Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class

The Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC and WEA/WEB classes are two classes of railcars built by United Goninan, Broadmeadow for Transwa in 2004–2005 to replace the WAGR WCA/WCE class railcars on the AvonLink, MerredinLink and Prospector services in Western Australia.

Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC and WEA/WEB classes
The Prospector near Merredin in October 2012
Manufacturer	United Goninan
Built at	Broadmeadow, NSW
Replaced	WAGR WCA/WCE class
Constructed	2003
Entered service	WDA/WDB: 28 June 2004[1][2] WDC: 31 December 2004 WEA/WEB: 1 August 2005
Number built	9
Number in service	9
Formation	WDA–WDB WDA–WDC–WDB WEA–WEB
Fleet numbers	WDA001–003 WDB011–013 WDC021 WEA031, WEB041
Capacity	100 (WDA/WDB 2-car) 160 (WDA/WDC/WDB 3-car) 143 or 138 w/2 Wheelchairs (WEA/WEB 2-car)
Operators	Transwa
Depots	Prospector Maintenance Depot, Kewdale
Lines served	Eastern Eastern Goldfields
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Train length	2-car: 54.8 m (179 ft 9 in) 3-car: 80.07 m (262 ft 8 in)
Car length	WDA/WDB, WEA/WEB: 27.4 m (89 ft 11 in) WDC: 25.27 m (82 ft 11 in)
Width	3,152 mm (10 ft 4.1 in)
Height	4,462 mm (14 ft 7.7 in)
Floor height	1.32 m (4 ft 4 in)
Doors	4 × IFE Tebel
Wheel diameter	850–770 mm (33–30 in) (new–worn)[3]
Wheelbase	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)[3]
Maximum speed	200 km/h (120 mph) (design) 160 km/h (99 mph) (track speed)
Weight	WDA: 67.96 t (66.89 long tons; 74.91 short tons) WDB: 66.453 t (65.403 long tons; 73.252 short tons) WDC: 62.27 t (61.29 long tons; 68.64 short tons) WEA: 65.55 t (64.51 long tons; 72.26 short tons) WEB: 65.175 t (64.146 long tons; 71.843 short tons)
Traction system	Diesel hydraulic
Prime mover(s)	2 × Cummins N14E-R 518 Horizontal in-line 6 (modified)
Power output	386 kW (518 hp) @ 2100rpm per engine
Transmission	2 × Voith T212 bre turbo transmission
Power supply	Transtechnik 415V shop power
HVAC	Noske-Kaeser model RHKA 28-2D/1
Bogies	Siemens SF 5000 DMU[3]
Braking system(s)	Knorr-Bremse (air actuated disc brakes) Hydrodynamic (transmission)
Safety system(s)	ATP
Coupling system	Schaku model 40-1218(1)/40-1319(2)
Multiple working	Within class
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from[4] unless otherwise noted.

History

In December 2000, Westrail awarded a contract to United Goninan, Broadmeadow for nine railcars to replace the 1971 built WAGR WCA/WCE class railcars. Seven were for The Prospector service and two were for the AvonLink and MerredinLink services.^[5][1][6] One of the WDC railcars suffered an electrical fault in one of the air conditioning system which caused the railcar to catch fire. The railcar was overhauled and put back into service, some warping of the metal panel work still visible on the railcar to this day.

These consist of three WDA driving cars, three WDB driving cars without buffet, and one motored WDC non-driving car. These form two two-car sets and one three-car set. The AvonLink set consists of one WEA and WEB railcar and has a different design of seat, but doesn't have the entertainment system or buffet that The Prospector has.

References

1. May, Andrew S; Gray, Bill (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Midland, WA: Bill Gray. pp. 338–341. ISBN 0646459023.
2. "Prospector enters new era". The Golden Mail. 2 July 2004. Archived from the original on 6 August 2008.
3. "First Class Bogies" (PDF). Siemens. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019.
4. "Prospector" (PDF). UGL Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2019.
5. Cowan, Hendy; Criddle, Murray (7 December 2000). "New 'world-class' Goldfields and Avon trains move closer". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
6. "WA Short Lines" Railway Digest February 2001

External links

• Media related to Transwa Prospector at Wikimedia Commons
• Media related to Transwa Avonlink at Wikimedia Commons