The Downer EDI Rail GT46C is a model of diesel-electric locomotive designed and built by Clyde Engineering using Electro-Motive Diesel components. A number of Australian rail freight operators purchased them from 2022; Aurizon designated its units as the Q/FQ/V class. , all 24 locomotives are owned by Aurizon.
By operator
Westrail In May 1996, Westrail ordered 15 GT46Cs from Clyde Engineering as part of an order that also included nine narrow gauge S class locomotives."Westrail Loco Contract Signed" Railway Digest July 1996 p. 16. The order was later extended to 19."Loco Order Extended" Railway Digest April 1997 p. 15. All were assembled at a facility established by Clyde Engineering within Westrail's Forrestfield Depot to fulfill the contract with components manufactured at Clyde's Kelso and Somerton plants."Westrail's new standard gauge locomotives" Railway Digest September 1997 pp. 12-13."Westrail S Class" Railway Digest February 1998 p. 35. All were included in the sale of Westrail to Australian Railroad Group in December 2000 and again to QR National in June 2006. Initially numbered as the Q class, they were later reclassified as the 4000 class.
Nineteen locomotives were built for Westrail and delivered between 1997 and 1998 as the Q class, for use on standard gauge services in Western Australia.
Freight Australia Following the destruction of two G class locomotives in 1999, Freight Australia ordered a single GT46AC from EDI Rail who had purchased Clyde Engineering. It was built at their Cardiff Locomotive Workshops in 2002.V Class Vicsig. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Numbered V544, it was named after Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer. It was included in the sale of the business to Pacific National in February 2004. The locomotive initially operated interstate freight duties, primarily the SCT Logistics service from Melbourne to Perth. In late 2007, it moved to haul Leigh Creek to Port Augusta coal trains in South Australia, servicing the Playford B and Northern power stations. Between March 2014 and May 2021, V544 was stored at Port Augusta workshops after a major engine failure. In May 2021, it was sold to One Rail Australia and has since been painted into their livery. The Tim Fischer name was retained. It is currently in service, with the ORA logos painted over and replaced with Aurizon ones.
FreightLink In 2003, four were built by EDI Rail at Port Augusta for FreightLink. They were purchased for use on the Adelaide-Darwin railway. The first two units were painted in Indigenous Australian liveries, the other two were in FreightLink red. All were included in the sale of FreightLink to One Rail Australia,FQ Class Vicsig. Retrieved 18 May 2026. and later the sale of ORA to Aurizon.
Aurizon Service Key:In serviceStored or withdrawnPreservedUnder OverhaulConvertedScrapped
Q class NumberOriginalnumberIn serviceOut of serviceCurrent owner LiveryPrevious ownersStatusQ4001Q3011997/1998AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In ServiceQ4002Q3021997/1998Taken out of service following a collision with a truck at Parkeston on 22 February 2021.AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)Under Overhaul Cab New FXN3B.Q4003Q3031997/1998AurizonAurizon Basic YellowWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4004Q3041997/1998AurizonAurizon Basic YellowWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4005Q3051997/1998AurizonARG Orange & BlackWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4006Q3061997/1998AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4007Q3071997/1998AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4008Q3081997/1998AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4009Q3091997/1998AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4010Q3101997/1998AurizonARG/QR Yellow & MaroonWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4011Q3111997/1998AurizonAurizon - Yellow, Orange, Red & GreyWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4012Q3121997/1998AurizonAurizon Basic YellowWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4013Q3131997/1998AurizonAurizon Basic Yellow Westrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4014Q3141997/1998AurizonAurizon Basic YellowWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4015Q3151997/1998AurizonARG/QR Yellow & MaroonWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4016Q3161998AurizonAurizon Basic YellowWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4017Q3171998AurizonWestrail Yellow & Blue with Aurizon LogosWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4018Q3181998AurizonAurizon Basic YellowWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In serviceQ4019Q3191998AurizonARG/QR Yellow & MaroonWestrail (1997–2000), Australian Railroad Group (2000–2011)In service
V class Number Name In service Out of service Current owner Livery Previous owners StatusV544Tim FischerJuly 2002AurizonORA Orange & Black With Aurizon LogosFreight Australia (2002–2004), Pacific National (2004–2021), One Rail Australia (2021–2022)In service
FQ class Number Name In service Out of service Current owner Livery Previous owners StatusFQ01Kurra KurrakaDecember 2003AurizonORA Orange & Black With Aurizon LogosFreightLink (2003–2010), One Rail Australia (2010–2022)In serviceFQ02PurnuDecember 2003AurizonORA Orange & Black With Aurizon LogosFreightLink (2003–2010), One Rail Australia (2010–2022)In serviceFQ03WagimanDecember 2003AurizonORA Orange & Black With Aurizon LogosFreightLink (2003–2010), One Rail Australia (2010–2022)In serviceFQ04Aboriginal StockmanDecember 2003AurizonORA Orange & Black With Aurizon LogosFreightLink (2003–2010), One Rail Australia (2010–2022)In service
Related development New South Wales 90 class locomotive, ancestor model GT46CWM Downer EDI Rail GT46C ACe, derivative model
References
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