CL class
Encyclopedia
The CL class are an Australia
n diesel electric locomotives
ordered by the Commonwealth Railways
and delivered between 1970 and 1972. Altogether, 17 units were built by Clyde Engineering, Granville to a local design using imported EMD engines and traction equipment. The class was the last in the world to be built with the EMD bulldog nose
, but differed from those before in having a mansard roof
above the carbody. They were delivered in the standard Commonwealth Railways livery of maroon and silver.
to cater for increased traffic on the Trans-Australian Railway
, then being connected through to Perth and Sydney via new standard gauge links. They were electrically and mechanically similar to the WAGR L class
of 1967, but the initial design was to have a Do-Do wheel arrangement and a USA style EMD FP45
cab. This was later changed to a streamlined carbody. The first locomotive was completed in January 1970 at Clyde's Sydney works, with additional locomotives being order after their early success. The AL class of 1976 used the same mechanical package but in a double cabbed box carbody.
after its establishment, and from 1992 the whole fleet were rebuilt into either the CLF and CLP classes by Morrison Knudsen Australia (MKA). By this time the locomotives had a relatively modern design with a strong frame, but were limited by their old technology control equipment. For the purposes of the contract the locomotives were sold to MKA and then leased back for 12 years. Clyde Engineering
and Goninan were other contenders for the contract, which also included the rebuilding of eight slightly newer AL class locomotives. The seven CLFs were intended for freight, while the 10 CLP class were fitted with a head end power
generator for use with passenger trains such as the Indian Pacific, The Ghan, and The Overland.
The rebuilding involved stripping back to the frame
, with everything except for the nose section and monocoque frame removed. Changes included the EMD 645
E3 engines being replaced with overhauled EMD 645E3C engines imported from MKA's parent company in the USA, the original main alternators were rebuilt from AR10/A4-D14 to the AR10/A9-D14 type, refurbished D78 traction motor
s replaced the originals along with a new gear ratio, and new MK-LOC microprocessor controls were fitted. The cab was upgraded to modern standards, the brake setup was also changed from twin to single shoe per wheel, and a number of other small fixes were made to assist maintenance.
After rebuilding the locomotives did not retain their numbers, for example the first locomotive converted was CL2 which emerged as CLF1. All were back in service by the end of 1993. The CLF appeared in the standard AN green with yellow data panel, strip and B-end. The CLP received a unique livery, with a lighter green nose, silver carbody, and a yellow stripe running from the nose to the rear.
Australian National lost their interstate freight role with the creation of the National Rail Corporation
in 1994. The contract with MKA meant the locomotives could only be used on AN trains, or a higher lease fee would apply. As a result the class were not seen on NR operated trains, and did not venture onto the wider national standard gauge network until AN won "hook and pull" contracts for private operator SCT.
While built for passenger traffic, it was not until 1994 that a CLP class was used on the entire Indian Pacific route from Sydney to Perth - before this time New South Wales and Western Australia used their own locomotives on the train when within their state borders. On conversion to standard gauge in 1995 The Overland was also hauled by the CLP class. The use of the CLP class on passenger trains came to an end in November 1997, when the passenger operations of Australian National were sold to Great Southern Railway
, who contracted National Rail for the supply of locomotives to haul their trains.
CLP15 (formerly CL1) was involved in the Mount Christie head on collision in February 1997, being stored for several months before scrapping in November the same year.
In November 1997 ownership of the class was transferred from AN and MKA to Australian Southern Railroad (later part of the Australian Railroad Group
(ARG)) along with Australian National's mainline freight operations. The class soon lost the AN logos on the nose and carbody, with repainting in their orange and black commencing in 1998. With the split of the ARG joint venture in 2006 the class are now divided between Australian Railroad Group (now QR National
) and Genesee and Wyoming Australia
(GWA), both using the class on interstate freight trains.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n diesel electric locomotives
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
ordered by the Commonwealth Railways
Commonwealth Railways
The Commonwealth Railways were established in 1912, as part of a government department, currently called the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, by the Government of Australia to construct the missing link in the east-west transcontinental railway and...
and delivered between 1970 and 1972. Altogether, 17 units were built by Clyde Engineering, Granville to a local design using imported EMD engines and traction equipment. The class was the last in the world to be built with the EMD bulldog nose
Bulldog nose
"Bulldog nose" is the nickname given, due to their appearance, to several diesel locomotives manufactured by GM-EMD and its licencees from 1939 to 1970...
