Downer EDI Rail GT46C – Wikipedia

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Class of Australian diesel-electric locomotives

Downer EDI Rail GT46C
Australian Railroad Group Q4018 Ore.JPG
Performance figures
Maximum speed 115 km/h (71 mph)
Power output 3,100 kW (4,200 hp)
Career
Operators Aurizon
Class Q/FQ/V class (Aurizon)
Number in class 24
Numbers Q4001-Q4019
V544
FQ01-FQ04
Locale Australia
First run 14 July 1997
Current owner Aurizon
Disposition 24 in service

The GT46C is a model of diesel-electric locomotive designed and built by Clyde Engineering using Electro-Motive Diesel components. A number of Australian rail freight operators purchased them from 1997: Westrail as the Q class, FreightLink as the FQ class, and Freight Australia as the single-locomotive V class. As of 2022, all 24 locomotives were owned by Aurizon following its purchase of certain One Rail Australia assets in July 2022.

By operator[edit]

Westrail[edit]

In May 1996, Westrail ordered 15 GT46Cs from Clyde Engineering as part of an order that also included nine narrow gauge S class locomotives.[1] The order was later extended to 19.[2] All were assembled at a facility established by Clyde Engineering within Westrail’s Forrestfield Depot to fulfill the contract with components manufactured at Clyde’s Kelso and Somerton plants.[3][4] All were included in the sale of Westrail to Australian Railroad Group in December 2000 and again to QR National in June 2006. Initially numbered as the Q class, they were later reclassified as the 4000 class.[5][6]

Freight Australia[edit]

Following the destruction of two G class locomotives in 1999, Freight Australia ordered a single GT46AC from EDI Rail who had purchased Clyde Engineering. It was built at their Cardiff Locomotive Workshops in 2002.[7][8] Numbered V544, it was named after Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer. It was included in the sale of the business to Pacific National in February 2004. The locomotive initially operated interstate freight duties, primarily the SCT Logistics service from Melbourne to Perth. In late 2007, it moved to haul Leigh Creek to Port Augusta coal trains in South Australia, servicing the Playford B and Northern power stations. As of March 2014, V544 has been stored at Port Augusta workshops after a major engine failure. In May 2021, it was sold to One Rail Australia and has since been painted into their livery.

FreightLink[edit]

In 2003, four were built by EDI Rail at Port Augusta for FreightLink. They were purchased for use on the Adelaide-Darwin railway. The first two units were painted in Indigenous Australian liveries, the other two were in FreightLink red.[9][10] All were included in the sale of FreightLink to One Rail Australia,[11][12] and later the sale of ORA to Aurizon.

Summary[edit]

Aurizon Q class:

Q4001: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4002: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4003: Aurizon Canary livery

Q4004: Aurizon Canary livery

Q4005: ARG Orange with black stripes

Q4006: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4007: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4008: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4009: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4010: ARG yellow with a red stripe

Q4011: Aurizon pineapple livery

Q4012: ARG yellow with a red stripe (two panels in the Orange and black livery)

Q4013: ARG yellow with a red stripe. The logos missing on both sides

Q4014: Aurizon Canary livery

Q4015: ARG yellow with a red stripe

Q4016: Aurizon Canary livery

Q4017: Original Westrail yellow with black stripes

Q4018: Aurizon Canary livery

Q4019: Aurizon pineapple livery

All former ORA units are in their orange and black scheme, though they are now all owned by Aurizon.

Operator Class Number in class Road numbers Built Notes
Aurizon Q 19 Q4001-Q4019 1997-98 Originally built for Westrail, subsequently acquired by Australian Railroad Group, inherited by QR National 2011, included in rebrand 2012.
V 1 V544 2002 Originally built for Freight Australia, inherited by Pacific National 2004, sold to One Rail Australia May 2021 and included in the sale of ORA to Aurizon in July 2022.
FQ 4 FQ01-FQ04 2003 Originally built for FreightLink, inherited by GWA (Later One Rail Australia) 2010, included in sale of ORA to Aurizon in July 2022.

Related development[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related to Downer EDI Rail GT46C at Wikimedia Commons