Locomotive News

I was thinking raspberry.

Burnie or L'ton, but I'll go Burnie for now.

I know the loco number has to be different for the computer, but you would hope otherwise that getting locos confused in Tassie is a fairly rare event.

Orginal EBR had the best system for a small railway. Start at No.1 and go from there, no need for classes. The "Island of Sodor" is not that far removed, expect it has more locos.

2154 was on a Brisbane bound freighter this morning, I saw it come through Mayne. Covered in Orangey Brown gunk.

So we have 2150D, 2151D and 2154D so far at Fisherman Island

Does anyone know the number for the fourth loco?

QR National had this problem in WA with the 2100 class and gave them the class DD. Admittedly these were earlier units with DC generators, but they looked the same until the driving positions changed to the other side.

Since Tasmania seems happy to call the other similar units by their WA classification, why not DD....

M636C

I suspect 2153D will be the fourth loco.

Question to those who might know.

Are these locos actually any good or is this going to a repeat of the 1300 class?

Regards

Shane

Shane,

I can't claim to know, but these locos have been pretty much captive to the Cobarra Nickel trains for some years and as such have not done a large number of km in those years, although they have hauled some heavy-ish loads. I guess it really depends on what TasRail wants from them. They may have rebuild plans for them or use them as is pending delivery of new locos.

Thanks Graham, they were probably on that run as it was simply somewhere to put them. I think we all know QR's loco choice is not always driven by the best loco for the job but rather how it fits in with the big picture and what can run where with so many restrictions.

I suspect Tasrail is looking for something that works now as others have said the current fleet is a bits-a fleet requiring heavy maintainance to keep running. Getting 4 me thinks is a 3 to take over one of the Hobart/Boyer-Burnie trains and a spare. No need to Multi with other locos too much but assuming that potentially can.

Regards

Shane

They would split them up, not run them as three. Rarely you see the two "Ds" together now.

The addition of 4 EMD compatible locos of this size to the fleet would have the following benefits:

(a) Increased trailing tonnages on existing north-bound intermodal services.

(b) Ability to offer new services without relying on incompatible and unreliable 2110/2114/2120 classes

(c) Retire 2114/2120 class from the fleet and concentrate on a more homogenous fleet prior to the new locos arriving.

Does anyone know if these 4 locos have been purchased, or are they on lease or hire?

Purchased

Time will tell I guess

Major difference, after initially dispensing with class letter designations,  ARG in W.A. officially brought them back (anyone know why they initially dropped them in the first place and why they brought them back, other than the obvious - because they could and because they wanted to?)

Tas. on the other hand, haven't had letter classifications since Track Warrant control was introduced. The only reason they are still referred to is because for some reason, in the Tasmanian context, gunzels seem incapable of letting them go (yet only have no such problems with the ex Patrick (NB) "18" class, for instance) and many Tasrail staff, having a lifetime of referring to locos by classification letters and having no cultural background (unless ex EBR) in numeric only i.d.'s, also seem to have a conservative resistance to the new numeric classes.

Nevertheless, the QR 2150's have no alpha designation, will have no requirement for one, hence will not receive one. So any letter "class" will be as fictional as me claiming the actual class for the M.K.A. rebuilt "2130"s is "ZM".

The first two locos due late next week at this stage.

Which port will they head to?

Are they reliably operational and will they be placed straight into service?

Unless they're been modified to three pipe brakes in Queensland before they left, unlikely they will be shoved straight into service. My guess is they're rather tired but useable.

Expect them in service in about 2 weeks or so after arrival.  Radios to fit, sludge tanks, 3 pipe conversion etc.

Sorry, i must have miss read somewhere, is there more than two coming??

Posted on Page 1 on 24/09/2011:

2150 and 2151 are due to land on either the 2nd or 3rd November and be railed ex Devonport.  2153 and 2154 to arrive on the 14th or 15th November at this stage.

Just wondering, what do you mean by ex Devonport?