The GT42CU ACe is a model of diesel electric locomotives manufactured by EDi Rail, Maryborough between 2007 and 2013 under licence from Electro-Motive Diesel, for use on narrow gauge railways in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
History The GT42CU ACe is an evolution of the GT42CU AC being fitted with a different computer system and traction motors.4100 Class Queensland's Rail Interest Group
In 2006, Queensland Rail placed an initial order for 15, with a further orders increasing the number to 75. These were designated as the 4100 class.4100 Class Railpage Following Queensland Rail purchasing Australian Railroad Group in June 2006, 19 were transferred to Western Australia and reclassified as the ACN class, but retain their original numbers.ACN Class Railpage
The Queensland based units are primarily used on the Blackwater, Moura and Newlands coal networks, and on phosphate trains between Mount Isa and Townsville. The Western Australian-based units are primarily engaged hauling iron ore trains. All were included in the transfer of Queensland Rail's freight business to QR National in July 2010.
Pacific National placed an order for 13 units for coal haulage on the Blackwater system that later grew to 46. These were designated as the 83 class.83 Class Railpage
In July 2012, One Rail Australia placed an order for five for use in South Australia. Designated the GWN class, they operated on the Arrium iron ore railway to Whyalla Steelworks.GWN Class Railpage"The new Downer/EDI GWN Class locomotives" Railway Digest May 2013 pages 30–31 They were transferred to Queensland after being displaced by 5 Queensland Railways 2250 class locomotives returning to Australia from South Africa.
A further six were built as a speculative order for Locomotive Demand Power as the LDP class.LDP Class (GT42CU-AC) Railpage One was painted in Pacific National livery and numbered 8347 in anticipation of a lease that failed to eventuate, the others were numbered LDP016-LDP020 with all six placed in store in Maryborough. All were included in the sale of Downer Rail's locomotive business to Progress Rail Services and in December 2017, were moved to Redbank Railway Workshops entering service as 8347–8352 with Pacific National in April and May 2018."Motive Power Roundup" Motive Power issue 117 May 2018 page 74"LDP Class locomotives become additional 83 Class following Pacific National purchase from Progress Rail" Railway Digest June 2018 page 17
Fleet OperatorClassNumber in classRoad numbersBuiltNotesAurizon4100544101–4140, 4153–41672007–2011Used in QueenslandACN21ACN4141–ACN4152, ACN4168–ACN41752011–2012Used in Western AustraliaOne RailGWN5GWN001–GWN0052012Transferred to QLD during 2019–2020 for Coal workingsORQ1ORQ026Rebuild 2025Was 4026Pacific National83528301–83522008–20138347–8352 built as speculative order in 2013, entered service with Pacific National 2018, 8317 Stowed (Collision)Progress RailPRQ1PRQ001Rebuild 2025Was 4017
Related Development UGL Rail C44aci Downer EDI Rail GT46C ACe Downer EDI Rail GT42CU AC
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