BHP Whyalla DE class

BHP Whyalla DE class
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Clyde Engineering
Granville
Model Electro-Motive Diesel G8
Electro-Motive Diesel G12
Build date 1956-1965
Total produced 9
Rebuilder Morrison-Knudsen Australia
Rebuild date 1993-95
Number rebuilt 6
Specifications
UIC class Bo-Bo
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Fuel type Diesel
Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 567
Career
Operators BHP
Number in class 9
Numbers DE01-DE09
Delivered 1956
Current owner Genesee & Wyoming Australia
SCT Logistics
Disposition 6 in service, 3 scrapped

The BHP Whyalla DE class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for BHP between 1956 and 1965.

History

In 1956 BHP purchased two Electro-Motive Diesel G8 locomotives from Clyde Engineering for use at its narrow gauge Iron Knob iron-ore quarry.[1]

In 1956 the first of four larger Electro-Motive Diesel G12 locomotives was delivered from Clyde Engineering for use on the narrow gauge Iron Knob and Iron Baron tramway, a fifth was delivered in June 1961.[1]

Following the construction of a new 39.5 kilometre standard gauge line between Rapid Bay and Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, two standard gauge G12s were purchased in 1965.[1][2] Following the quarry railway being closed in 1968, the G8s were both transferred to the standard gauge railway.[1]

Between 1993 and 1995, six were remanufactured by Morrison-Knudsen Australia, at their Whyalla factory, receiving new cabs.[3][4][5]

In 2003 the Whyalla Steelworks became part of OneSteel and the rail operations transferred to Australian Railroad Group. The DEs were renumbered as the 1250 and 1300 classes.[6] With the split up of Australian Railroad Group in 2006, the remaining five DE class transferred to Genesee & Wyoming Australia.

During the 1990s remanufacturing program, DE02 had been stripped as a source of parts. In 2005/06 it was rebuilt at Islington Railway Workshops for SCT Logistics for use in Parkes. As it was very similar to the Victorian Railways T class it was renumbered T414.[7]

Status table

Locomotive Model In Service Owner Status Notes
DE01 EMD G8 Oct 1956 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In service Rebuilt as DE1 Feb 1994, renumbered 1301
DE02 EMD G8 Nov 1956 SCT Logistics In service Rebuilt by Islington Railway Workshops as T414
DE03 EMD G12 Nov 1956 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In service Rebuilt as DE3 Sep 1994, renumbered 1302
DE04 EMD G12 Dec 1956 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In service Rebuilt as DE4 Mar 1995, renumbered 1303
DE05 EMD G12 May 1957 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In service Renumbered 1251
DE06 EMD G12 Aug 1957 BHP Scrapped Nov 1996
DE07 EMD G12 Jun 1961 Genesee & Wyoming Australia In service Rebuilt as DE7 Mar 1994, renumbered 1304
DE08 EMD G12 Nov 1965 Genesee & Wyoming Australia Scrapped Oct 02 Rebuilt as DE8 May 1994, destroyed in accident Apr 02
DE09 EMD G12 Dec 1965 Genesee & Wyoming Australia Scrapped Oct 02 Rebuilt as DE9 May 1993, destroyed in accident Apr 02

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 221, 222, 224. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
  2. ↑ "Traffic" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 754 August 2000 page 318
  3. ↑ "Morrison Knudsen Australia and the CLPs" Railway Digest June 1994 page 18
  4. ↑ BHP / Onesteel / Arrium Whyalla Diesel Locomotives Minnipa Siding
  5. ↑ DE Class (BHP Whyalla) Railpage
  6. ↑ 1300 Class (ARG) Railpage
  7. ↑ T Class (T414) Railpage

External links

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