, but differed from those before in having a mansard roof
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
above the carbody. They were delivered in the standard Commonwealth Railways livery of maroon and silver.
Construction
In late 1968 the Commonwealth Railways placed an order for five new 2237 kW locomotives with Clyde EngineeringClyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
to cater for increased traffic on the Trans-Australian Railway
Trans-Australian Railway
The Trans-Australian Railway crosses the Nullarbor Plain of Australia from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia...
, then being connected through to Perth and Sydney via new standard gauge links. They were electrically and mechanically similar to the WAGR L class
WAGR L class (diesel)
The L-class is a class of diesel locomotives of the Western Australian Government Railways first introduced in 1967 for heavy duty mainline use on the new standard gauge lines. Their wheel arrangement is Co-Co.- Details :...
of 1967, but the initial design was to have a Do-Do wheel arrangement and a USA style EMD FP45
EMD FP45
The EMD FP45 is a cowl unit type of C-C diesel locomotive produced in the United States by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. It was produced beginning in 1967 at the request of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which did not want its prestigious Super Chief and other passenger...
cab. This was later changed to a streamlined carbody. The first locomotive was completed in January 1970 at Clyde's Sydney works, with additional locomotives being order after their early success. The AL class of 1976 used the same mechanical package but in a double cabbed box carbody.
Rebuilding
The locomotives were passed to Australian NationalAustralian National Railways Commission
The Australian National Railways Commission was a government owned railway operator in Australia. ANRC was also known as Australian National Railways in its early years and was later rebranded as Australian National .-History:...
after its establishment, and from 1992 the whole fleet were rebuilt into either the CLF and CLP classes by Morrison Knudsen Australia (MKA). By this time the locomotives had a relatively modern design with a strong frame, but were limited by their old technology control equipment. For the purposes of the contract the locomotives were sold to MKA and then leased back for 12 years. Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
and Goninan were other contenders for the contract, which also included the rebuilding of eight slightly newer AL class locomotives. The seven CLFs were intended for freight, while the 10 CLP class were fitted with a head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
generator for use with passenger trains such as the Indian Pacific, The Ghan, and The Overland.
The rebuilding involved stripping back to the frame
Locomotive frame
A locomotive frame is the structure that forms the backbone of the railway locomotive, giving it strength and supporting the superstructure elements such as a cab, boiler or bodywork. The vast majority of locomotives have had a frame structure of some kind...
, with everything except for the nose section and monocoque frame removed. Changes included the EMD 645
EMD 645
The EMD 645 family of diesel engines was designed and manufactured by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. Intended primarily for locomotive, marine and stationary engine use, one 16-cylinder version powered the 33-19 "Titan" prototype haul truck designed by GM's Terex...
E3 engines being replaced with overhauled EMD 645E3C engines imported from MKA's parent company in the USA, the original main alternators were rebuilt from AR10/A4-D14 to the AR10/A9-D14 type, refurbished D78 traction motor
Traction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s replaced the originals along with a new gear ratio, and new MK-LOC microprocessor controls were fitted. The cab was upgraded to modern standards, the brake setup was also changed from twin to single shoe per wheel, and a number of other small fixes were made to assist maintenance.
After rebuilding the locomotives did not retain their numbers, for example the first locomotive converted was CL2 which emerged as CLF1. All were back in service by the end of 1993. The CLF appeared in the standard AN green with yellow data panel, strip and B-end. The CLP received a unique livery, with a lighter green nose, silver carbody, and a yellow stripe running from the nose to the rear.
