National Rail NR class

The NR class are a class of Australian diesel locomotive built by A Goninan & Co for National Rail between 1996 and 1998. They are currently operated by Pacific National. The C44aci model locomotives built by UGL Rail at Broadmeadow adopted the design from the NR Class.

National Rail NR class
NR Class NR2 in Pacific National livery on 1MP2
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderA Goninan & Co
Broadmeadow (NR1–NR60)
Bassendean (NR61–NR120)
ModelGeneral Electric Cv40-9i
Build date1996–1998
Total produced120
Rebuild dateJune 2006
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverGE 7FDL-16
Engine typeV16 engine
GeneratorGE GMG196
Traction motorsGE 5GE793A1
Cylinders16
Cylinder size(?)
Performance figures
Maximum speed115 km/h (71 mph)
Power output3,000 kW (4,000 hp)
Career
OperatorsNational Rail
Pacific National
Number in class120
NumbersNR1, NR2, NR4–NR32, NR34–NR79, NR81–NR122
First run18 September 1996
Current ownerPacific National
Disposition117 In service, 2 Accident Damaged, 1 Scrapped

History
Indigenous liveried NR52 at Corio in September 2006
NR28 in Indian Pacific blue livery in June 2006
Trailerail liveried NR53 at Southern Cross station in May 2007
Indian Pacific Express NR class locomotive in Cook, South Australia, Australia
The Ghan liveried NR75 Steve Irwin in October 2003
NR18 in Indian Pacific yellow livery in Stratton in November 2014
NR4 at Newport heading to Dynon.

When National Rail commenced operations in April 1993, they inherited a diverse collection of rolling stock to operate interstate freight operations in Australia.[1] The fleet included locomotives of mixed age and power leased from FreightCorp, V/Line and Australian National.

In September 1995 A Goninan & Co were awarded a contract for 120 locomotives from National Rail which were built at their Broadmeadow (NR1-NR60) and Bassendean (NR61-NR120) factories.[2][3] The frames were built at Hexham and the bogies at Goninan's Landsdowne Engineering subsidiary in Taree.[2][3]

The first locomotive to be completed was NR61 which performed its first trial on 18 September 1996 between Midland and Jumperkine.[4] The first Broadmeadow built unit first ran on 23 September 1996.[4] The first units were delivered without National Rail branding or logos, but later units were delivered in full livery. Testing of the units was carried out on the NSW Main Northern line between Werris Creek and Maitland using ballast wagons and 442 class locomotives in dynamic braking mode as dynamic loads.[5] Each locomotive was required to accumulate 10,000 km of trouble free running before acceptance.[2] In February 1998 Broadmeadow delivered the last NR class.

Class list
Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Converted Under Overhaul Scrapped
LocomotiveEntered serviceRebuild SerialWithdrawnOwnerOperatorLiveryGaugeStatus'
NR1 Nov 1996 7250 - 10/96 - 203 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR2 Oct 1996 7250 - 11/96 - 204 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR3 Dec 1996 7250 - 02/97 - 205 National Rail Corporation National Rail Corporation National Rail Standard Renumbered 121
NR4 Dec 1996 7250 - 11/96 - 206 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR5 Jan 1997 7250 - 12/96 - 207 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR6 Dec 1996 7250 - 12/96 - 208 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR7 Dec 1996 7250 - 12/96 - 209 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR8 Mar 1997 7250 - 01/97 - 210 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR9 Jan 1997 7250 - 01/97 - 211 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR10 Jan 1997 7250 - 01/97 - 212 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR11 Feb 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 213 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR12 Feb 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 214 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR13 Feb 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 215 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR14 Feb 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 216 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal "Real Trains Not Road Trains" Standard In Service
NR15 Feb 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 217 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR16 Mar 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 218 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR17 Mar 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 219 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR18 Mar 1997 7250 - 02/97 - 220 Pacific National Pacific National The Ghan Mk3 Standard In Service
NR19 Apr 1997 7250 -03/97 - 221 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR20 May 1997 7250 -04/97 - 222 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR21 May 1997 7250 -04/97 - 223 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR22 May 1997 7250 -04/97 - 224 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR23 May 1997 7250 -04/97 - 225 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR24 May 1997 7250 -04/97 - 226 Pacific National Pacific National PN Intermodal Standard In Service
NR25 May 1997 7250 -05/97 - 227 Pacific National Pacific National Indian Pacific MK3 Standard In Service
NR26 June 1997 7250 -05/97 - 228 Pacific National Pacific National Indian Pacific MK4 Standard In Service
NR27 June 1997 7250 -05/97 - 229 Pacific National Pacific National Indian Pacific MK3 Standard In Service
NR28 June 1997 7250 -05/97 - 230 Pacific National Pacific National Indian Pacific MK3 Standard In Service
NR29 June 1997 7250 -05/97 - 231 Pacific National Pacific National Indian Pacific MK4 Standard In Service
NR30 October 1997 7250 -05/97 - 232 Pacific National Pacific National Journey Beyond Great Southern Livery Standard In Service
NR31 June 1997 7250 -05/97 - 233 Pacific National Pacific National Journey Beyond Great Southern Livery Standard In Service

