Wikipedia

Downer EDI Rail GT46C

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.

Downer EDI Rail GT46C
Australian Railroad Group's Q4018
in September 2009
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Forrestfield, Western Australia
EDI Rail, Cardiff
EDI Rail, Port Augusta
ModelElectro-Motive Diesel GT46C
Build date1997-2003
Total produced24
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo-Co, Co′Co'
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Loco weight134 t (132 long tons; 148 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverElectro-Motive Diesel 16-710G3B-ES
AspirationTurbocharger
GeneratorElectro-Motive Diesel AR11 PBEH
Traction motorsElectro-Motive Diesel D87BTRL
Cylinders16
MU workingAAR
Loco brakeAir brake
Train brakesAir brake
Performance figures
Maximum speed115 km/h (71 mph)
Power output3,100 kW (4,200 hp)
Career
OperatorsAurizon
ClassQ/FQ/V class (Aurizon)
Number in class24
NumbersQ4001-Q4019
V544
FQ01-FQ04
LocaleAustralia
First run14 July 1997
Current ownerAurizon
Disposition24 in service

By operator

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Westrail

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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

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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. Between March 2014 and May 2021, V544 was 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.

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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.

Fleet summary

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Key: In service Stored or withdrawn Preserved Converted Scrapped

Q class

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Number Original
number		 In service Out of service Current owner Livery Previous owners Status
Q4001 Q301 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4002 Q302 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4003 Q303 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon Basic Yellow Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4004 Q304 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon Basic Yellow Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4005 Q305 1997/1998 Aurizon ARG Orange & Black Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4006 Q306 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4007 Q307 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4008 Q308 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4009 Q309 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4010 Q310 1997/1998 Aurizon ARG/QR Yellow & Maroon Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4011 Q311 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & Grey Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4012 Q312 1997/1998 Aurizon ARG/QR Yellow & Maroon Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4013 Q313 1997/1998 Aurizon ARG/QR Yellow & Maroon with Missing Both Logo Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4014 Q314 1997/1998 Aurizon Aurizon Basic Yellow Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4015 Q315 1997/1998 Aurizon ARG/QR Yellow & Maroon Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4016 Q316 1998 Aurizon Aurizon Basic Yellow Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4017 Q317 1998 Aurizon Westrail Yellow & Blue with Aurizon Logos Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4018 Q318 1998 Aurizon Aurizon Basic Yellow Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service
Q4019 Q319 1998 Aurizon ARG/QR Yellow & Maroon Westrail (1997-2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000-2011) In service

V class

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Number Name In service Out of service Current owner Livery Previous owners Status
V544 Tim Fischer July 2002 Aurizon ORA Orange & Black With Aurizon Logos Freight Australia (2002-2004), Pacific National (2004-2021), One Rail Australia (2021-2022) In service

FQ class

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Number Name In service Out of service Current owner Livery Previous owners Status
FQ01 Kurra Kurraka December 2003 Aurizon ORA Orange & Black With Aurizon Logos FreightLink (2003-2010), One Rail Australia (2010-2022) In service
FQ02 Purnu December 2003 Aurizon ORA Orange & Black With Aurizon Logos FreightLink (2003-2010), One Rail Australia (2010-2022) In service
FQ03 Wagiman December 2003 Aurizon ORA Orange & Black With Aurizon Logos FreightLink (2003-2010), One Rail Australia (2010-2022) In service
FQ04 Aboriginal Stockman December 2003 Aurizon ORA Orange & Black With Aurizon Logos FreightLink (2003-2010), One Rail Australia (2010-2022) In service
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References

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  1. ^ "Westrail Loco Contract Signed" Railway Digest July 1996 page 16
  2. ^ "Loco Order Extended" Railway Digest April 1997 page 15
  3. ^ "Westrail's new standard gauge locomotives" Railway Digest September 1997 pages 12-13
  4. ^ "Westrail S Class" Railway Digest February 1998 page 35
  5. ^ Q Class (WAGR) Railpage
  6. ^ Q Class (ARG) Railpage
  7. ^ V Class (Freight Australia) Railpage
  8. ^ V Class Vicsig
  9. ^ "Downer EDI Rail: GT46C" (PDF). downeredi.com. Retrieved 5 September 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "FreightLink, September 2003 Update" (PDF). nt.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  11. ^ FQ Class Railpage
  12. ^ FQ Class Vicsig
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