UGL Rail C44aci

UGL Rail C44aci
C44aci / C43aci
ARG unit AC4305 being delivered to Western Australia, via Melbourne
Power type Diesel-Electric
Builder UGL Rail, Broadmeadow
Model GE C44aci / C43aci
Build date 2008
Total produced 35
Configuration Co-Co
Gauge Standard 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Length 22.0 m (72 ft 2 in)
Locomotive weight 140t (high) / 138t (med) / 134t (low)
Prime mover GE GE 7FDL-16
Generator GE GMG192 alternator
Traction motors GE 5GEB30, 6 off
Top speed 115 km/h (71 mph)
Power output 3,370 kW (4,520 hp)
Tractive effort 535 kN (120,000 lbf)
Career PN, ARG, QRN, Centennial Coal Rail, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, Genesee & Wyoming Australia
Class 92 class (PN),
AC class (ARG),
6000/ACA class (QRN), XRN class (Xstrata Rail), ACB class (QRN/ARG), CEY class (Centennial Coal), CF Class (CFCLA), GWU Class (GWA)
Number in class 15 (PN), 8 (ARG), 18 (QRN), 20 (Xstrata Rail), 7 (Centennial), 6 (CFCLA), 9 (GWA)
Number 9201–9215 (PN),
AC4301–AC4308 (ARG),
ACB4401-ACB4406 (ARG),
6001–6012 (QRN),
XRN001-XRN020 (Xstrata Rail),
CF4401-CF4406,
CEY001-CEY007,
GWU001-GWU009
Delivered 2008–2011
First run 2008
Current owner Pacific National,
Australian Railroad Group,
QRNational,
Xstrata Coal,
CFCL Australia,
Centennial Coal

The C44aci is a model of Australian heavy duty diesel electric locomotive designed and built by UGL Rail and operated by a number of local rail freight operators. They have a Co-Co wheel arrangement and are based around a GE Transportation Systems prime mover and traction equipment.

Units owned by Pacific National are known as the 92 class, those by Australian Railroad Group are the AC class, and those with QRNational are the 6000 class. Only small differences occur between the classes, with the ARG units bearing the model number C43aci.[1] 10 units (later increased to 20 units) delivered to Xstrata Coal.[2]

Contents

Design

The C44aci was designed by UGR to meet a tender issued by Pacific National, who required a locomotive to match the performance of their existing 90 class units when hauling heavy coal traffic, while still having the ability to work high speed intermodal services, with the change between applications to be simple.[3]

The existing UGR Cv40-9i (NR class) locomotive design was used as a base, but with alterations including:[3]

  • Higher horsepower prime mover
  • Smaller main alternator
  • Enlarged radiator size now overhangs the walkway at the number 2 end to cope with the more powerful engine
  • AC traction equipment allowing an increase in haulage capacity
  • Addition of inline refuelling fittings
  • Isolated cab for reduced noise and vibration
  • A new design of fabricated bogies
  • Increased use of modular construction
  • Revised transition curves in the underframe to reduce the probability of fatigue cracking
  • Various body and cab modifications

The NR class design had also been used by UGR as a basis for the AC traction 5000 class used for coal haulage by QRNational. This design did not meet the requirements for Pacific National due to the heavy axle load, acceptable on the heavily laid coal routes, but not on the interstate mainline.[4]

To reduce the weight the level of fuel carried is altered: for intermodal applications the fuel level is 7300 litres, for coal applications that permit higher axle loads the fuel level is increased 13500 litres, with an intermediate fuel level of 10750 litres also available. These limits are enforced during refuelling by a float switch in the tank, the permitted level being set by a key switch with an indication displayed in the cab if the limits are breached.[4] The provision of inline refuelling permits the topping up of the tanks in transit from a separate tank wagon behind the locomotives.

The older GE Transportation Systems FDL series engine was chosen instead of the current GE Evolution Series engine used in the United States, due to the greater height not fitting in the restricted Australian loading gauge,[3] and there being no legal requirement to meet stringent Tier 2 emissions standards which drove adoption of the GEVO series elsewhere. The C44aci has one inverter per traction motor, this differs from competing Downer EDI Rail locomotives that have only one inverter per bogie. A further difference between the C44aci and the competing GT46C ACe is the lack of steering bogies to improve tracking properties and reduce the rate of wheel wear, instead fixed-frame pedestal-type bogies are used where all three axles are always held parallel.[3]

Simulation work showed that three C44aci locomotives could equal the performance of 90 class units in heavy mode, while in intermodal mode could outperform the older NR class units by 20% on services, with the same sectional running times and in some areas a slight reduction in fuel consumed due to the increased adhesion resulting from AC traction.[3] However the C44aci was outperformed by the comparable GT46C ACe locomotive produced by Downer EDI Rail in back-to-back trials performed by RailCorp on the steeply graded Cowan Bank.[5][6]

By operator

Number 2 end of QRNational unit 6001, soon after delivery

Pacific National

The first of the Pacific National 92 class was officially launched at Port Waratah on 3 October 2008. As of April 2009, all 15 units are used on coal trains in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, originally it was thought that they would also be used on interstate intermodal services, but this has yet to occur.[7] The class had been dogged with early teething troubles.