Australian National lost their interstate freight role with the creation of the National Rail Corporation
National Rail Corporation
The National Rail Corporation was a rail operator in Australia. The Australian Government, New South Wales and Victoria established the National Rail Corporation in 1992...
in 1994. The contract with MKA meant the locomotives could only be used on AN trains, or a higher lease fee would apply. As a result the class were not seen on NR operated trains, and did not venture onto the wider national standard gauge network until AN won "hook and pull" contracts for private operator SCT.
While built for passenger traffic, it was not until 1994 that a CLP class was used on the entire Indian Pacific route from Sydney to Perth - before this time New South Wales and Western Australia used their own locomotives on the train when within their state borders. On conversion to standard gauge in 1995 The Overland was also hauled by the CLP class. The use of the CLP class on passenger trains came to an end in November 1997, when the passenger operations of Australian National were sold to Great Southern Railway
Great Southern Railway (Australia)
Great Southern Railway , owned by Serco Asia Pacific, is a tourism business and rail transport operator in Australia.GSR operates interstate passenger trains aimed at the tourist market:* The Indian Pacific...
, who contracted National Rail for the supply of locomotives to haul their trains.
CLP15 (formerly CL1) was involved in the Mount Christie head on collision in February 1997, being stored for several months before scrapping in November the same year.
Private ownership
Australian Railroad Group
Australian Railroad Group was one of Australia's largest private rail operators, operating across almost 10,000 kilometres of track and began operating in Western Australia on 17 December 2000 following its purchase of the Westrail freight business. It was acquired by QR National...
(ARG)) along with Australian National's mainline freight operations. The class soon lost the AN logos on the nose and carbody, with repainting in their orange and black commencing in 1998. With the split of the ARG joint venture in 2006 the class are now divided between Australian Railroad Group (now QR National
QR National
QR National Limited is the largest rail freight company in Australia and was formerly owned by the Queensland Government. It was created as an independent company on 1 July 2010 when transport and logistics company QR Limited was split into two companies...
) and Genesee and Wyoming Australia
Genesee and Wyoming Australia
Genesee and Wyoming Australia is an Australian rail freight operator based in Adelaide, South Australia. It is a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Genesee and Wyoming Inc based in the USA, and was formed in June 2006 to run the South Australian operations of the Australian Railroad Group joint...
(GWA), both using the class on interstate freight trains.
Locomotives
| Locomotive | Named (prior to rebuild) | Entered service | Rebuilt into | Named (after rebuild) | Current Owner | Status |
| CL1 | John Gorton | February 1970 | CLP15 | Kokatha | Australian National | Scrapped |
| CL2 | March 1970 | CLF1 | City of Whyalla | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | |
| CL3 | April 1970 | CLP13 | Nukunu | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | |
| CL4 | May 1970 | CLP14 | Barngarla | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In Service | |
| CL5 | July 1970 | CLF4 | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | ||
| CL6 | November 1970 | CLF6 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In Service | ||
| CL7 | November 1970 | CLF3 | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | ||
| CL8 | January 1971 | CLP17 | Arabana | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In Service | |
| CL9 | Gough Whitlam | March 1971 | CLP8 | City of Port Augusta | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In Service |
| CL10 | April 1971 | CLP 16 | Murunitja | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In Service | |
| CL11 | June 1971 | CLF2 | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | ||
| CL12 | July 1971 | CLF5 | Genesee & Wyoming Australia | In Service | ||
| CL13 | Ausgust 1971 | CLP9 | Wiljakali | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | |
| CL14 | Charlie Jones | December 1971 | CLP11 | Kaurna | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service |
| CL15 | January 1972 | CLP 12 | Ngadjuri | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | |
| CL16 | March 1972 | CLF7 | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service | ||
| CL17 | William McMahon | June 1972 | CLP 10 | Mirning | Australian Railroad Group, a QR Company | In Service |