As part of its contract, A Goninan & Co was required to maintain the fleet. A depot was built alongside the Newport to Sunshine railway in the western Melbourne suburb of Spotswood for this.[2][3]

Into service

With the arrival of the class, National Rail was able to return leased units to their owners, including 422, 80, 81, and 82 class locomotives to FreightCorp, and 442s and 48s class locomotives to Silverton Rail.

The V/Line C class (which were owned by National Rail) and relatively new EL class were withdrawn.[2][6] Once all 120 units were delivered, National Rail retained the AN, BL and DL class locomotives, along with thirteen 81 class and several hired G class. The new locomotives were placed on time sensitive trains first.[2]

When first delivered, the NR class were banned from running in New South Wales by the Environment Protection Authority due to excessive noise when under dynamic braking but the ban was lifted after further testing. The class could also not lead on the Victorian standard gauge network due to the lack of suitable radio equipment. In later years NR76 to NR98 were provided with V/Line Section Authority System equipment to work the Western standard gauge line, while NR1 to NR13 and NR61 to NR72 were fitted with V/Line radios to operate on the Victorian North East line.[2]

Great Southern Rail contracted National Rail to haul its services, the first train running with NR77 on 1 November 1997. All were included in the sale of National Rail to Pacific National in February 2002.

Accidents

NR3 was involved in an accident at Robertson that killed two crew members, it was rebuilt as NR121.

In June 2006 NR33 was involved in level crossing incident, being the third locomotive on a Melbourne to Adelaide freight service, behind DL40 and NR52. It was subsequently written off and scrapped.[7]

On 30 January 2009 train 5PS6 derailed on a washaway near Golden Ridge, just east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Locomotives NR35 and NR51 finished up on their sides, badly damaged, and spent several years out of service before the decision was made to repair them. [8]

On 3 April 2016 NR8 was involved in a fire at Cardiff NSW. The locomotive was rebuilt during 2016. NRs 48 and 81 had suffered similar fires several years earlier, both also being repaired but without the Pacific National signage on their hood sides.

On 21 April 2016, train 3MP5 derailed near Rawlinna in Western Australia. The two locomotives, NR34 and NR50, were badly damaged, but both was rebuilt and returned to service in late 2016/mid 2017 respectively.[9]

On 24 December 2019, 7MP5 hauled by NR80/NR59 collided with the rear of a Watco/CBH grain 2K66 at Jumperkine, Western Australia resulting the driver passing away. NR59 has since been forwarded back to Melbourne, while NR80 was rebuilt at UGL Bassendean, being released as NR122. [10]

Features

The NR Class introduced many new features. These were the first locomotives in Australia to have "variable horsepower" , which meant that the power output of the engine had three different settings, making the NR class the most fuel-efficient locomotives in Australia. They have GE 7FDL-16 engines, with power levels of 2,850 hp (2,130 kW), 3,560 hp (2,650 kW) or 4,020 hp (3,000 kW), mass of 132 t (130 long tons; 146 short tons), a Co-Co wheel arrangement and a maximum speed of 115 km/h (71 mph).[11]

The NR Class cab was designed taking into consideration the results of an extended consultative process with the end users. This has resulted in a cab that has been well accepted. The layout of the control stand evolved from a British Rail Class 60 cab, and is substantially different from the more common AAR type I (stand) and Type II (desk) cabs.[12]

