Tasmanian Government Railways Y class

Class of Australian Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives

Preserved Y3 at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston in June 2013

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	Tasmanian Government Railways Inveresk
Build date	1961–1971
Total produced	8

Specifications
Configuration:
• UIC	Bo-Bo
Gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Wheel diameter	3 ft 0+1⁄2 in (0.927 m)
Minimum curve	250 ft (76.200 m)
Wheelbase	23 ft 10 in (7.264 m) total, 8 ft (2.438 m) bogie
Length	44 ft 9 in (13.640 m) over buffers, 41 ft 7 in (12.675 m) over headstocks
Width	8 ft 10+1⁄2 in (2.705 m)
Height	12 ft 2+1⁄2 in (3.721 m)
Axle load	14.5 long tons (14.7 t; 16.2 short tons)
Loco weight	58 long tons (59 t; 65 short tons)
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel capacity	500 imp gal (2,273.045 L)
Lubricant cap.	95 imp gal (431.879 L)
Prime mover	English Electric 6SRKT Mk II
RPM range	850 rpm max
Engine type	four stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration	turbocharged
Traction motors	English Electric 537
Cylinders	Inline 6
Cylinder size	10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working	90V, nine notch electro-magnetic control
Loco brake	straight air, proportional control
Train brakes	Vacuum (Y1 & Y5 later converted to air)

Performance figures
Maximum speed	45 miles per hour (72 km/h)
Power output	825 hp (620 kW) gross, 750 hp (560 kW) net
Tractive effort	34,000 lbf (151.2 kN) at 6 mph (10 km/h)

Career
Operators	Tasmanian Government Railways
Number in class	8
Numbers	Y1-Y8
First run	1961
Current owner	TasRail
Disposition	7 preserved, 1 converted to driving van

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

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.

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. 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.

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. Y1 & Y5 also received air train brakes in 1985, with the others withdrawn following the cessation of vacuum braked services in 1988. Most of these were being preserved at this stage. With Y2 going to Derwent Valley Railway, Y3 going to Queen Victoria Museum & Art gallery, Launceston, Y4 to Tasmanian Transport Museum and finally Y6&8 to Don River Railway. With Tasrail retaining Y7 for parts.

Y7 was rebuilt in 2001 as a driving van for use on Railton to Devonport cement trains. With this finally stored in 2017. Two members of the class remained in regular service with TasRail, renumbered as the 2150 class, until mid 2016 when stored out of use. In its twilight years, Y1 had been modified with reinforced side windows, an extra window on the front door and sealed headlights, as well as a repaint into Tasrail yellow and grey. Y5 received much of the same modifications, except it retained its reverse AN yellow and green.

In May 2022, Y1 (2150) & Y5 (2151) where donated for preservation to Derwent Valley Railway and Launceston & North East Railway respectively. Only leaving DV1, formally Y7, not preserved.

Status table

Original no	Final no	Name	Owner	Status
Y1	2150		Derwent Valley Railway	Preserved
Y2		Henry Baldwin	Derwent Valley Railway	Preserved, operational
Y3			Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston	Preserved
Y4		Rowallan	Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy	Preserved, operational
Y5	2151	Sir Charles Gairdner	Launceston & North East Railway	Preserved
Y6			Don River Railway, Devonport	Preserved, operational
Y7	DV1		TasRail	Stored
Y8			Don River Railway, Devonport	Preserved, derelict

References

^ Y Class Rail Tasmania
"Tasmania" Railway Digest August 1985 page 247
Y Class (Tasmania) Railpage
^ DV1 Rail Tasmania
Derwent Valley Railway Rail Tasmania
Exhibit – Y4 Rail Tasmania
^ Locomotives Don River Railway

Categories:

Misplaced Pages