New South Wales X100 class locomotive

The X100 class were a group of rail tractors built by Chullora Railway Workshops in 1962 and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

New South Wales X100 class
X101 at Petersham Training School
Type and origin Power type Diesel-mechanical Builder Chullora Railway Workshops Build date 1962 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC B Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 34 in (864 mm) Wheelbase 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Length Over headstocks: 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m), Over coupler pulling faces: 22 ft 4 ^1⁄2 in (6.82 m) Width 9 ft 0 ^3⁄16 in (2.75 m) Height 11 ft 0 ^5⁄16 in (3.36 m) Axle load 8 long tons 16 cwt (19,700 lb or 8.9 t) Loco weight 17 long tons 14 cwt (39,600 lb or 18 t) Fuel type Diesel fuel Fuel capacity 86 imperial gallons (390 litres; 103 US gallons) Lubricant cap. Engine: 1.5 imperial gallons (6.8 litres; 1.8 US gallons), Transmission: 4.5 imperial gallons (20 litres; 5.4 US gallons), Final drive Coolant cap. 7.5 imperial gallons (34 litres; 9.0 US gallons) Prime mover Bedford 300 series BIB RPM range 600–2500 Engine type Four-stroke diesel Aspiration Normally aspirated Cylinders 6 Cylinder size 3.875 in × 4.25 in (98 mm × 108 mm) Transmission Allison CRT 3331-3, with BorgWarner M12 final drive unit, and chain drive to both axles Train brakes None
Performance figures Maximum speed 15 mph (24 km/h) Power output Gross: 93 hp (69 kW), For traction: 51 hp (38 kW) Tractive effort Continuous: 3,800 lbf (16.90 kN) at 5 mph (8 km/h)
Career Operators New South Wales Government Railways Class X100 Number in class 2 Numbers X101–X102 First run 1962 Withdrawn 1992 Preserved X101, X102 Disposition 2 preserved

History

A need existed for a small shunting unit that could handle the requirements at the smaller junction marshalling yards, larger intermediate stops and the workshop needs. To resolve this, the X100, and later X200s, was designed and built entirely in the system's own workshops from the early 1960s.[1]

X100 class were two 0-4-0 centre-cab diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives built at the New South Wales Government Railways' Chullora Railway Workshops.

They were delivered in 1962 as the 80 class locomotives, but were re-classified as Shunting Tractors and renumbered X101 and X102 before being allotted to Wauchope and Coffs Harbour. Originally painted in a crimson red and cream colour scheme, they were later repainted in the standard Indian red with chrome lining.[2]

Photos dated 1977 and 1983, show X102 in an all-over chrome yellow paint scheme and working in the Sydney area. X101 was in an all-over Indian-red scheme in 1979 and working at Wauchope.[1]

X101 is now part of the State Rail Authority Heritage Fleet and is being restored by the Historic Electric Train Society at Eveleigh Carriage Workshops.[3][4] X102 finished its service at the Petersham Training School and is now preserved at the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum.[5]

They were confined to yard limits due to a lack of a "train brake" and as such could not be operated in the same way as regular locomotives. This limitation, and a need for greater tractive effort, lead to the development of the larger and more power X200 class.

References

1. Collins, Phil (August 1984). "Rail Tractors of the NSW Railways – X100 Class". Australian Model Railway Magazine. pp. 25–27, 30.
2. Clark, Peter J (1973). An Australian Diesel Locomotive Pocketbook. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. ISBN 0-909650-02-0.
3. RailCorp S170 Heritage & Conservation Register RailCorp
4. X101 - Shunting Vehicle - Rail Tractor Office of Environment & Heritage
5. X100/X200 Class Railpage

Further reading

• New South Wales Rail System Locomotives. Sydney: Archives Section, State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1984.

X102 shunting at Coffs Harbour