Electric Loco Preservation

[mufreight]

The era of the first generation of electric locos in Queensland is drawing to a close and as has been the case with the earlier diesels it would seem that none of these locos which have played such an important part in rail operations in this state will be preserved.
The 3100 and 3200 class locos were the first of a generation of high horsepower locos introduced in 1986 operating on 25kva AC electrification for coal haulage on the coal lines to Hay Point.
The 3500 and 3600 classes were introduced to service about the same time in 1986 and were originally operated on the Blackwater to Gladstone coal haulage.
The 3900 class were effectively a continuation of the production run of the 3500 and 3600 class locos and were for most of their working lives used on general freight and long distance passenger services between Brisbane and Rockhampton and Emerald.
The 3900's were different to the 3500/3600's in being built to a slightly modified body style so they could be operated through the tighter clearance of the tunnels in the Brisbane area and on the NCL and had traction higher geared motors mounted to the bogie frames that allowed them to operate at higher speeds than the 3100/3200/3500/3600 coalfield locos.
The 3900 class were withdrawn from general freight duties and placed in coal haulage service with most of the class being modified with lower geared traction motors to make them more suited to operation on coal services.
Most of the first generation locos including the 3900's have now been withdrawn and replaced by the second generation 3700 class which were rebuilt from 3500 and 3600 class locos and the 3800 class which were complete new builds from Germany.
The remaining 3900's are now being sold off by Aurizon and it is from these locos that there are a few unmodified 3900's.
Aurizon inherited these locos at no cost when QR was divided into freight and passenger services so it is not unreasonable that two of these unmodified locos be preserved, one operational with the QR Heritage Rail fleet and one as a static exhibit and source of donor parts for the operational loco at the Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum.
The 3900 class locos are representative of all of the first generation electric locos in use in this state having been used at various times in their service life on general freight, passenger and coal haulage duties and before they are no longer some should see preservation.

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st December 2015

Call to preserve 3900 class electric locomotives

Greetings

The era of the first generation of electric locos in Queensland is drawing to a close and as has been the case with the earlier diesels it would seem that none of these locos which have played such an important part in rail operations in this state will be preserved.

The 3100 and 3200 class locos were the first of a generation of high horsepower locos introduced in 1986 operating on 25kva AC electrification for coal haulage on the coal lines to Hay Point.

The 3500 and 3600 classes were introduced to service about the same time in 1986 and were originally operated on the Blackwater to Gladstone coal haulage.

The 3900 class were effectively a continuation of the production run of the 3500 and 3600 class locos and were for most of their working lives used on general freight and long distance passenger services between Brisbane and Rockhampton and Emerald.

The 3900's were different to the 3500/3600's in being built to a slightly modified body style so they could be operated through the tighter clearance of the tunnels in the Brisbane area and on the NCL and had traction higher geared motors mounted to the bogie frames that allowed them to operate at higher speeds than the 3100/3200/3500/3600 coalfield locos.

The 3900 class were withdrawn from general freight duties and placed in coal haulage service with most of the class being modified with lower geared traction motors to make them more suited to operation on coal services.

Most of the first generation locos including the 3900's have now been withdrawn and replaced by the second generation 3700 class which were rebuilt from 3500 and 3600 class locos and the 3800 class which were complete new builds from Germany.

The remaining 3900's are now being sold off by Aurizon and it is from these locos that there are a few unmodified 3900's.

Aurizon inherited these locos at no cost when QR was divided into freight and passenger services so it is not unreasonable that two of these unmodified locos be preserved, one operational with the QR Heritage Rail fleet and one as a static exhibit and source of donor parts for the operational loco at the Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum.

The 3900 class locos are representative of all of the first generation electric locos in use in this state having been used at various times in their service life on general freight, passenger and coal haulage duties and before they are no longer some should see preservation.



QR loco 3917 and another haul a northbound goods train on the NCL with Mt Tibrogargan in the background
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_3900_class#/media/File:QR_electric_loco_3917_and_another_haul_a_northbound_goods_train_on_the_NCL_with_Mt_Tibrogargan_in_the_background.jpg

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[petey3801]

Small nitpick, the 3700s were actually rebuilt from 3100/3200/3300 classes, as far as I know.

Also, unfortunately, highly unlikely anything will happen unless Aurizon magically has some Christmas cheer and decides to donate one to a preservation group. Other than that, unlikely for them to become anything other than tin cans or overseas rollingstock.

[ozbob]

Thanks.  No harm in trying though ...

[verbatim9]

I remeber back in 2007/8 speaking to an Amercian consultant specialising in hauling freight and giving recommendations to the rail freight operators here in Qld. He was adamant and determined to decommision electric freight locomotives as they cannot haul as much as a diesel locomotives according to his expertise at that time in that area. So I guess with his advice thats where we are now. I also asked "Why not purchase more powerful electric locomotives?" He replied "They are not available on the market to compete with modern deisel ones

[verbatim9]

I remeber back in 2007/8 speaking to a Amercian consultant specialising in hauling freight and giving recommendations to the rail freight operators here in Qld. He was adamant and determined to decommision electric freight locomotives as they cannot haul as much as a diesel locomotives according to his expertise at that time in that area. So I guess with his advice thats where we are now. I also asked "Why not purchase more powerful electric locomotives?" He replied "They are not available on the market to compete with modern deisel ones

Unfortunately now we have to put up with fumes and emmissions as this is the status quo larger companies in the freight and mining sector want the public to perservere with.

[ozbob]

There are very powerful electric locomotives around overseas.  The issue is getting the electric power to the locomotives, they have a very significant local drain.  Guess it is too hard here.

[verbatim9]

Too hard basket Wonder with feed in from Solar and Wind in Qld will increase the base load to run the newer electric locomotives in the future? Maybe a new Gasfire plant and changing the grid for residential to local grids and diverting the base load where its needed to electric freight and new potential robotic heavy industry manufacturing.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 22nd December 2015 page 15

Queensland's classic diesels should be kept

[achiruel]

Queensland's classic diesels should be kept