Downer EDI Rail GT46C
Encyclopedia
The GT46C is a model of high-horsepower mainline diesel electric locomotive designed and built by Clyde Engineering
/ EDI Rail using Electro-Motive Diesel components. Entering service from 1997 for a number of Australian rail freight operators, those built for Westrail
are known as the Q class, those for FreightLink
are the FQ class and a single unit for Freight Australia
is the V class.
Nineteen locomotives were built for Westrail and delivered between 1997 and 1998 as the Q class, the Q-class 4-6-2T steam locomotive of the 1890s being the first to use the name. Used on standard gauge services in Western Australia, they are now operated by Australian Railroad Group
who have renumbered them as the 4000 class.
Freightlink
Four additional locomotives entered service in 2003 for FreightLink, built at Port Augusta for use on the Adelaide-Darwin railway
. The first two units were painted in Indigenous Australian
liveries, the other two are in FreightLink red.
Freight Australia
The single unit owned by Freight Australia
(now Pacific National) was purchased in 2002 to replace two G class
locomotives that were written-off
in 1999, EDI Rail offering the company an extension of the GT46C order. The locomotive was duly constructed, and delivered to Freight Australia in early 2002. It entered service numbered V544 and was named for former Deputy Prime Minister
Tim Fischer
. The locomotive initially operated standard gauge
interstate freight duties, primarily the SCT Logistics service from Melbourne
to Perth
. Since late 2007 it has been moved onto the Leigh Creek
to Port Augusta
coal train in South Australia
, servicing the Playford B
and Northern
power stations. It is rumoured that this move was effected due to V544's frequent reliability issues - on the Leigh Creek-Port Augusta run the locomotive is close to service centres at Port Augusta and Dry Creek
, as opposed to being a large distance from help on the mostly single-track line to Perth.
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...
/ EDI Rail using Electro-Motive Diesel components. Entering service from 1997 for a number of Australian rail freight operators, those built for Westrail
Westrail
Westrail was the name of Western Australia’s public rail service between 1975 and 2000.It had its origins in 1877 as the Department of Works and Railways. This became Western Australian Government Railways in 1890 — a name that persisted for almost a century...
are known as the Q class, those for FreightLink
FreightLink
FreightLink is a railway freight operator in Australia that operates over the Adelaide–Darwin railway.-History:In 2000, the AustralAsia Rail Corporation awarded the contract to build and operate the Adelaide to Darwin railway as a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer back project to the Asia Pacific...
are the FQ class and a single unit for Freight Australia
Freight Australia
Freight Australia was a railway company in Australia. Initially known as Freight Victoria, it operated rail freight services and controlled non-urban rail track in the state of Victoria, later expanding into freight haulage in other states. Freight Australia was taken over by Pacific National in...
is the V class.
By operator
WestrailNineteen locomotives were built for Westrail and delivered between 1997 and 1998 as the Q class, the Q-class 4-6-2T steam locomotive of the 1890s being the first to use the name. Used on standard gauge services in Western Australia, they are now operated by Australian Railroad Group
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...
who have renumbered them as the 4000 class.
Freightlink
Four additional locomotives entered service in 2003 for FreightLink, built at Port Augusta for use on the Adelaide-Darwin railway
Adelaide-Darwin railway
The Adelaide–Darwin railway is a north-south transcontinental railway in Australia, between the cities of Adelaide, South Australia and Darwin, Northern Territory...
. The first two units were painted in Indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
liveries, the other two are in FreightLink red.
Freight Australia
The single unit owned by Freight Australia
Freight Australia
Freight Australia was a railway company in Australia. Initially known as Freight Victoria, it operated rail freight services and controlled non-urban rail track in the state of Victoria, later expanding into freight haulage in other states. Freight Australia was taken over by Pacific National in...
(now Pacific National) was purchased in 2002 to replace two G class
V/Line G class
The V/Line G class are a mainline diesel electric locomotives built by Clyde Engineering from 1984, the last of 33 locomotives entering service in December 1989...
locomotives that were written-off
Write-off
The term write-off describes a reduction in recognized value. In accounting terminology, it refers to recognition of the reduced or zero value of an asset. In income tax statements, it refers to a reduction of taxable income as recognition of certain expenses required to produce the income...
in 1999, EDI Rail offering the company an extension of the GT46C order. The locomotive was duly constructed, and delivered to Freight Australia in early 2002. It entered service numbered V544 and was named for former Deputy Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Tim Fischer
Tim Fischer
Timothy Andrew Fischer, AC , is a former Australian politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 before retiring from Cabinet in 1999...
. The locomotive initially operated standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
interstate freight duties, primarily the SCT Logistics service from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Since late 2007 it has been moved onto the Leigh Creek
Leigh Creek, South Australia
Leigh Creek is a coal-mining town in the north of South Australia. At the 2006 census, Leigh Creek had a population of 549....
to Port Augusta
Port Augusta, South Australia
-Electricity generation:Electricity is generated at the Playford B and Northern power stations from brown coal mined at Leigh Creek, 250 km to the north...
coal train in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, servicing the Playford B
Playford B Power Station, South Australia
Playford B Power Station is located in Port Augusta, South Australia. It is coal powered with four 60 MW steam turbines that generate a total of 240 MW of electricity.Playford B gets its coal by railway from the Leigh Creek Coal Mine, 280 km to the north....
and Northern
Northern Power Station, South Australia
Northern Power Station is located in Port Augusta, South Australia. It is coal powered with two 260 MW steam turbines that generate a total of 520 MW of electricity...
power stations. It is rumoured that this move was effected due to V544's frequent reliability issues - on the Leigh Creek-Port Augusta run the locomotive is close to service centres at Port Augusta and Dry Creek
Dry Creek, South Australia
Dry Creek is a mostly industrial suburb located north of Adelaide, containing significant wetlands and a substantial area devoted to salt crystallization pans, managed by Cheltenham Salt Limited....
, as opposed to being a large distance from help on the mostly single-track line to Perth.