Freight Australia V Class

Infobox Locomotive

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name = Freight Australia V Class
buildmodel = GT46C
powertype = Diesel-electric
builder = EDI Rail
Somerton and Cardiff
length = convert|22|m|abbr=on
weight = 134 tonnes
uicclass = Co-Co
enginetype = EMD 16-710G3B-ES
generator = EMD AR11 PBEH
tractionmotors = 6x EMD D87BTRL
topspeed = convert|115|km/h|abbr=on
poweroutput = convert|3100|kW|abbr=on
numinclass = 1
roadnumber = V544
totalproduction = 1
gauge = RailGauge|sg
railroad = Freight Australia,
Pacific National
railroadclass = V
deliverydate = July 2002
currentowner = Pacific National

The V class was introduced by Freight Australia in 2002 to replace two G class locomotives that were written-off in 1999. [ [http://locopage.railpage.org.au/vline/v2.html Locopage: V class information] ] The class consists of one locomotive, numbered V544, and is currently owned by Pacific National.

The class came about after the head-on collision between G517 and G518 in Ararat on 26 November 1999. This crash resulted in serious damage to the two locomotives, which was assessed as being to costly to repair. Freight Australia instead opted to use the insurance payout to purchase a new locomotive.

EDi Rail offered Freight Australia an extension of the Westrail order for the General Motors Electro-Motive Division GT46C, 19 of which had been delivered between 1997 and 1998 as the Q class.

The locomotive was duly constructed, and delivered to Freight Australia in early 2002. It was entered as the V class and was named for former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer.

The locomotive initially operated standard gauge interstate freight duties, such as the Specialised Container Transport service from Melbourne to Perth. Since late 2007 it has been moved onto the Leigh Creek to Port Augusta coal train in South Australia, servicing the Playford B and Northern power stations. [ [http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11338130-0-asc-s0.htm Railpage Australia forums: V544 and 1907] ] It is rumoured that this move was effected due to V544's frequent reliability issues - on the Leigh Creek-Port Augusta run the locomotive is close to service centres at Port Augusta and Dry Creek, as opposed to being a large distance from help on the mostly single-track line to Perth.

References

External links

* [http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=V&orgstate=V&type=Diesel-Electric Vicsig: V class information]
* [http://locopage.railpage.org.au/vline/v2.html Locopage: V class information]