Queensland Railways 2300 class

The 2300 class are a class of diesel locomotives rebuilt by Queensland Rail's Redbank Railway Workshops between 1997 and 2002.

Queensland Railways 2300 class
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Redbank Railway Workshops Model Electro-Motive Diesel GT22LC-2 Build date 1997-2002 Total produced 60
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 18.04 m (59 ft 2 in) Loco weight 94.5 t (93.0 long tons; 104.2 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 645E3C Engine type V12 Diesel engine Aspiration Turbocharged Generator Electro-Motive Diesel AR6-D14CA5 Electro-Motive Diesel AR10G-D14CA5 Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D29 Cylinders 12
Performance figures Power output 1,850 kW (2,480 hp)
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 60 Numbers 2301-2315, 2320-2323, 2330-2339, 2346-2353, 2355-2366, 2370-2374, 2387-2392 First run 1997 Current owner Aurizon Disposition 55 in service , 2 in service as the 2700 class, 1 in testing as the 2700 class, 2 being rebuilt as the 2700 class

History

The 2300 class are former 1550 and 2400, 2450 and 2470 class locomotives that were rebuilt between 1997 and 2002. Nineteen 1550 class locomotives (1550-1561, 1563-1566 and 1568-1570) were rebuilt as 2301-2315 and 2320-2323. Eighteen 2400 class locomotives (2400-2409 and 2416-2423) were rebuilt as 2330-2339 and 2346-2353. All seventeen remaining 2450 class locomotives (2450-2466) were rebuilt as 2355-2366 and 2370-2374. Six 2470 class locomotives (2501-2506) were rebuilt as 2387-2392.[1][2][3]

The rebuilds included new cabs, Dash 2 electronics and the replacement of the roots blower supercharger with a turbocharger. In 2007 seven (2356, 2349, 2361, 2370, 2372, 2373 and 2374) were allocated to Queensland Rail's Australian Railroad Group subsidiary and transferred to Western Australia where they were re-numbered as DFZ2401-DFZ2407. Currently only DFZ2405 is operational with all other class members in storage at Forrestfield in Perth.[4]

Thirty-five 2300 class locomotives have been overhauled for West Moreton coal traffic as the 2300D class. These locomotives, with larger fuel tanks and a toilet at the end of the long hood now weigh 96 tonnes and are restricted to operation on the coal routes. They include numbers 2301D-2315D, 2320D-2323D, 2330D-2334D, 2336D-2337D, 2339D, 2346D-2348D, 2350D, 2352D, 2359D, 2364D, 2366D and 2388D. The former 1550 class locomotives in this group (2301, 2304-2307, 2309-2315 and 2320-2322) were upgraded with modular (Dash 2) electronics when they were overhauled.

Eighteen 2300 class locomotives are still in Queensland in their original specification, working on Aurizon coal, bulk grain, freight and livestock services - 2331, 2335, 2338, 2351, 2353, 2355, 2357-2358, 2360, 2362-2363, 2365, 2371, 2387 and 2389-2392. Ten 2170, 2170F and 2300 class locomotives have been chosen to be rebuilt (or re-rebuilt) as the 2700 class, with 2701-2703 having been completed, 2351 being 2701, 2353 being 2702 and 2357 becoming 2703, with them being painted into the now standard Aurizon 'canary' (yellow with orange logo and text) livery.

References

1. 1550, 2400, 2300, 2500 Class Queensland's Great Trains
2. Clyde/GM 2300 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
3. 2300 Class Railpage
4. DFZ Class Railpage

External links

• Flickr gallery