1251 (Chris Dearson)
1303 (Martin Thobaven)
| Locomotive numbers: | DE1-2 DE3-9 |
| Model Number: | G8 (DE1-2) G12 (DE3-9) G14M (rebuilds) |
| Type | Diesel-Electric |
| Introduced | 1956 |
| Number in class | 2 (DE1-2) 7 (DE3-9) |
| Manufacturer | Clyde Engineering, Granville (DE1-9) MKA (rebuilds) |
| Gauge | Standard, Narrow |
| Axles | Bo-Bo |
| Length | 13.56 m |
| Mass | 70 t (DE1-2) 78 t (DE3-9) 72 t (rebuilds) |
| Engine | EMD 8-567C (DE1-2) EMD 12-567C (DE3-9) EMD 12-645C (rebuilds) |
| Generator Alternator |
EMD D15 (DE1-2) EMD D12 (DE3-9) EMD AR10A9-D14 (rebuilds) |
| Traction motors | EMD D19 (DE1-9) EMD D29 (rebuilds) |
| Power | 653 kW / 875 HP (DE1-2) 977 kW / 1310 HP (DE3-9) 1120 kW / 1500 HP (rebuilds) |
| Tractive effort | 165 / 102 kN (DE1-2) 161 / 125 kN (DE3-9) 180 / 140 kN (rebuilds) |
| Speed | 100 / 12 km/h (DE1-9) 90 / 23 km/h (rebuilds) |
These locos were the first diesels to be used on the Iron Baron and Iron Knob iron ore mines, and are based at Whyalla. They were also used on the Coffin Bay line.
DE8 and 9 however were built specifically for the Coffin Bay traffic, and had special filtration systems to keep lime sand out of the engine compartments. DE1 and 2 were originally used for shunting in the quarries, with the both later being based at Port Lincoln and working the Coffin Bay line, with DE1 later returning to Whyalla. For this, DE1 and 2 had their bogies swapped with DE8 and 9 when the latter two arrived, so that they could be used at Coffin Bay, with the latter being used for mainline work from Whyalla. DE2 was at Port Lincoln until 1993.
In the early 90's, many of these locos were rebuilt as the "new" DE
class, with parts from DE2 being
used
in the rebuild.
DE5 has been returned to service following the scrapping of two of the
rebuilds;
it is the last of the original locos still in service.
Rebuilds:
Becuase of the age of the original
Clyde locos, BHP contracted Morrison Knudsen to rebuild them in 1993,
and as a result they
now have a higher power. As before, all of the locos are based at
Whyalla.
However, DE8 and 9 were withdrawn and later scrapped following a
serious collision.
All the operating locos are narrow gauge.
Following the breakup of ARG, DE6 is with QRN while 1301-1304 are with
GWA.
SCT:
DE2 was bought by SCT to use as a shunter, see the T class page for more details.
Named locomotives:
| T414 |
Georgia McKinnon |
| DE8 | Angelo Sovaidis |
| Loco | Serial # | In Service | Comments |
| DE1 | 56-109 (original) 93-BHP-2 (rebuild) |
10/1956 | Withdrawn ? Rebuilt as DE1, In service 2-1994 Renumbered 1301 |
| DE2 | 56-111 | 11/1956 | Withdrawn 1997 Sold to RTS (not used) Sold to SCT, renumbered T414, In service 10-2006 |
| DE3 | 56-116 (original) 93-BHP-5 (?) (rebuild) |
11/1956 | Withdrawn ? Rebuilt as DE3, In service 9-1994 Renumbered 1302 |
| DE4 | 56-122 (original) 93-BHP-6 (rebuild) |
11/1956 | Withdrawn ? Rebuilt as DE4, In service 3-1995 Renumbered 1303 |
| DE5 | 57-136 | 5/1957 | Renumbered 1251 |
| DE6 | 57-156 | 8/1957 | Withdrawn 1996 Scrapped 1996 |
| DE7 | 61-236 (original) 93-BHP-3 (rebuild) |
6/1961 | Withdrawn ? Rebuilt as DE7, In service 3-1994 Renumbered 1304 Withdrawn 2008 |
| DE8 | 65-429 (original) 93-BHP-4 (rebuild) |
11/1965 | Withdrawn ? Rebuilt as DE8, In service 5-1994 Scrapped ? |
| DE9 | 65-430 (original) 93-BHP-1 (rebuild) |
8/1965 | Withdrawn ? Rebuilt as DE9, In service 5-1993 Scrapped ? |
Introduction
© Copyright John Cleverdon