XA Diesel Loco

XA Class Diesel Electric Locomotive

XA 1401 Pedong in Pinjarra Yard © Photo by Murray Rowe

Following the war the WAGR embarked on an extensive rehabilitation programme to purchase new motive power. A new inclusion was the introduction of Diesel Electrics, and this could overcome the problem of water and coal in some parts of the state. 48 diesel-electric’s were ordered from the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Export Co Ltd of Manchester, England.

Type	-	Diesel-Electric
Introduced	-	1954 - X 1956 - XA 1963 - XB
Number in class	-	32 - X 16 - XA 10 - XB eventually converted from X
Manufacturer	-	Metropolitan Vickers & Beyer, Peacock
Gauge	-	Narrow - 3ft 6 inch /1064mm
Axles	-	2-Do-2
Length	-	14.63 m
Mass	-	80 t
Engine	-	Crossley HSTV8
Generator	-	MV TG4203
Traction motors	-	MV 136
Power	-	825 kW / 1105 HP
Tractive effort	-	116 / 53 kN
Speed	-	89 / 39 km/h

	All electrical equipment was supplied by the builders but the 1105hp engines were built by Crossley Bros. Mechanical parts were supplied by Metropolitan-Vickers and Beyer and Peacock & Co, and the locomotives were erected at Stockton-on-Tees works. The were painted in the Larch green colour scheme and were named after aboriginal tribes.
	The “X” class was an entirely new design, with it’s axle load of 10 tonnes and a strange wheel arrangement of 4-8-4 (2-Do-2) with the four driving axles mounted within the rigid wheel base. This was to keep the weight of the locomotive light. These were the most powerful locomotives in Australia (at that time).

While the locomotives were being built, it was decided to have some of the class fitted with multiple unit operation. The last 16 units to be built incorporated this and were classified XA and differed to the X with inter-unit doors at each end. Ten X class were then converted to having multi-unit controls without unit end unit doors and classified XB.


Cab Controls of XA 1401

Before entering service, it was decided to name all of the X/XA/XB classes after Aboriginal tribes in Western Australia. These were :

Number	Name	Number	Name

X1001	Yalagonga	X1025	Loonga
X1002	Bibbulmun	X1026	Mangala
X1003	Ditu-Wonga	X1027/XB1027	Marangal
X1004/XB1004	Kadjerden	X1028	Meeraman
X1005	Meananger	X1029	Muliarra
X1006/XB1006	Nangamada	X1030	Mooroon
X1007	Natingaro	X1031	Yauera
X1008/XB1008	Warrangoo	X1032/XB1032	Yeithi
X1009	Arnga	XA1401	Pedong
X1010	Arawodi	XA1402	Targari
X1011	Balgua	XA1403	Wanbiri
X1012	Ballardong	XA1404	Pardoo
X1013	Boonara	XA1405	Warienga
X1014	Churoro	XA1406	Ungarinyin
X1015	Cheangwa	XA1407	Wirngir
X1016	Djukin	XA1408	Wolmeri
X1017/XB1017	Ewenyoon	XA1409	Unambal
X1018/XB1018	Inpirra	XA1410	Tenma
X1019	Ingarra	XA1411	Weedookarri
X1020/XB1020	Jargurdi	XA1412	Noala
X1021	Jarroo	XA1413	Yabaroo
X1022/XB1022	Kardagur	XA1414	Yindi
X1023	Kariera	XA1415	Wurara
X1024/XB1024	Kogara	XA1416	Niligara

The first X class entered service on 4 May 1954 and the others were introduced over the following two years. Most were placed in service where coaling and watering facilities were difficult to obtain, such as the northern and eastern parts of WA.

X Class Outline Drawing 162kb

They were found to be good on all passenger duties and slashed times from the previous steam timetable. All long distant passenger trains were soon operated with the X class.

Considerable problems did arise due to the rigid driving wheel base and type of engine used and consequently numerous modifications were made to overcome these problems.

Left hand side view of XA class locomotive

The last X class type was not withdrawn until 1988, a 35 year working life, not bad for a first generation diesel-electric.

XA 1401 “Pedong” was purchased by members of Hotham Valley in 1988 and had clocked up a million miles in its working life since it entered service in 1955. It is restricted from operating on the Dwellingup line due to it’s rigid wheel base and since the introduction of the electrical canopy for the new electric train system, the XA cannot operate under the over-head wires of the Fremantle line due to over-head tension in the exhaust units ( the overhead is much lower on the Fremantle line ) although can occasionally be seen on the Midland or Armadale lines . Modifications to the exhaust have been looked at and may one day be undertaken to give a wider range of operation under the overhead wires.

Today there only 6 complete WAGR X type locomotives in existence with one of XA 1403's Cabs being located in a market in the suburban town of Gosnells

Number		Location Preserved

X1001		ARHS-Bassendean Railway Museum
XA1401		Hotham Valley Tourist Railway
XA1402		ARHS-Bassendean Railway Museum
XA1405		ARHS-Bassendean Railway Museum
XA1411		Hotham Valley Tourist Railway
XA1415		Narrogin (static display) On loan to Apex Narrogin from HVTR in exchange for Pm 706

14/11/87 Just prior to the introduction of new railcars for the Australind, the W.A. ARHS organised a last AXMO XA hauled Australind with 1402 and 1405. Sadly both of these units have not been seen on the main line since the early 90's.