Wikipedia

Commonwealth Railways CL class

The CL class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Commonwealth Railways in several batches between 1970 and 1972. The class was the last in the world to be built with the Electro-Motive Diesel bulldog nose but differed from previous builds in having a mansard roof.[1]

Commonwealth Railways CL class
Railpower CLF2 at Spotswood in March 2024
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville
ModelAT26C (CL), AT26C-2M (CLF)
AT26HC-2M (CLP)
Build date1970-1972
Total produced17
RebuilderMorrison Knudsen Australia
Rebuild date1993
Number rebuilt17
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
BogiesClyde Engineering Hi-Ad
Wheel diameter1,016 mm (40.0 in)
Length19.58 m (64 ft 3 in)
Axle load21.5t (CL/CLF),
Loco weight129t (CL/CLF) 131t (CLP)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity10,230 L (2,250 imp gal; 2,700 US gal) (CL/CLF)
11,360 L (2,500 imp gal; 3,000 US gal) (CLP)
Lubricant cap.870 L (190 imp gal; 230 US gal)
Coolant cap.1,115 L (245 imp gal; 295 US gal)
Sandbox cap.340 L (75 imp gal; 90 US gal)
Prime moverEMD 16-645E3 (CL)
Electro-Motive Diesel 16-645E3C (CLF/CLP)
RPM range315-900
Engine typeTwo-stroke V16 diesel
AspirationTurbocharged
AlternatorAR10A4
Traction motorsEMD D77 (CL), EMD D78 (CLF/CLP)
Cylinders16
Performance figures
Maximum speed130 km/h (81 mph) (CL/CLF)
140 km/h (87 mph) (CLP)
Power output2,237 kW (3,000 hp) (CL)
2,460 kW (3,300 hp) (CLF/CLP)
Career
Number in class17
NumbersCL1-CL17
DeliveredJanuary 1970
First run9 February 1970
PreservedCL17 (CLP10)
Current ownerAurizon
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
RailPower
Streamliners Australia
Disposition10 in service, 2 stored, 2 under repair, 1 preserved, 2 scrapped

Construction

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Australian National CL10 at Parkeston in August 1987

In 1968, Commonwealth Railways placed an order for five 2237 kW locomotives with Clyde Engineering to operate services on the Trans-Australian Railway from Port Pirie to Kalgoorlie. They were mechanically similar to the Western Australian L class of 1967. The initial design was to have a Do-Do wheel arrangement and a USA style EMD FP45 cab. This was later changed to a streamlined carbody and conventional Co-Co wheel arrangement.[citation needed]

History

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The first locomotive was completed in January 1970, with two further orders resulting in 17 locomotives being built with the last delivered in October 1972.[1] Their operating sphere was extended through to Perth on Indian Pacific services and for a time in the 1970s they operated through to Lithgow, New South Wales. In July 1975, all were included in the transfer of Commonwealth Railways to Australian National. The CLs began to operate to Alice Springs and Adelaide when these were converted to standard gauge in 1980 and 1983. In 2004, they began to operate to Darwin following this line opening.

Remanufacturing

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In August 1992, Australian National awarded Morrison Knudsen Australia a contract to remanufacture the CLs at its Whyalla factory.[2] As part of the deal, Morrison Knudsen purchased the locomotives and leased them back to Australian National for 12 years. Seven were rebuilt as CLFs to operate freight services and ten as CLPs with head end power to operate the Indian Pacific, Ghan, and Overland passenger services.[3]

The rebuilding involved stripping back to the frame, with everything except for the nose section and monocoque frame removed. Changes included the EMD 645E3 engines being replaced with overhauled EMD 645E3C engines imported from Morrison Knudsen in the US, the original main alternators were rebuilt from AR10/A4-D14 to the AR10/A9-D14 type, refurbished D78 traction motors replaced the originals along with a new gear ratio, and new MK-LOC microprocessor controls were fitted. The cab was upgraded to modern standards, the brake setup was also changed from twin to single shoe per wheel, and a number of other small changes were made to assist maintenance.[3]

After rebuilding, the locomotives did not retain their numbers, for example, the first locomotive converted was CL2 which emerged as CLF1. All were back in service by the end of 1993. The CLFs appeared in the standard Australian National green with yellow data panel, strip and B-end. The CLPs received a unique livery, with a lighter green nose, silver carbody, and a yellow stripe running from the nose to the rear.[3]

In 1994, Australian National's interstate services were transferred to National Rail. The lease with Morrison Knudsen meant the locomotives could only be used on Australian National trains, or a higher lease fee would apply. As a result, the class were not seen on National Rail operated trains, and did not venture onto the wider national standard gauge network until Australian National won hook and pull contracts for private operator SCT Logistics.[3]

From January 1994, CLPs began operating the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth, previously New South Wales and Western Australia used their own locomotives on the train when within their state borders.[4] On conversion to standard gauge in 1995, The Overland was also hauled by CLPs.[3] The use of the CLPs on passenger trains came to an end in November 1997, when the passenger operations of Australian National were sold to Great Southern Rail, who contracted National Rail to haul their trains.

CLP15 was involved in the Mount Christie head-on collision in February 1997, being stored for several months before scrapping in November the same year.[3]

Private ownership

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In November 1997, the CL class were sold to Australian Southern Railroad with Australian National's remaining freight operations. With the splitting up of the Australian Railroad Group in June 2006, ten went to QR National (later known as Aurizon) and six (CLF5, CLF6 & CLP8, CLP14, CLP16 and CLP17 to Genesee and Wyoming Australia (later sold to Aurizon).[5][6][7][8] The units operated out of Adelaide see regular work on Intermodal, Grain and other Bulk services, an overhaul program commenced in 2020 with CLP8, CLP14 and CLP16 receiving rust repairs, repaints and CCO's.

In mid-2017, a fund-raising campaign was started with the aim of purchasing CLP10 from Apex International and restoring it externally to its as-built condition as CL17. On 21 June 2018, it was announced that the campaign had been successful in raising the $150,000 required to purchase the locomotive for preservation.[9][10]

In mid-2019, it was revealed that Southern Shorthaul Railroad (SSR) had purchased 4 locomotives from the Apex group. These included CLF1, CLF3, CLP9 & CLP12, with 2204 (ex NSWGR 422 class locomotive 42216) also included in the sale.[11] The locomotives were transferred from Goulburn to Cootamundra for reactivation, and they re-entered service between 2020 and 2023.

The remaining Apex group CLs were purchased by RailPower. These included CLF2, CLF4, CLP11, & CLP13. The 2 CLFs, CLF2 and CLF4 were reactivated in 2020.[12] As of 2024, CLP11 and CLP13 were still being worked on to return to service.

On 8 March 2023, CLF1 and CLF4 were involved in a level crossing accident at Rockview, New South Wales.[13] CLF1 was taken to SSR's workshops in Bendigo, Victoria and CLF4 was taken to MainTrain in Auburn, NSW.[14][12] CLF1 was deemed economically irreparable, and is currently awaiting scrapping. As of 2024, CLF4 is still undergoing repairs at MainTrain.

 
Genesee and Wyoming Australia CLP17 "Arabana"
 
CL17 during restoration with Seymour Railway Heritage Centre locomotives C501, A60, S307 and B74 during a SRHC open day in 2024

Class list

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Key: In service Stored Preserved Under Restoration Under Repair Scrapped
Original Number Entered Service Renumbered As Rebuild Serial Name Current/Last Owner Livery Status
CL1 February 1970 CLP15 93-AN-15 John Gorton (formerly)

Kokatha

Australian National AN Green, Yellow and Silver Scrapped
CL2 March 1970 CLF1 93-AN-1 City of Whyalla (formerly)

Milton Bromwich

Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad Accident Damaged, March 2023. Stored at Bendigo, future unconfirmed.
CL3 April 1970 CLP13 93-AN-13 Nukunu RailPower Primer White with RailPower Logos Reactivated November 2024
CL4 May 1970 CLP14 93-AN-14 Barngarla Aurizon ORA Orange & Black with Aurizon Logos In service
CL5 July 1970 CLF4 93-AN-4 RailPower ARG Orange and Black with Railpower Logos Accident Damaged, March 2023. Under Repair
CL6 November 1970 CLF6 93-AN-6 Aurizon GWA Orange & Black In service
CL7 November 1970 CLF3 93-AN-3 Space Ghost (formerly)

Jason Ferguson

Southern Shorthaul Railroad SSR Black and Silver In service
CL8 January 1971 CLP17 93-AN-17 Arabana Aurizon GWA Orange & Black with Aurizon Logos In service
CL9 March 1971 CLP8 93-AN-8 Gough Whitlam (formerly)

City of Port Augusta

Aurizon ORA Orange & Black with Aurizon Logos In service
CL10 April 1971 CLP16 93-AN-16 Murunitja Aurizon ORA Orange & Black with Aurizon Logos In service
CL11 June 1971 CLF2 93-AN-2 RailPower ARG Orange and Black with Railpower Logos In service
CL12 July 1971 CLF5 93-AN-5 Aurizon GWA Orange & Black In service
CL13 August 1971 CLP9 93-AN-9 Wiljakali Southern Shorthaul Railroad Auscision Models MkII First revenue service in 10 years on 21st of august 2023
CL14 December 1971 CLP11 93-AN-11 Charlie Jones (formerly)

Kaurna

RailPower QRN - Maroon, Yellow and Black Stored (Goulburn)
CL15 January 1972 CLP12 93-AN-12 Ngadjuri (formerly)

Casper

Southern Shorthaul Railroad Primer White with SSR Logos In service
CL16 March 1972 CLF7 93-AN-7 Aurizon ARG Orange & Black Scrapped
CL17 June 1972 CLP10 93-AN-10 William McMahon (formerly)

Mirning (formerly)

Streamliners Australia Undercoat Grey (to be restored to original condition in Commonwealth Railways livery) Preserved/Under Restoration

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia 1854-2007. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 359. ISBN 978-1-877058-54-7.
  2. ^ "Morrison Knudsen Australia and the CLPs" Railway Digest June 1994 pages 16-23
  3. ^ a b c d e f Antony Fitzgerald (2000). "Morrison Knudsen in Australia". Australian Diesel Scene 4. Eveleigh Press. pp. 6–43.
  4. ^ "CLP Class Locos Take-Over Indian Pacific Workings" Railway Digest March 1994 page 7
  5. ^ Standard Gauge CL Archived 15 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  6. ^ CL Class Archived 31 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railpage
  7. ^ CLF Class Archived 31 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railpage
  8. ^ CLP Class Archived 31 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railpage
  9. ^ Last chance to Save CLP10 Last EMD Streamliner Built in Australia Archived 19 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine GoGetFunding
  10. ^ Streamliners Australia rally to save unique Goulburn loco Archived 19 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Goulburn Post
  11. ^ "SA CL Class". Hotbox Content. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Locomotives - CLF4". VICSIG. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. ^ Hayter, Melinda (8 March 2023). "Train derails at Old Junee level crossing after collision with a truck, three in hospital". ABC News. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Locomotives-CLF1". VICSIG. Retrieved 29 May 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Fluck, Ronald E; Marshall, Barry; Wilson, John (1996). Locomotives and Railcars of the Commonwealth Railways. Welland, SA: Gresley Publishing. ISBN 1876216018.
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  Media related to Commonwealth Railways CL class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons

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