WAGR ADE/ADT class

The WAGR ADE class (also known as the Governor class) was a six member class of diesel railcars operated by the Western Australian Government Railways between 1937 and 1962.

WAGR ADE/ADT class
ADE 451 and ADT 7 at Midland in 1939
ManufacturerADE: WG Armstrong
ADT: Midland Railway Workshops
Entered service
  • ADE: 1937
  • ADT: 1939
Number built
  • ADE: 6
  • ADT: 6
Number preserved1
Number scrapped11
FormationADE+ADT
Fleet numbers
  • ADE: 446-451
  • ADT: 7-12
Capacity
  • ADE: 40 seats
  • ADT: 36 seats
Operator(s)WAGR
Specifications
Car body constructionsteel clad
Train length117 ft (35.66 m)
Car length
  • ADE: 60 ft (18.29 m)
  • ADT: 52 ft (15.85 m)
Width8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
Height
  • ADE: 12 ft 3 3⁄4 in (3.75 m)
  • ADT: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Floor height3 ft 6 5⁄8 in (1.08 m) loaded
Wheelbase
  • ADE: 42 ft (12.80 m) bogie centres
  • ADT: 37 ft (11.28 m) bogie centres
Weight
  • ADT: 11 long tons 13 cwt (11.84 t)
Prime mover(s)Saurer
Engine type6 cylinder
Power output140 horsepower at 1400rpm
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

History

In December 1937, WG Armstrong, Newcastle upon Tyne delivered the first ADE railcar.[1] It was the first diesel-electric rail vehicle to enter service in Australia. It was followed in 1938 by a further five that were delivered in knocked down form and assembled at the Midland Railway Workshops.[2] All were named after Governors of Western Australia, hence the class name.

NumberName
ADE446Governor Stirling
ADE447Governor Lawley
ADE448Governor Hutt
ADE449Governor Weld
ADE450Governor Hampton
ADE451Governor Bedford

It soon became apparent that the railcars had insufficient capacity so five AG carriages were adapted as trailers cars as an interim solution, pending six ADT trailers being delivered by the Midland Railway Workshops in late 1939.[3]

They operated on services from Perth to Merredin via Wyalkatchem, Perth to Merredin via the York-Bruce Rock line, Perth to Katanning, Bunbury to Northcliffe, Busselton and Donnybrook, and Geraldton to Mullewa and Yuna.[3][4] An additional introduced from Geraldton to Ajana in July 1943.[5]

In 1949/50, they were displaced by the Wildflower class diesel railcars and sent to operate services in more remote parts of the state. Withdrawals commenced in 1957, with the last withdrawn in April 1962. After being stored at Midland Railway Workshops, most were scrapped in 1974.[3]

Only ADT 9 survives. It was used as an office at the Mary Springs lead mine off the North West Coastal Highway, north of the Murchison River.[3] In 2002, it was sold and moved to a farm in Northampton. On 27 October 2014, it was relocated to the former Northampton railway station.[6]

References
  1. "Diesel-Electric Railcars for Australia" Railway Gazette International volume 66 issue 16 16 April 1937 pages 779-781
  2. "A Record of Progress in Australia" Railway Gazette International volume 68 issue 1 21 January 1938 page 145
  3. Gray, Bill; May, Andrew (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Perth: Bill Gray. pp. 171–177. ISBN 0-646-45902-3.
  4. "West Australian Railcars" Railway Gazette International volume 69 issue 10 2 September 1938 page 429
  5. Higham, Geoffrey (2007). Marble Bar to Mandurah: A history of passenger rail services in Western Australia. Bassendean: Rail Heritage WA. p. 46. ISBN 978 0 9803922 0 3.
  6. "ADE" Railway Digest December 2014 page 26

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