Australian Railway Group

Australian Railroad Group signed a contract for their eight locomotives in July 2008, with options for 16 more units. Intended for use on their Western Australian standard gauge lines, they were delivered from UGR between August and September 2009.[8] These units feature updated electronic control and engine management systems, and had their entry to service delayed by weight issues, with steel body side doors being replaced with lighter aluminium substitutes.[9] Since entering service they have been used on the Koolyanobbing to Esperance iron ore service, in the full fuel load (139 tonne overall weight / 23 tonne axle load).[9]

QR National

QRNational signed a $A 78 million ($US 52.1 million) contract for their 6000 class locomotives in January 2009, for 12 units to be used by their intermodal freight division. Delivery of the first unit was planned for July 2009, with final delivery planned for all 12 by December the same year.[10] QRN has an option for six additional locomotives.[11] The class leader was transferred to Melbourne in October 2009,[12] soon after it worked an intermodal service to Adelaide and return. These units will be fitted with electronically controlled pneumatic braking equipment, for operation with similarly fitted container wagons.[9]

Xstrata Rail

In November 2008 United Group confirmed that they had sold 10 C44aci locomotives to Xstrata Coal for use in the Hunter Valley, as well as a 10 year maintenance program for them and 300 hopper wagons, totalling $108 million.[2] With the first run of the class in the 2nd half of 2010.

In 2011 it was confirmed that another ten locomotives were going to be built numbered XRN011 - XRN020

C44ACHi

In January 2010, United Group won a contract to supply 15 5020 class C44ACHi heavy haul variants to QRNational for Hunter Valley coal haulage.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "builders plate for AC4303". wn514's photostream on Flickr. www.flickr.com. 2 October 2009. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wn514/3975136414. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  2. ^ a b "UGL secures $108 million in rail freight orders". ASX Media Release. www.unitedgroupltd.com. 18 November 2009. http://www.unitedgroupltd.com/templates/pdf/091118%20ASX-Media%20Release_Rail%20fright%20orders.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-18. [dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d e Graham Haywood (December 2008). "Pacific National 92 class locomotives for coal and intermodal". Railway Technical Society of Australasia: NSW Chapter Newsletter. www.rtsa.com.au. http://www.rtsa.com.au/assets/2008/12/rtsa-nsw-newsletter-dec-08.pdf+rtsa-nsw-newsletter-dec-08.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-26. [dead link]
  4. ^ a b Graham Haywood (August 2008). "Pacific National 92 class locomotives for coal and intermodal". Railway Technical Society of Australasia: SA Chapter Newsletter. www.rtsa.com.au. http://www.rtsa.com.au/assets/2008/12/rtsa-nsw-newsletter-dec-08.pdf+rtsa-nsw-newsletter-dec-08.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-26. [dead link]
  5. ^ "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. 
  6. ^ "Downer EDI Rail’s GT46C ACe locomotive hailed ‘King of the Mountain’". AusRAIL. ausrail.blogspot.com. 17 July 2009. http://ausrail.blogspot.com/2009/07/downer-edi-rails-gt46c-ace-locomotive.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
  7. ^ Mark Carter (October 2008). "Loco boom for manufacturers". Rail Horizons. www.rtsa.com.au. http://www.rtsa.com.au/assets/2008/11/rail-horizons-october-2008.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  8. ^ "Australian Rail Group has ordered eight 3.2MW diesel locomotives for use on Western Australian standard-gauge lines". International Railway Journal. findarticles.com. July 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_6_48/ai_n27505994/?tag=content;col1. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  9. ^ a b c "ARG AC class enter service". Motive Power: pages 34–35. October 2009. 
  10. ^ "QR signs $70 million-plus locomotive purchase from United Group". QR Corporate - Media Releases. www.corporate.qr.com.au. 18 January 2009. http://www.corporate.qr.com.au/Corporate/News_Room/Current/Press_releases/837.asp. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  11. ^ "United Group wins QR deal". International Railway Journal. findarticles.com. February 2009. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_2_49/ai_n31368720/. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  12. ^ "Wongm's Rail Gallery - QRN 6001 in Melbourne". wongm.railgeelong.com. 1 October 2009. http://wongm.railgeelong.com/locos/E100_9027.jpg.html?p=full. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  13. ^ "Hunter Valley loco and wagon orders". Railway Gazette International. 28 January 2010. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/hunter-valley-loco-and-wagon-orders.html. 

References


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