AB1503 Forrestfield Works 20 12 2007
Ex-Works AB1503 sits in the sunset at Forrestfield Works, Perth.
The Western Australian AB Class were built by Clyde Engineering, Granville NSW and Bassendean WA from 1969 to 1970.
AB1503 was delivered as AB1535 to WAGR in March 1970 (Works No. 69-680).
The ABs are the 3rd version of the A Class from 1960 and 1962 (following the AA version in 1967 and 1969).
They are 1,650hp Co-Co locos weighing 99 tons and a supposed top speed of 100km/h.
With QR National (now Aurizon), buying ARG’s Western Australian operations, they renumbered a lot of locos to avoid number duplicates with their locos Queensland Rail.
So when AB1535 went into Forrestfield Works for overhaul and re-paint from its WAGR livery, it come out renumbered as AB1503.
AB1503 was stored at Northam awaiting its fate in early 2013, after the CBH grain contract was lost.
While many classmates were sold overseas or scrapped, it was luckier.
AB1503 was preserved in April 2017 by the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project, Minnivale, (a Shire of Dowering project with a museum shed).
They renumbered it back to its original AB1535 for display.
And in 2024 it was active again on lease to Watco for use on WA maintenance and construction trains.
In January 2026, it is still active with them carrying Watco and RAIL HERITAGE WA decals.
AB1503 Forrestfield Works 20 12 2007
Ex-Works AB1503 sits in the sunset at Forrestfield Works, Perth.
The Western Australian AB Class were built by Clyde Engineering, Granville NSW and Bassendean WA from 1969 to 1970.
AB1503 was delivered as AB1535 to WAGR in March 1970 (Works No. 69-680).
The ABs are the 3rd version of the A Class from 1960 and 1962 (following the AA version in 1967 and 1969).
They are 1,650hp Co-Co locos weighing 99 tons and a supposed top speed of 100km/h.
With QR National (now Aurizon), buying ARG’s Western Australian operations, they renumbered a lot of locos to avoid number duplicates with their locos Queensland Rail.
So when AB1535 went into Forrestfield Works for overhaul and re-paint from its WAGR livery, it come out renumbered as AB1503.
AB1503 was stored at Northam awaiting its fate in early 2013, after the CBH grain contract was lost.
While many classmates were sold overseas or scrapped, it was luckier.
AB1503 was preserved in April 2017 by the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project, Minnivale, (a Shire of Dowering project with a museum shed).
They renumbered it back to its original AB1535 for display.
And in 2024 it was active again on lease to Watco for use on WA maintenance and construction trains.
In January 2026, it is still active with them carrying Watco and RAIL HERITAGE WA decals.