Downer EDI Rail GT46C ACe

SCT class / LDP class
Pair of SCT class locomotives at the SCT depot at Laverton, Victoria
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	EDI Rail Cardiff
Model	GT46C-ACe
Build date	2007
Total produced	15 (SCT class), 9 (LDP class), 25 (TT class), 3 (WH class), 9 (GWA class)
Configuration	Co-Co
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Prime mover	EMD 16-710 G3C-ES
Power output	4300 HP
Career	SCT Logistics, Locomotive Demand Power/QRNational, Pacific National, Whitehaven Coal, Genesee & Wyoming Australia
Number	SCT001-015, LDP001-009, TT001-006, TT101-119, WH001-WH003, GWA001-GWA009

The GT46C ACe are a model of Australian diesel electric locomotives built by Downer Rail using EMD components. The first units were built as the SCT class for freight operator SCT Logistics from 2007, with delivery and entry to service through 2008.^[1] Additional units have since been built as the LDP class for Locomotive Demand Power (a 'Power-By-The-Hour' strategy by Downer Rail to provide a fleet of lease-available locomotives to the Australian rail industry) and the TT class for Pacific National. The class designation is said to stand for 'Tonnage Transferrable'; the term apparently deriving from the fact that the locomotives have removable mass installed behind the headstocks at either end. The class was originally built as LDP 011 - 018 for lease to Pacific National but PN subsequently requested purchase of the locomotives and the slight modification to their design. With the extra weight added they are 139 tonnes but with the weight removed they are 132 tonnes; this allowing them to run on mainline territory available to the LDP class.

Design

The class was a new and innovative design for Australian conditions based on other locomotives produced by Downer EDI, such as the Queensland Rail 4000 class (GT42CU AC) and the Westrail / FreightLink / Freight Australia GT46C. The QR 4000 class used a 12 cylinder EMD 710 engine, based on the USA built SD70MAC with scaled down traction motors, while the GT46C used a 16 cylinder EMD 710 engine with DC traction systems. The American SD70ACe was EMD's 2nd generation AC loco with IGBT inverters, but was too large and heavy for the Australian interstate standard gauge network, weighting in at 188 tonnes when the limit was 134 tonnes. In addition, the GT46C design was already at the 134 tonne limit, even before adding inverters, heavier traction motors and more cooling capacity for higher power engine, and there was a requirement that fuel capacity could not be sacrificed.^[2]

The locomotive has AC traction equipment, with a Mitsubishi electric package also used on the SD70ACe, including a TA17 traction alternator, CA9E companion alternator and six ITB 2630 traction motors, along with solid state IGBT inverters.^[3] The prime mover is a turbocharged 16 cylinder EMD 710. New technology used included passive steer bogies, to reduce flange wear on corners.^[4] The class were built at Cardiff, New South Wales, with the locomotive frames constructed at Port Augusta, South Australia, and the bogie frames at Kelso, New South Wales.^[4] It is currently the only locomotive on the Australian standard gauge interstate network to meet Tier 2 emissions standards.^[5] They also outperformed the comparable UGL Rail produced 92 class locomotive in back-to-back trials performed by RailCorp on the steeply graded Cowan Bank.^[5][6]

Operators

SCT class

The SCT class are used by SCT Logistics on their freight services from Adelaide to Melbourne, Parkes and Perth. Locomotive SCT007 is named Geoff (James Bond) Smith after the CEO of the company.^[7][8] The benefits of AC traction has enabled a fleet of 15 locomotive to do the work of 20 DC traction equipped locomotives, three AC vs four DC units being needed on the Melbourne to Adelaide journey, and two AC vs three DC units between Adelaide to Perth. An on-train refuelling system carries 60,000 litres of diesel in a tanker behind the locomotives and eliminates the need to refuel en-route.^[2]

LDP class

LDP001 in Downer EDI Rail livery leads LDP007 in QRNational livery

The LDP class were built by Downer EDI to be leased out to rail operators through their fully owned subsidiary 'Locomotive Demand Power'. In December 2008 it was announced that QRNational has signed a $45 million, five-year deal for the nine locomotives, covering the construction and delivery of the locomotives, maintenance, the provision of spare parts, and options to extend the lease for an additional five years.^[9][10] They are used on standard gauge intermodal freight services, LDP001-003 were painted in a blue and white EDI livery, while the remainder are in the QRN yellow livery.^[11]

TT class

The TT class were built for Pacific National to haul their Hunter Valley coal trains. To be delivered in two batches of 6 locomotives, they will be fitted with ECP braking and are used with similarly fitted NHDH, NHEH & NHYH hopper wagons built by Bradken Rail.^[12] The 1st 6 TT class (TT01-TT06) differ in some respects to the SCT/LDP class units, as they can be operated at two different weights: when weighing between 139 and 132 tonnes they are restricted in speed, fuel load, and range of operation in the same way as the heavyweight 90 class; but below 132 tonnes they are cleared for normal operations like the SCT/LDP class.^[13] The 2nd 6 TT class (TT101-TT106) are designated as 'Light' units signified by the addition of the '1' in the number these can operate mainly on Gunnedah basin trains. A further order was made by Pacific Nation in 2011 for an additional 13 units of the 'Light' version, with the 1st being delivered in July 2011.

