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New South Wales 90 class locomotive

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New South Wales 90 class
90 class locomotive in 2016
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderElectro-Motive Division, London, Ontario
(9001–9031)
EDi Rail, Cardiff, NSW
(9032–9035)
ModelEMD GT46CWM
Build date1994, 2005
Total produced35
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICCo′Co'
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Length22 m (72 ft 2+18 in)
Loco weightOriginal:
165 t
(162 long tons; 182 short tons)
Modified:
177 t
(174 long tons; 195 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEMD 16-710G3A
AlternatorEMD AR11
Traction motorsEMD D87ETR
Cylinders16
Loco brakeAir and Dynamic braking
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed115 km/h (71 mph)
Power output4,060 hp (3,030 kW)
Career
OperatorsPacific National
Number in class35
Numbers9001–9035
Current ownerPacific National
Disposition34 in service, 1 stored.

The 90 class are a class of heavy haul diesel-electric locomotives built by Electro-Motive Division, Canada for FreightCorp and EDi Rail, Cardiff for Pacific National for use on high tonnage Hunter Valley coal workings.

History

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Ordered in July 1992 under the Clyde Ready Power contract along with the 82 class, the first batch of 31 locomotives were built by Electro-Motive Division in London, Ontario, Canada in 1994. The second batch of four locomotives were delivered in November 2005, assembled by EDi Rail at Cardiff Workshops to the same specification from components imported from Canada and frames built in Port Augusta, South Australia.[1]

The 90 class were designed specifically for heavy coal haulage in the Lower Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, to meet the required specifications the class was designed with much heavier frames than typical for locomotives then in use specifically to increase their tractive effort. This made them the heaviest locomotives in use in Australia outside the Pilbara region until delivery of the QR National 5020 class in 2010. This has restricted the class to the Hunter Valley coal network for their entire career with minimal exception.

The locomotives were designed with many component commonalities with the 82 Class for ease of maintenance at the Clyde Engineering Kooragang Island servicing facility, a purpose built maintenance depot for the 90 and 82 class locomotives constructed as part of the Clyde ReadyPower contract, opening in June 1994.[2][3]

A number of the class were named after Australian Olympic Games athletes.

All passed to Pacific National when FreightCorp was privatised in February 2002.

The majority of the Canadian built locomotives retain their FreightCorp livery with Pacific National decals, while the later EDi batch were all delivered in Pacific National livery. Slowly, Canadian built locomotives are being repainted into the Pacific National Livery, with 9012 being the first repainted in November 2018.[4][5]

Units 9032, 9033 and 9034 were modified by EDi Rail in May 2017 to increase their mass to 177 tonnes, bringing their tractive effort on par with more modern AC units. Later all units 9024 through 9035 were modified increasing mass to 177 tonnes.

Many of the design features of the class were incorporated into the Downer EDI Rail GT46C.

Operations

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Usually restricted to Hunter Valley coal trains, the 90 class operate these services from various Newcastle coal export terminals and the Eraring Power Station as far a field as Muswellbrook and Ulan, usually double or triple heading trains of up to 96 coal wagons. Until recently this was the only revenue work the locomotives had performed, this changing in 2020 with Pacific National now allocating three locomotives at a time for banking duties over the Liverpool Ranges at Ardglen. This being achieved after gradual axle-loading upgrades of the Main North Line past Muswellbrook to support the boom of coal output from the Gunnedah Basin, and an upgrade of Progress Rail's yard infrastructure in Werris Creek, where the locomotives are serviced whilst allocated to banking. Members of the class have also visited the wheel lathe at Delec Locomotive Depot in Sydney and one was on display at Sydney Central for the 100th Anniversary of Clyde Engineering in 1998. To minimise weight, they operated as light engine and with only a small amount of fuel.[2]

Future

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With ARTC's intention for all Hunter Valley coal trains to operate using Electronically controlled pneumatic brakes (ECP) in the near future, a technology the 90 class do not possess. Along with the continued obsolescence of the class's DC traction package when compared to more modern AC locomotives the class are approaching the final years of their niche in heavy coal haulage outside of undergoing a major rebuild. What will happen is unclear as Pacific National have made conflicting statements and actions regarding whether the locomotives will be rebuilt or withdrawn from service in the near future, with members of the class coming in and out of storage, although none at this time have been scrapped. Their heavy weight still restricts their field of operation greatly, so once retired from coal work the locomotives will struggle to fit other work outside the before-mentioned banking duties.

Status table

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Locomotive Name Serial No Entered Service Livery Status
9001 Ernest Henry 1373/918266-3 May 1994 FreightCorp Stored 2022
9002 Michael Wenden 1374/918266-2 May 1994 FreightCorp Stored Kooragang 2023
9003 Matthew Ryan 1375/918266-1 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9004 Kevin Nichols 1376/918266-4 May 1994 FreightCorp Stored Kooragang 2023
9005 Kevin Barry 1377/918266-5 May 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9006 Murray Rose 1378/918266-6 May 1994 FreightCorp Stored Port Waratah 2023
9007 Dunc Gray 1379/918266-7 May 1994 FreightCorp Stored 2022
9008 Ralph Doubell 1380/918266-8 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9009 Lionel Cox 1381/918266-9 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9010 John Devitt 1382/918266-10 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Stored 2023
9011 Kevan Gosper 1383/918266-11 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9012 Neil Brooks/Peter Evans/
Mark Kerry/Mark Tonelli
1384/918266-12 Jun 1994 Pacific National Operational
9013 Michael Diamond 1385/918266-13 Jun 1994 FreightCorp Stored Kooragang 2023
9014 Peter Antonie/Stephen Hawkins 1386/918266-14 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Stored 2023
9015 Duncan Armstrong 1387/918266-15 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9016 Herb Elliott 1388/918266-16 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Stored 2023
9017 Andrew Cooper/Nicholas Green/
Mike McKay/James Tomkins
1389/918266-17 Jun 1994 FreightCorp Stored
9018 John Konrads 1390/918266-18 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9019 Dean Lukin 1391/918266-19 Jul 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9020 Russell Mark 1392/918266-20 Jun 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9021 Ian O'Brien 1393/918266-21 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Stored Cardiff 2023
9022 Clint Robinson 1394/918266-22 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Stored Port Waratah 2024
9023 Robert Windle 1395/918266-23 Oct 1994 FreightCorp Stored Port Waratah 2024
9024 John Winter 1396/918266-24 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9025 1397/918266-25 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9026 David Theile 1398/918266-26 Oct 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9027 1399/918266-27 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9028 1400/918266/28 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9029 1401/918266/29 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9030 Australian Men's Hockey Team 1402/918266-30 Aug 1994 FreightCorp Operational
9031 1403/918266/31 Aug 1994 Pacific National Operational
9032 05-1692 Nov 2005 Pacific National Operational
9033 05-1693 Nov 2005 Pacific National Operational
9034 05-1694 Nov 2005 Pacific National Operational
9035 05-1695 Nov 2005 Pacific National Operational
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References

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  1. ^ "New loco contract signed" Railway Digest August 1992 page 289
  2. ^ a b "The 90 class locomotives of NSW" Railway Digest May 1999 page 18
  3. ^ "Clyde Engineering Ready Power Maintenance Facility – Kooragang Island, Newcastle". InterCapital Consultants. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. ^ 90 Class Railpage
  5. ^ 90 Class Vicsig,net
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Media related to New South Wales 90 class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons