The RA Class are diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1969 and 1972. They were a revised version of the R class.
Description The RA class were a hood type general purpose diesel-electric locomotive. They were similar to the Queensland Railways 1300 class. All equipment, except traction motors, were interchangeable with the standard gauge K class. The main differences with the R class were a slight increase in length and wheelbase and deletion of the dynamic brake. They were otherwise identical mechanically and electrically.
The bogies were identical to those fitted to the R class and were an English Electric design with low weight transfer characteristics. They feature fully equalised primary spring gear, all traction motors in each bogie mounted with the nose-suspension facing inwards, traction thrust at near axle level and long pivot centres to reduce inter-bogie transfer. Adhesion loss at maximum tractive effort is limited to 4.5 per cent allowing trailing load to be hauled up a 1 in 100 grade.
History Following on from the R class, a further 11 were ordered, but without dynamic brakes. A further two were financed by the Lefroy Salt Company for use over a spur off the Esperance line.
In 1973, a version of the RA class with a low nose was ordered for Tasmanian Government Railways, which classed them Z.
In 1974 the RA1914, RA1917 and RA1918 were fitted with standard gauge bogies and renumbered KA211-KA213. RA1918 has been preserved by Rail Heritage WA.
Status Table
Key:In ServiceWithdrawnPreservedConvertedScrapped
Serial numberEntered serviceRoad NumberCurrent/Last OwnerStatusA.2038 November 1969RA1906WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.20421 November 1969RA1907WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.2053 December 1969RA1908WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.20623 December 1969RA1909WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.2026 February 1970RA1910WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.2075 February 1970RA1911WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.2188 April 1971RA1912WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.2194 March 1971RA1913WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.2206 May 1971RA1914, KA211UGL RailUsed as an engine test bed at UGL BassendeanA.2216 May 1971RA1915WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.22217 March 1971RA1916WestrailScrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992)A.24411 July 1972RA1917, KA212QubeScrapped, Bellevue (29 May 2016)A.24819 July 1972RA1918, KA213Rail Heritage WAPreserved by Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean
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