The design is a long hood unit locomotive, with only one cab but two separate sets of controls, which allow it be driven either "A" or "B" end leading. This locomotive had to pass all tests, such as being able to shunt if required, drive "long end leading" if needed, and allow drivers to do checks on fuel, brakes, and sand. Despite the twin controls, operation of the class "B" end leading is avoided, with single NR classes being turned on turntables to ensure they face the correct way.[2]

In 2013 UGL Rail, Spotswood fitted NR17 with ECP/WDP braking systems for use on quarry traffic in New South Wales. It was reclassified as NRE17[13][14] during December of that year, but that code was reverted very quickly and more recent photos indicate the normal code.[15] The cabside decals of NR120 were also altered to permit addition of the "E", but there is no evidence that this ever happened.[16]

Liveries

The entire NR fleet was delivered in the original National Rail Livery.

With Pacific National ownership changes were made, the Pacific National decals placed over the side air deflectors replacing the National Rail signage. From 2006 the National Rail diamonds on the side and ends of the locomotives were removed or painted over. All have now been repainted into Pacific National livery.[17]

Some have been repainted into special liveries:[17]

  • NR18, NR74, NR75 & NR109 in Red The Ghan livery
  • NR25, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 86 in Blue & Yellow Indian Pacific livery.
  • NR14, NR34, NR66 & NR84 in a modified Pacific National livery "Real Trains, not Road Trains"
  • NR31 & NR30 in Great Southern orange livery.
  • NR1, NR36, NR45, NR50, NR55, NR85 & NR121 in PN Blue & yellow livery with 5 stars.

There was a proposal in 2011 to repaint some locomotives into new passenger liveries, with two locomotives each for the Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overland.[18] NR18 was repainted in 2011 using a yellow and grey variant of the Southern Spirit's green and white livery.[19] It was scheduled to be followed by NR76 in a new Ghan livery before the program was put on indefinite hold, and that engine returned to service in the standard Pacific National scheme.[20] The Ghan scheme was likely a further palette swap to red and orange, and marketing materials from the era imply that the Overland scheme might have been a blue version.[21][22]

Model railways

Models of the NR Class locomotive have been available since June 2000. Austrains used the engine as a way to open up the then-modern era as a practical option for modelling Australian railways, and to date it is one of the highest-selling models in the Australian model railway market.[23] Austrains was not able to obtain permission to recreate the Indigenous liveries as applied to NR30 and NR52, so in the second run they released the two engines with their respective short-lived grey and black schemes, to provide an undercoat base and allow customers to apply those liveries themselves either with paint or decals.[24][25]

The model was significantly re-engineered following the sixth run, and re-released in September 2009. Engines of runs seven and above include speaker enclosures within the chassis, working marker and ditch lights (with a manual switch under the fuel tank) and a modified coupler attachment system with the coupler box opening filled in. Austrains was also involved in the production of non-motored NR class models in N scale, sold to guests on Great Southern Rail's services as souvenirs.

Austrains was sold to SDS Models in 2015, and the new owners announced that some older models would be re-released under the "Austrains Neo" brand. One of those releases included the NR class, using the most recent tooling but without the motor fitted, to allow modellers to run trains with more than one or two engines on the front, at a reasonable price. Early 2017 saw the announcement of a new run of powered units. In 2020, SDS released their own run of the NR's featuring new liveries previously not done before, mainly NR18 in "The Ghan" as well as NR's 30 and 31 in the "Great Southern" livery. [26] [27]

Also in 2015, Auscision Models announced their intent to release a run of NR class locomotives, starting the design from scratch. These models are expected sometime during 2021.[28][29]

