Tasmanian Government Railways Y class

The Y class was a class of diesel locomotives built by the Tasmanian Government Railways between 1961 and 1971.

Tasmanian Government Railways Y class
Preserved Y3 at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston in June 2013
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderTasmanian Government Railways Inveresk
Build date1961-1971
Total produced8
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo-Bo
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Wheel diameter3 ft 0 1⁄2 in (0.927 m)
Minimum curve250 ft (76.200 m)
Wheelbase23 ft 10 in (7.264 m) total, 8 ft (2.438 m) bogie
Length44 ft 9 in (13.640 m) over buffers, 41 ft 7 in (12.675 m) over headstocks
Width8 ft 10 1⁄2 in (2.705 m)
Height12 ft 2 1⁄2 in (3.721 m)
Axle load14.5 long tons (14.7 t; 16.2 short tons)
Loco weight58 long tons (59 t; 65 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity500 imp gal (2,273.045 L)
Lubricant cap.95 imp gal (431.879 L)
Prime moverEnglish Electric 6SRKT Mk II (Y1-Y6)
English Electric 6SRKT Mk III (Y7-Y8)
RPM range850rpm max
Engine typefour stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspirationturbocharged
Traction motorsEnglish Electric 537
CylindersInline 6
Cylinder size10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working90V, nine notch electro-magnetic control
Loco brakestraight air, proportional control
Train brakesVacuum (Y1 & Y5
later converted to air)
Performance figures
Maximum speed45 miles per hour (72 km/h)
Power output825 hp (620 kW) gross, 750 hp (560 kW) net
Tractive effort34,000 lbf (151.2 kN) at 6 mph (10 km/h)
Career
OperatorsTasmanian Government Railways
Number in class8
NumbersY1-Y8
First run1961
Current ownerTasRail
Disposition2 in service, 5 preserved, 1 converted to driving van

History

The Y class were designed by English Electric and constructed by the Tasmanian Government Railways' Inveresk Workshops. Eight were built as mainline freight and passenger locomotives between 1961 and 1971.[1]

Following the success of the X class, the Tasmanian Government Railways decided to order additional diesel locomotives.

English Electric submitted plans that were quite similar to the Jamaican Railways 81 class, South Australian Railways 800 class and Midland Railways of Western Australia F class but with a small power increase. They were slightly larger and more powerful than the X class.[1] They had a similar layout to the X class, a long hood unit with the cab at one end.

Construction began at the TGR's Inveresk Workshops in 1961, and three of the planned eight were completed relatively quickly. However, construction of the other five was slow, with the last not being delivered until 1971, by which time the design had become dated.

Technical details

The Y class were fitted with an English Electric 6SRKT Mark II (Mark III on last two) in-line six turbocharged diesel engine. They have a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement and end-platforms, making them visually different from the X class.[1]

In line with standard TGR practice of the time, they were fitted with hook-and-link couplers and vacuum train brakes (air on locomotive). With a light tractive weight of only 58 tonnes, a reasonably powerful engine of 825 horsepower (615 kW) and a fairly basic bogie design, gaining traction on long uphill grades was found to be difficult. They were noted to have a tendency to wheel-slip badly. Nevertheless, they were considered successful.

Later years

In March 1978 the Y class were included in the transfer of the Tasmanian Government Railways to Australian National. With the new transfer of twenty 830 class locomotives from South Australia and later purchase of ZB class and ZC class locomotives from Queensland Rail, the Y class were made redundant.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s all members of the Y class were retrofitted with stronger automatic couplers, which had by then become standard equipment. Two also received air train brakes in 1985,[2] with the others withdrawn following the cessation of vacuum braked services in 1988. Some of these have been preserved.[3]

One was rebuilt in 2001 as a driving van for use on Railton to Devonport cement trains.[4] Two members of the class remain in regular service with TasRail, renumbered as the 2150 class since 1998.

Status table
Image Original no Final no Name Owner Status
Y1 2150 TasRail Stored (Burnie Yard)
Y2 Henry Baldwin Derwent Valley Railway Preserved, operational[5]
Y3 Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston Preserved
Y4 Rowallan Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy Preserved, operational[6]
Y5 2151 Sir Charles Gairdner TasRail Stored (Brighton Hub)
Y6 Don River Railway, Devonport Preserved[7]
Y7 DV1 TasRail In service as a driving van[4]
Y8 Don River Railway, Devonport Preserved, derelict[7]

See also

References
  1. Y Class Rail Tasmania
  2. "Tasmania" Railway Digest August 1985 page 247
  3. Y Class (Tasmania) Railpage
  4. DV1 Rail Tasmania
  5. Derwent Valley Railway Rail Tasmania
  6. Exhibit - Y4 Rail Tasmania
  7. Locomotives Don River Railway
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