V/Line RTL class

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RTL class
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel
Builder Western Star Trucks
Serial number2WLPCCCJ9TK941796
Build date1995
Total produced1
Specifications
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Length11.23 metres
Loco weight25.4 tonnes
Fuel typeDiesel
Career
Operators V/Line Freight
Freight Australia
NumbersRTL1
Current ownerJust Track

The V/Line RTL class is a road-rail locomotive, capable of operating on both road and rail. It was basically a truck with retractable rail wheels. Built by Western Star Trucks in the United States, the rail equipment was provided by Brandt Industries of Canada. [1]

Contents

History

It was to be the first of three for V/Line Freight, but the other two were never completed. It was purchased for short-haul duties on grain lines, and began tests in January 1996 on the Dookie and Cobram lines. [1] In 1999/2000 it was used to haul log trains between Bairnsdale and Sale on the Gippsland line. [2] Numbered RTL1, its vehicle registration number was MVO782. It was included in the sale of V/Line Freight to Freight Australia, and was given the custom registration plate of MVORTL as M series plates are allocated to Victorian government vehicles and with it being placed into private ownership, was no longer eligible for such registration. It was included in the sale of Freight Australia to Pacific National.

Trials of RTL1 began on 22 May 1996, under the condition that it must be treated as a train for safe-working purposes, rather than a maintenance vehicle, but when running with two or fewer vehicles attached it was also to be treated as a track machine that could not reliably operate track circuits. Its maximum speed was set at 60 km/h, and the headlights must always be switched on. The ruling grade limits were: [3]

Grade 1 in XDry weather load (t)Wet weather load (t)% wet vs dry
5049419139%
6058923239%
7572729140%
10094938641%
150138756341%
200176472341%
4003040124341%

Newsrail at the time suggested that the RTL could be based at Shepparton, primarily serving there and Echuca with the option to also cater to Bendigo, Tocumwal, Dookie, Benalla and Yarrawonga if the need arose. In that scenario, the T Class locomotive then stationed at Shepparton would be cascaded to Bendigo, replacing its Y Class, and another T Class outside of peak seasons working daily rice trains between Echuca and Moulamein. However, this depended on the weight of the Moulamein - Echuca and Deniliquin - Echuca trains, which could often weigh more than 1,000 and 1,300 tonnes respectively, and the shunting schedule at Shepparton. [3]

Post-privatisation

After being stored at South Dynon Locomotive Depot for a number of years [4] it was sold in 2011 to Just Track, [5] and was used during the 2012 upgrade of the Gawler line in Adelaide. In 2015, it was used to haul wagon flats on the Southern Sydney Freight Line between Enfield and Leightonfield. [6]

Locomotives

LocomotiveEntered serviceWithdrawnOwnerStatus
RTL1January 1996Just TrackIn Service

References

  1. 1 2 "New Road - Rail Vehicle to Improve Competitiveness of V/Line Short-Haul Freight" Railway Digest , March 1996, p.16
  2. ↑ RTL Hobbies Plus
  3. 1 2 "Rollingstock". Newsrail . Vol. 24, no. 07. Vic: Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). July 1996. p. 218. ISSN   0310-7477. OCLC   19676396.
  4. ↑ Road Transferable Locomotive Wongm's Rail Gallery
  5. ↑ "Capabilities". Just Track. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Operation of Western Star Road Transferable Locomotive Australian Rail Track Corporation 4 November 2015
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