The first locomotives were originally intended to be built as LDP010 - LDP018 and leased to other rail operators, until Downer EDI reached an agreement with Pacific National for their outright sale.^[12] The delivery of the first unit is expected in December 2009, in November 2009 the first freshly painted unit emerged from the factory.^[14] On November 16 the class were cleared for light engine trials across the RailCorp network. TT01 worked its first Light Engine Trial from Cardiff to Wyong and return on November 26, 2009.

Three members of the class were involved in a mishap at the Drayton Coal mine near Muswellbrook with the locomotive's getting minor damage in 2010. These three locos have since been repaired and returned to service.

WH class

The WH class locomotives of which there are 3 in this class were built for Whitehaven coal they entered service painted blue and white. The 3 locos are for use on their coal trains to the North West of NSW which are operated by Pacific National.

GWA Class

In early 2011 GWA confrimed that it had ordered 7 locomotives (later increased to 9) for the Darwin line, With underframes being built at Downer Rail Cardiff and with the underframes being built at Downer Rail Port Augusta, these started being transported to Cardiff in June 2011. 1st of the class GWA001 begun trials & was delivered to Dry Creek SA during October 2011.

See also

• Downer EDI Rail GT46C
• Downer EDI Rail GT42CU AC

References

1. ^ "VICSIG - Locomotives - SCT Class Diesel-Electric". www.vicsig.net. http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=SCT&orgstate=P&type=Diesel-Electric. Retrieved 2008-05-23. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Paul-Hewison. "Introducing the next generation locomotive to the Australian rail network". Presentation, Conference on Railway Engineering 2008. www.core2008.org. http://www.core2008.org/assets/papers/tuesday/1045/Paul-Hewison/Presentation%2520-%2520DEDIR%2520SCT%2520HALCROW%2520-%252030-8-08%2520v2.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-05. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "Downer EDI factsheet: GT46C ACe". www.downeredi.com. http://www.downeredi.com/Uploads/Documents/GT46C%2520ACe%2520Standard%2520Gauge%2520LDP%2520Feb%252009_20090526111400.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Motive Power team (April 2008). "The SCT Class - A Brief Look". Motive Power: pages 56–57. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Downer EDI Rail’s GT46C ACe locomotive hailed ‘King of the Mountain’". AusRAIL. ausrail.blogspot.com. July 17, 2009. http://ausrail.blogspot.com/2009/07/downer-edi-rails-gt46c-ace-locomotive.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
6. ^ "New SCT locomotives". Railpage Australia Forums (Locomotives and Rolling Stock). www.railpage.com.au. http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1299780.htm#1299780. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
7. ^ "New SCT locomotives". Railpage Australia Forums (Locomotives and Rolling Stock). www.railpage.com.au. http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1195115.htm#1195115. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
8. ^ "Innovation is the locomotive". The Age. www.theage.com.au. June 6, 2005. http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Innovation-is-the-locomotive/2005/06/05/1117910186963.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
9. ^ "Downer Edi Secures $45 Million Locomotives Deal With QR". Downer EDI media release. www.downeredi.com. December 11, 2008. http://www.downeredi.com/Default.aspx?aCateId=10890. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
10. ^ "QR signs $45 million locomotive leasing agreement with Downer EDI". QR Media Centre. www.media.qr.com.au. December 11, 2008. http://www.media.qr.com.au/News/MediaRelease/08-12-11/qr_signs_45_million_locomotive_leasing_agreement_with_downer_edi.aspx?News=CntItem. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
11. ^ "EDI: LDP Class". Locopage. locopage.railpage.org.au. http://locopage.railpage.org.au/private/edi_ldp.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
12. ^ ^{a b} "PN orders new coal locos". Motive Power: page 62. October 2009. 
13. ^ RailCorp TOC Waiver 106-033 (November 16, 2009)
14. ^ "LOCO TT01". Railpage Australia Forums (Locomotives and Rolling Stock). www.railpage.com.au. November 10, 2009. http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1336908.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-17. 

External links

• ARDP: SCT class detail photos