HO scale models
Run Primer National Rail NR Seatrain NR Steelink NR Trailerail NR Indigenous Pacific National The Ghan Indian Pacific Southern Spirit Other
Austrains 1st Run[30] 4, 33, 82, 119 & Unnumbered 56 & 57 58, 59 & 60 53, 54 & 55
Austrains 2nd Run[31] 23, 41, 69, 95 & Unnumbered 56 & 57 53 & 54 30 (grey)
52 (black)
Austrains 3rd Run[32] 17, 50, 75, 108 & Unnumbered 59 & 60 54 & 55
Austrains 4th Run[33] 1, 48 & 120 29 (no stars);
103 (blue cab)		 74 "Port Pirie", 75 & 109 (Mk1)
Austrains 5th Run[34] 8 "City of Goulburn", 29 "Kwinana" & 73 "Maribyrnong" (no stars) 74 "Port Pirie", 75 & 109 "Sandfly II" (Mk1)
Austrains 6th Run[35] 62 "Kwinana" (accidentally)[36] 74 "Port Pirie", 75 & 109 "Sandfly II" (Mk1) 25 & 28 (Mk1)
Austrains 7th Run[37] 6, 36, 78 & 90 56 & 57 58, 59 & 60 53, 54 & 55 8 & 29 (no stars);
32 & 52 (4 stars)		 74 "Port Pirie", 75 & 109 "Sandfly II" (Mk1)[38] 26 & 27 (Mk1)
Austrains 8th Run[39] 1 & 54 (4 stars) 84 & 85
Austrains 9th Run[40] 9, 81 & 102 (5 stars) 74 (Mk1) 26 (Mk1);
18 (Mk2)
Austrains Neo Unpowered[41] 11 & 13 1, 2, 5, 7, 12, 17, 21, 36, 37 & 66;
6 & 117 (with Pacific National logo);
40 (with The Ghan sign);
61 (partial paint)		 56 59;
60 (with orange cab logo);
58 (with Pacific National logo)		 53;
54 (with Pacific National logo)		 8 (no stars);
103 (blue cab);
34 & 71 (4 stars);
48 & 80 (5 stars)		 74 & 75 (Mk2) 18 (Mk2) 84 & 85
Austrains Neo Powered[42] 19, 46, 83 & 118 57 58 55 30 (grey);
30 (decorated);
52 (black);
52 (decorated)[43]		 8 & 29 (no stars);
14 & 112 (4 stars);
43 & 94 (5 stars);
103 (blue cab);
77 (proposed Patriot)		 74 & 109 (Mk1);
74, 75 & 109 (Mk2);
75 (Proposed Mk3)		 26 & 27 (Mk1);
25 & 27 (Mk3);
26 (Mk4)		 76 (Overland Proposed - blue variant of Southern Spirit)
Auscision Models[44] 10 & 117 56 & 57 58 & 59 53 & 55 30 (grey);
30 (decorated);
52 (black);
52 (decorated)[45]
73 (no stars);
41 & 110 (4 stars);
103 (blue cab)		 74, 75 (Steve Irwin) & 109 (Mk1);
75 & 109 (Mk2);
18 (Mk3)		 26 & 27 (Mk1);
18 (Mk2);
25 & 28 (Mk3);
26 (Mk4)		 84 & 85 30 (Great Southern), 31 (Great Southern), 84 (Real Trains Not Road Train)
SDS Models[46] 32 & 44 57 59 54 30 (grey) & 52 (black) 103 (all blue), 8 (no statrs), 73 (no stars), 1 (4 stars), 59 (4 stars), 69 (4 stars), 121 (4 stars), 15 (5 stars), 49 (5 stars), 64 (5 stars), 86 (5 stars), 92 (5 stars), 102 (5 stars), 76 (Stripes Proposed) & 77 (Patriot Proposed) 18 (Mk3), 74 (Mk1 & Mk2), 75 (Mk1 & Mk2), 109 (Mk1 & Mk2) & 75 (Proposed) 18 (Mk2), 25 (Mk1 & Mk3), 26 (Mk1 & Mk4), 27 (Mk1 & Mk3), 28 (Mk1), 29 (Mk4) & 86 (Mk4) 84 & 85 76 (Overland Proposed - blue variant of Southern Spirit), 122 (Rio Tinto Proposed), 30 (Great Southern) & 31 (Great Southern)

In more recent times, Frateschi has released rough approximations of the NR class in Ghan and Indian Pacific liveries, as part of cheap starter sets including three passenger or freight carriages.[47][48][49]

