Queensland Railways 2800 class explained

Queensland Railways 2800 class
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Builder:A Goninan & Co, Townsville
Serialnumber:162-201, 323-332
Buildmodel:General Electric CM30-8
Builddate:1995 - 1998
Totalproduction:50
Uicclass:Co-Co
Gauge:
Length:20.48m (67.19feet)
Width:2.87m (09.42feet)
Height:3.68m (12.07feet)
Locoweight:116t
Fueltype:Diesel
Primemover:GE 7FDL-12
Enginetype:V12 Diesel engine
Generator:GE GMG192H1
Tractionmotors:GE 761-ANR2
Cylindercount:12
Maxspeed:100km/h
Poweroutput:2380kW
Operator:Queensland Rail
Numinclass:45
Fleetnumbers:2801 - 2813, 2815 - 2850
Firstrundate:September 1995
Currentowner:Aurizon
Disposition:44 in service, 4 renumbered, 1 stored, 1 scrapped

The 2800 class are a class of diesel locomotive built by A Goninan & Co, Townsville for Queensland Rail between 1995 and 1998.

They are currently owned by Aurizon, and operate on the North Coast and Mount Isa lines.

History

The 2800 class were ordered to haul passenger and freight services on the North Coast line between Rockhampton and Cairns and on the Great Northern line between Townsville and Mount Isa. The initial order for 40 was later increased to 50.[1] However, a miscommunication resulted in the builder's plates incorrectly being stamped as 202 to 211 which had been used by other A Goninan & Co locomotives, rather than the correct 323 to 332.[2]

They now operate trains as far south as Brisbane. They are the only double ended diesel electric locomotives to have been built for Queensland Rail.[3] [4] [5]

In February 2006, one locomotive was fitted with standard gauge bogies for use by QR National in New South Wales and Victoria, but the NSW Environment Protection Authority refused permission for it to be used in that state due to excessive noise emissions. In August 2009, it was converted back to narrow gauge for use in Western Australia.[6] In 2013, three were reclassified as the 3200 class for use in NSW, following the installation of standard gauge bogies and a modified exhaust system that reduced low frequency noise emissions.[7]

In 2015, 2814 derailed on the Mount Isa Line at Julia Creek, spilling sulphuric acid. 2814 flipped on its side and was deemed too damaged to repair, and as such was scrapped in 2017.[8]

In the early hours of Wednesday 23 February 2022, 2811 along with 2338 derailed hauling a container train near Traveston after severe rain washed out the tracks. Both locomotives were turned onto their sides. 2811 is currently at UGL Rail's facility in Stuart, Queensland.

Status Table

!Number!Owner!Livery!In Service!Status!Current Number!Withdrawn!Scrapped!Notes
2801AurizonPineappleSeptember 1995In serviceoriginal number
2802PineappleOctober 1995In service
2803PineappleOctober 1995In service
2804PineappleNovember 1995In service
2805Canary/bulkOctober 1995In service
2806PineappleNovember 1995In service
2807Canary/bulkDecember 1995In service
2808PineappleDecember 1995In service
2809PineappleDecember 1995Renumbered3209In service on SG in NSW, renumbered to 3209
2810Canary/bulkJanuary 1996In serviceoriginal number
2811PineappleJanuary 1996StoredDamaged in Traveston derailment 23/2/2022. Returned to Stuart.
2812Canary/bulkFebruary 1996In service
2813PineappleFebruary 1996In service
2814BroncoFebruary 1996ScrappedDecember 2015September 2017Destroyed in 2015 Julia Creek derailment
2815PineappleFebruary 1996Renumbered3215In service on SG in NSW
2816Canary/bulkMarch 1996In serviceoriginal number
2817PineappleMarch 1996In service
2818PineappleMarch 1996In service
2819ARG Yellow and RedMarch 1996RenumberedPA2819Regauged to SG, however refused by NSW EPA and sent to WA on NG for QR National subsidiary ARG and repainted into their scheme.
2820Canary/bulkMay 1996In serviceoriginal numberLast 2800 to wear QR's Bronco paint scheme
2821PineappleJune 1996Renumbered3221June 2012In service on SG in NSW
2822PineappleJune 1996In serviceoriginal number
2823PineappleJune 1996In service
2824PineappleJuly 1996In service
2825PineappleJuly 1996In service
2826PineappleJune 1996In service
2827PineappleJuly 1996In service
2828PineappleJuly 1996In service
2829PineappleAugust 1996In service
2830PineappleAugust 1996In service
2831PineappleAugust 1996In serviceHas part canary/bulk livery on one side due to fire damage
2832PineappleSeptember 1996In service
2833Canary/bulkSeptember 1996In service
2834PineappleOctober 1996
2835PineappleOctober 1996
2836Canary/bulkOctober 1996In service
2837Canary/bulkDecember 1996In service
2838PineappleDecember 1996In service
2839Canary/bulkFebruary 1997In service
2840PineappleMarch 1997In service
2841Canary/bulkJune 1998In service
2842PineappleJune 1998In service
2843Canary/bulkJune 1998In service
2844Canary/bulkJune 1998In service
2845Canary/bulkJune 1998In service
2846Canary/bulkJune 1998In service
2847Canary/bulkJune 1998In service
2848Canary/bulkJuly 1998In service
2849Canary/bulkJuly 1998In service
2850Canary/bulkAugust 1998In serviceLast 2800 to wear QR National's Eagle paint scheme.

Notes and References

  1. "2800 Class Contract Extended" Railway Digest August 1996 page 11
  2. "Queensland Rail 2800 Diesel Locomotives" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin volume 737 March 1999 pages 112-113
  3. https://sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattrains/Home/diesel-locomotives/2800-class 2800 Class
  4. http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/diesel/qrnational/goninange-2800-class Goninan/GE 2800 Class
  5. http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/2800-class 2800 Class
  6. http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/pa-class-diesel-wa PA Class (diesel, WA)
  7. Web site: Briony Croft . Steve Brown . Aaron Miller . Andrew Parker . 2014 . Exhaust noise control case study for 2800 class locomotive . 28 December 2014 . SLR Consulting.
  8. Web site: Freight train carrying sulphuric acid derails near Julia Creek. 2015-12-27. ABC News. en-AU. 2019-07-28.