The GT46C is a model of diesel electric locomotive designed and built by Clyde Engineering 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. All 24 locomotives are currently owned by Aurizon since its purchase of One Rail Australia in July 2022.

Downer EDI Rail GT46C
Australian Railroad Group's Q4018 in September 2009
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Forrestfield, Western Australia EDI Rail, Cardiff EDI Rail, Port Augusta Model Electro-Motive Diesel GT46C Build date 1997-2003 Total produced 24
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co-Co, Co′Co' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Length 22 m (72 ft 2 in) Loco weight 134 t (132 long tons; 148 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 16-710G3B-ES Aspiration Turbocharger Generator Electro-Motive Diesel AR11 PBEH Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D87BTRL Cylinders 16 MU working AAR Loco brake Air brake Train brakes Air brake
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

By operator

Westrail

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

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

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.

• 
  Australian Railroad Group Q4015 in July 2008
• 
  Australian Railroad Group Q4004 in March 2009
• 
  Pacific National V544 at Mambray Creek, South Australia in August 2007
• 
  FreightLink indigenous liveried FQ01 in Darwin in January 2004
• 
  Freight Australia SCT train V544/G538/G539 in the Swan Valley, Western Australia.
• 
  English: Q 4001 Aurizon Bulk Freight West train in Fremantle.
• 
  Aurizon ex-Westrail Q class locomotive no Q4019, in ARG livery, runs through Kalgoorlie railway station West Kalgoorlie yard and the Cockburn Cement depot in Parkeston, Western Australia.
• 
  Aurizon ex-Westrail Q class locomotive no Q4019, in ARG livery, runs through Kalgoorlie railway station West Kalgoorlie yard and the Cockburn Cement depot in Parkeston, Western Australia.
• 
  The Ghan – first journey completed.

Summary

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.

Fleet

Related development

• New South Wales 90 class locomotive, ancestor model GT46CWM
• Downer EDI Rail GT46C ACe, derivative model

References

External links

Media related to Downer EDI Rail GT46C at Wikimedia Commons