WAGR RA class (diesel)
# WAGR RA class (diesel)

The RA Class are diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Western Australian Government Railways between 1969 and 1972. They were a revised version of the R class.

## Description

The RA class were a hood type general purpose diesel-electric locomotive. They were similar to the Queensland Railways 1300 class. All equipment, except traction motors, were interchangeable with the standard gauge K class. The main differences with the R class were a slight increase in length and wheelbase and deletion of the dynamic brake. They were otherwise identical mechanically and electrically.

The bogies were identical to those fitted to the R class and were an English Electric design with low weight transfer characteristics. They feature fully equalised primary spring gear, all traction motors in each bogie mounted with the nose-suspension facing inwards, traction thrust at near axle level and long pivot centres to reduce inter-bogie transfer. Adhesion loss at maximum tractive effort is limited to 4.5 per cent allowing 1,830 long tons (1,860 t; 2,050 short tons) trailing load to be hauled up a 1 in 100 grade.

## History

Following on from the R class, a further 11 were ordered, but without dynamic brakes. A further two were financed by the Lefroy Salt Company for use over a 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) spur off the Esperance line.

In 1973, a version of the RA class with a low nose was ordered for Tasmanian Government Railways, which classed them Z.

In 1974 the RA1914, RA1917 and RA1918 were fitted with standard gauge bogies and renumbered KA211-KA213. RA1918 has been preserved by Rail Heritage WA.

## Class list

| Key: | In Service | Withdrawn | Preserved | Converted | Scrapped |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Serial Number | Entered Service | Road Number | Current/Last Owner | Status |
| A.203 | November 8, 1969 | RA1906 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.204 | November 21, 1969 | RA1907 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.205 | December 3, 1969 | RA1908 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.206 | December 23, 1969 | RA1909 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.202 | February 6, 1970 | RA1910 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.207 | February 5, 1970 | RA1911 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.218 | April 8, 1971 | RA1912 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.219 | March 4, 1971 | RA1913 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.220 | May 6, 1971 | RA1914, KA211 | UGL Rail | Used as an engine test bed at UGL Bassendean |
| A.221 | May 6, 1971 | RA1915 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.222 | March 17, 1971 | RA1916 | Westrail | Scrapped, Midland Workshops (October 1992) |
| A.244 | July 11, 1972 | RA1917, KA212 | Qube | Scrapped, Bellevue (May 29, 2016) |
| A.248 | July 19, 1972 | RA1918, KA213 | Rail Heritage WA | Preserved by Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean |
