The CRL in Aurizon livery out the front at UGL also has CRL 002 (or was it 003?) painted on the side of the cab.

Are Aurizon leasing the new locos from CRL in a similar arrangement to the LDP's?

The test train was run by 5029.

5028 is the 2nd loco and the train is Unit 72. The wagons are previously unused ones that were stored at Taree.

Whitehaven Coal Quarterly Report - June FY2013

"Whitehaven's first Aurizon train will commence operation on 1 August 2013 as part of a 30t axle load trial. The Aurizon train unit will be fitted with special monitoring equipment to assess the impact of heavier locomotives on the Gunnedah Basin rail track. This trial is the first stage of a joint work program with ARTC to increase the maximum payload of Gunnedah Basin trains from 6,300t to in excess of 8,000t from Q1 2015".

I saw the new Aurizon C44 outside at UGL last Sunday. Maybe it will be doing the trial.

Between the paint shed and what was the passenger car assembly shed I see an almost complete set of hood's ready to go. Must be another loco started on the assembly line.

There are 3 radiator hoods there, one in primer and two in mostly bare metal form.

So how did the trial go? Sounds like 180T loco's are too heavy and will cost ARTC too much in the long run considering the distance, Aurizon need 150T loco's, can they do a bogie change when the wheels wear down.

A start being made on the PH37ACmai demonstrators? I'm pretty sure they were planning to build three.

Look like normal C44 type hoods. Maybe more expensive shelf stock to be built?

The first 3 CRLs are looking quite complete at UGL today. In fact this is the first time I have seen 3 units of an order with paintwork so complete, but still no operator decals or builders plate stickers. Strange.

99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% sure that's QRN's (sorry, Aurizon) Paint. Maybe they have leased the first CRL's, much like the LDP's

While not at UGL, CF4407 and CF4408 are still fairly new, not having entered regular service.

These two have been repainted from the untouched CFCLA scheme to Freightliner green and yellow to be leased to that operator.
The scheme is the same as that on the two GLs, and looks a bit odd on a single ended hood unit.
They were repainted at AHSC Goulburn  and were standing in the yard yesterday 14 Sept 2013.

M636C

I found this photo on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/37494672@N06/9572217315/in/photolist-fzS7Hz-fA7srJ-fcydGf-ebsBGx-ebKUhj-ebE6sz-eB3doQ-eFk94d-ebDgt8-ebDeyD-ebDeLZ-fGFuB8-eBAWKt-exmmt1-exutxd-foQHLR I actually think that it looks great!

While not at UGL, CF4407 and CF4408 are still fairly new, not having entered regular service.

These two have been repainted from the untouched CFCLA scheme to Freightliner green and yellow to be leased to that operator.
The scheme is the same as that on the two GLs, and looks a bit odd on a single ended hood unit.
They were repainted at AHSC Goulburn  and were standing in the yard yesterday 14 Sept 2013.

M636C

Went past UGL BMD tonight and noticed a blue and yellow loco there with no stickers on it, guessing it is something new for PN.
A CRL, in Aurizon paint, was at Maitland platform 3 or 4 around 14:00 today aswell.