References
  1. "Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways". www.infrastructure.gov.au. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  2. Antony Fitzgerald (April 2000). "The Dash 9 in Australia: National Rail's NR class". Australian Model Railway Magazine. pp. 27–30.
  3. "National Rail Loco Contract Signed" Railway Digest October 1995 page 6
  4. "First Perth-Built NR Class Commence Trials Ahead of NSW Units" Railway Digest October 1996 page 6
  5. "NR Class Testing" Railway Digest November 1996 page 4
  6. "The NR class locomotives & National Rail's motive power fleet" Railway Digest April 1998 page 16
  7. http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&number=33&class=NR&type=Diesel-Electric&orgstate=A
  8. https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/1521123/ro2009003.pdf
  9. https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2016/rair/ro-2016-005/
  10. https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2019/rair/ro-2019-022/
  11. https://vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=NR&orgstate=A&type=Diesel-Electric
  12. Hussey, F. (2005). How the NR Class got their cabs: in The NR Class - a Loco for Australia. Railway Digest, 43(9), 29.
  13. http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&number=17&class=NR&type=Diesel-Electric&orgstate=A
  14. NRE class Railpage
  15. https://railgallery.wongm.com/melbourne-standard-gauge/F125_6497.jpg.html
  16. http://vicsig.net/photo/22899
  17. NR Class Vicsig
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110904174554/http://www.austrains.com.au/nrclass.html
  19. https://railgallery.wongm.com/locos/F120_9347.jpg.html
  20. http://vicsig.net/photo/22374
  21. http://www.sdsmodels.com.au/aunrpr.htm
  22. https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d08ddbf208c52f49db3f48c69e8235c3?width=1024
  23. https://web.archive.org/web/20080724043856/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NRarc.htm
  24. https://www.railpage.com.au/f-p933990.htm#933990
  25. http://www.antiquesreporter.com.au/index.cfm/lot/167947-two-austrains-ho-gauge-nr-diesel-electric-locos-including-an-nr2/
  26. http://www.sdsmodels.com.au/aunrpr.htm
  27. http://www.sdsmodels.com.au/sdsnr.htm
  28. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=136260326407914&story_fbid=928939957139943
  29. http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/NR%20Class%20Locomotive.htm
  30. https://web.archive.org/web/20001216225300/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NR.htm
  31. https://web.archive.org/web/20010718031712/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NR.htm
  32. https://web.archive.org/web/20020109225757/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NR.htm
  33. https://web.archive.org/web/20040806082535/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NR.htm
  34. https://web.archive.org/web/20050306212154/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/order2.htm#NR
  35. https://web.archive.org/web/20051201133322/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NR.htm
  36. https://web.archive.org/web/20061010130246/http://homepage.idx.com.au/austrain/NR.htm
  37. https://web.archive.org/web/20090529233843/http://www.austrains.com.au/orderforms/nrclass_order_form.pdf
  38. https://web.archive.org/web/20090612205352/http://www.austrains.com.au/news.html
  39. https://web.archive.org/web/20100405210617/http://austrains.com.au/nrclass-ss.html
  40. https://web.archive.org/web/20160229085931/http://www.austrains.com.au/orderforms/OF5__NR_Class_Order_Form.pdf
  41. http://sdsmodels.com.au/aunr.htm
  42. http://www.sdsmodels.com.au/aunrpr.htm
  43. http://www.sdsmodels.com.au/nr3052a.htm
  44. http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/NR%20Class%20Locomotive.htm
  45. http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/PDFs/Auscision%20NR30%20NR52%20Order%20Form%20Page%202%20-%20Curves.pdf
  46. http://www.sdsmodels.com.au/sdsnr.htm
  47. https://hearnshobbies.com/collections/australian-models/products/frateschi-the-ghan-set-c30-loco-3-budd-cars
  48. https://hearnshobbies.com/collections/australian-models/products/frateschi-pacific-national-set-c30-loco-3-container-wagons
  49. https://hearnshobbies.com/collections/australian-models/products/indian-pacific-c30-loco-3xpassenger-cars

Bibliography
  • Avery, Rod (2006). Freight Across the Nation: The Australian Superfreighter Experience. Brisbane: Copyright Publishing Co. ISBN 1876344474.
  • Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1854–2010 (5th ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg Publishing. ISBN 978-1921719011.
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