RL class locomotive
RL304 with 44204 at Cronulla Railway Station, NSW
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderRTS, Islington Railway Workshops
ModelNREC AT36-C
Build date2005–2010
Total produced9
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Length19.1 m (62 ft 8 in)
Loco weight132 tonnes
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverElectro-Motive Diesel 16-645F3B
Traction motorsGeneral Electric GE752
Cylinders16
Performance figures
Maximum speed115 km/h (71 mph)
Tractive effort2,610 kW (3,500 hp)
Career
OperatorsSouthern Shorthaul Railroad
Qube Logistics
Number in class9
NumbersRL301–RL307, RL309–RL310
First runOctober 2005
Current ownerQube Logistics
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Disposition9 in service

The RL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Rail Technical Support Group (RTS) for the National Railway Equipment Company at Islington Railway Workshops in Australia.

History

The concept of the RL class dates back to 1994 when Morrison Knudsen Australia purchased some 442 class locomotives from the State Rail Authority with the aim of rebuilding them with EMD 16 645F3B engines. However the project was shelved and the locomotives scrapped.

Following National Railway Equipment Company purchasing Morrison Knudsen, the project was revitalised albeit using new locomotive frames. Nine were built by RTS at Islington Railway Workshops, Adelaide between 2005 and 2010 with bogies and compressors from the 442s and reconditioned parts from the United States.

Seven were originally built and initially owned by Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia before being sold to Greentrains and leased to South Spur Rail Services.[1][2][3] One was included in the sale of the South Spur Rail Services business to Qube Logistics in May 2010 who later took delivery of a further two. A tenth was not completed after a defect was discovered in the frame and scrapped.

They have hauled freight services in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In April 2016, the six Greentrains units were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[4][5]

Status table

NumberOwnerLivery
RL301Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellow
RL302Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellow
RL303Qube LogisticsGreentrains green & yellow
RL304Southern Shorthaul RailroadSouthern Shorthaul Railroad "Help Us Get Home Safely"
RL305Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellow
RL306Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellow
RL307Southern Shorthaul RailroadGreentrains green & yellow
RL309Qube LogisticsQube Logistics silver & yellow
RL310Qube LogisticsQube Logistics silver & yellow

References

  1. ↑ Update on Receivable Archived 12 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Coote Industrial 13 November 2008
  2. ↑ RL Class Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railpage
  3. ↑ RL Class Archived 29 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine Vicsig
  4. ↑ Disposal of Greentrains rollingstock Archived 18 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Engenco 28 April 2016
  5. ↑ "Greentrans rollingstock sold to Holdco Holdings" Railway Digest June 2016 page 6
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