Freight Australia XR class
The XR class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Freight Australia and Pacific National at South Dynon Locomotive Depot.
| Freight Australia XR class | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 XR558 in March 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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History
Between 2002 and 2004, Freight Australia rebuilt six X class locomotives with engines cascaded from G class locomotives, larger radiators, and a new cab to provide better driver visibility.[1][2][3] The first six (XR550 - XR555) were converted from X38, X35, X40, X33, X34 and X32 respectively. A seventh (XR556) was planned to be converted from X36 but never eventuated.[4]
A further three (XR557 - XR559) were built in 2004/05 by Freight Australia's successor, Pacific National, as new-builds.[4]
In 2020, several were placed in store due to a poor grain harvest.[5][6] As at October 2022, all nine were active, seven on the broad gauge and two (XR558 and XR559) on standard gauge.[7]
The class are mechanically similar to the later XRB class B units.[4]
References
- Here & There Australian Railway History issue 774 April 2002 page 154
- X class rebuilding project Railway Digest October 2003 pages 29-32
- Locomotive Upgrading by the Operator Railway Digest July 2004 page 39
- Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s - 2010. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 345. ISBN 9781921719011.
- Four stored XR Class locos moved - two for further storage and two for reactivation Newsrail September 2020 page 255
- MotivePower Roundup Motive Power issue 133 January 2021 page 116
- Australia Wide Fleet List Motive Power issue 144 November 2022 page 69
External links
Media related to Freight Australia XR class at Wikimedia Commons
