
|Scrapped
|-
|1415
|''[[Worrorra|Wurara]]''
|12 July 1956
|8 May 1988
|Preserved by the [[Hotham Valley Railway]] in November 1989, loaned to [[Narrogin, Western Australia|Narrogin]] [[Apex Clubs of Australia|Apex Club]] (now defunct) in exchange for [[WAGR Pm and Pmr classes|PM706]] in 1990, currently on display at Narrogin railway station
|-
|1416
|''Niligara''
|16 July 1956
|29 June 1984
|Scrapped
|-
|}
|}
==Preservation==
One X class and five XA class locomotives have been preserved:
* X 1001 ''Yalagonga''
* XA 1401 ''Pedong''
* 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 1405 ''Warienga'' – Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean<ref name=RailHeritageWA/>
* XA 1411 ''Weedookarri''
* XA 1415 ''Wurara''
==References==
Line 465 ⟶ 514:
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gould |first1=Peter |title=The X Class Era in Western Australia: An Illustrated History |date=2020 |publisher=Independently published |location=Bassendean, Western Australia |isbn=9780648225614}}
* {{Gunzburg-WAGR Locomotives|pages=28–30, 48}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Milne|first1=Rod|title=From Pedong to Niligara: The WAGR XA Class|journal=Motive Power|date=September–October 2016|issue=107|pages=31–43|issn=1442-7079}}
* {{cite book| last=Pearce| first=Kenn| year=1981| title=Westrail Locomotives| location=Elizabeth Downs| publisher=Railmac Publications| isbn=0-9594153-9-4}}
* {{cite book| last=Sayer| first=Anthony| year=2022| title=The Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2 CO-Bo Diesel Electric Locomotives: from Design to Destruction| location=Barnsley| publisher=Pen and Sword Books| isbn=978-1-52674-281-0}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{commons category|WAGR X class}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEn-eos8wnE X Class at Collie
*[http://nicwhe8.freehostia.com/d5705/start.html CO BO World]
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