TasRail D class

The D class were a class of diesel locomotives in Western Australia and Tasmania. Originally built by Clyde Engineering in the 1971 as Western Australian Government Railways D class. Two were purchased by Tranz Rail in 1998 to be rebuilt, as a cheaper alternative to buying new locomotives. Tranz Rail rebuilt the two locomotives at Hutt Workshops and sold to ATN Tasrail. In 2017 both were sold to Watco Australia.

Introduction and service

Following the rebuilding of the D class at Hutt Workshops, Tranz Rail sold the two Ds due to a locomotive shortage due to the planned replacement of ATN Tasrail's English Electric locomotive fleet. The locomotives were rebuilt with a new design of Universal Cab with a shorter low hood and more angular appearance (the same cab as Tranz Rail's DXR 8007 original cab). The two locos were repainted into the Wisconsin Central Maroon livery,^[1] and were renumbered in the 202X series from the 156X series as they were in Western Australia.

The two locomotives arrived at Bell Bay on 15 June 2001.^[2] Because they lacked traction motors when the locos were rebuilt, surplus English Electric EE548 traction motors were fitted to the locos at East Tamar Workshops.^[2] The two locos entered service a few months after arrival. Following a large number of traction motor failures, they were replaced by second hand GM motors in 2009.^[2]

Withdrawals and disposal

With the introduction of the TR class, both were withdrawn in mid-2014.^[2] Both were stored at East Tamar Workshops and sold to Watco Australia in 2017 for use on infrastructure trains. D 2020 was shipped from Burnie on 5 May 2017 on Toll ship called the Victorian Reliance, while 2021 was shipped on 13 May on Toll ship named the Tasmanian Achiever. Both locomotives were rebuilt at Bendigo Workshops, Victoria, and shipped to Perth in January 2018.^[2]

Class register

See also

• WAGR D class

References