The Thunder Bird birthed at Fisherman Islands late Tuesday.

Should be discharging today.

Discharged 5 x 2250 in Adelaide last Thursday, ex Durban, 2260/2261/2262/2269/2275.

No photos from Durban of the vessel loading, but there is a hypothesis that she is carrying the 5 ex TFR 35800 Class (2170) for Watco, on the basis that 10 locos would make the charter cost effective.

Who will be first to report? and grab photos?

Locos discharged in Adelaide have been impounded by Quarantine, and are currently having a good scrub, prior to release to PR at Port Augusta.

2177 (35803) is one of the locos reported to be coming
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_2170_class#/media/File:Class_35-800_no._35-803.jpg

Thanks for starting the thread.  Why would the locos be coming off in Adelaide when they are NG or are they to be regauged?  I guess we (me) need some help understanding what is the plan?

Thanks for starting the thread.  Why would the locos be coming off in Adelaide when they are NG or are they to be regauged?  I guess we (me) need some help understanding what is the plan?

The 5 in Adelaide are the locos that PR shipped out on the “Antje”, departed Fisherman Islands 21/07/2015.

Rebuilt under subcontract by DCD at Boksburg (prior to that companies sale to Transmashholding), for possible sale/lease to NRZ


Ownership not known, possibly still PR, to be converted to air brake and have coupler height adjusted at Port Augusta, then to GWA at Whyalla (sale or lease?).

2177 (35803) is one of the locos reported to be coming
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_2170_class#/media/File:Class_35-800_no._35-803.jpg

I like that they kept the classification number in the glass classification. Makes it easy to work out the origins. Did they ever update the numbers in the glass classification?

I like that they kept the classification number in the glass classification. Makes it easy to work out the origins. Did they ever update the numbers in the glass classification?

All of the 2170 appear to have retained the Qld Numbers, just added TFR number to the cabside, and above the radiator grills to the rear.
Were numbered sequentially.

2170 Class Clyde/EMD  GL26C-2

2173D 82-1103 03/82* D35801 still at Koedoespoort April 2019

2174D 82-1104 04/82* D35802 at Bellville 05/2017 cannibalised

2177D 82-1107 06/82* D35803  

2180D 82-1125 08/82* D35804  

2181D 83-1146 02/83* D35805

2183D 83-1148 03/83* D36806

2184D 83-1149 03/83* D35807

2188D 83-1153 04/83* D35808

2202D 83-1166 09/83* D35809 at Bellville 05/2017 cannibalised

2205D 83-1169 10/83* D35810

2206D 83-1170 10/83* D35811

2207D 83-1171 10/83* D35812

2209D 83-1173 11/83* D35813

2210D 83-1174 11/83* D35814 Photographed at Koedoespoort 08/10/2018

* Photos from transit/loading at Fisherman Islands, Brisbane
Renumbered 2170 wrapped in Transnet livery, shown in red

Thanks again JMT for the excellent info!!!!

Thunder Bird departed Brisbane at 03:21 bound for Korea

If locos were discharged, was on Wednesday

If Adelaide is any example, look for them where Quarantine (or their contractors) wash/disinfect/fumigate new arrivals

At least two 2170s in Transnet Livery have been sighted at the Brisbane Port. Illuminated number boards show 2181 and 2188. As
"D" locos, these 2170s may be restricted from working to Warwick unless QR and Watco come to an agreement on the axle load of these locomotives and the axle load status of the Southern Line, which is currently 15.75-tonnes.

I know painting a loco is hard work but the effort to put sticker material all over it seems a step backwards.

You will have noted from that contractors webpage, that even new locos (TAL2001 illustrated) are wrapped in Contact, you need one of these guys around when you are covering the kid's schoolbooks. TAL 2002/2003 currently under construction at Koedoespoort are being similarly Vinyl wrapped.

Transnet paid an average of $180k each to Aurizon for the 2170. While still on the wharf in Brisbane they were sold to a BEE. Locos purchased back from the BEE by Transnet ex wharf Durban for $US500K each. By using the BEE the Transnet managers/apparatchiks/cadre skimmed around $200k per loco in baksheesh, This was covered in an article in the SA Sunday Times in late 2014. When Transnet Corporate transferred ownership to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), these locos had a high book value, so TFR simply Vinyl wrapped, and placed in service, these locos were never rebuilt, just patched up as required. They are now said by South Africans to be knackered.

Zuma was sacked as president in early 2018, and the "cleaner" incoming administration sacked the Transnet Board, and the top level of management for corrupt practices. Refer the current State Capture judicial inquiry. The $200k per loco on the Aurizon consignment was chickenfeed, these individuals were paid around $US770K per loco on around 500 units by CRRC. Xi Jinping may be purging corrupt Party members in China, but the corruption of foreign officials and politicians is still Chinese policy.

A BEE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Economic_Empowerment
A general criticism can be made that wealthy and politically connected/corrupt black individuals have been the real beneficiaries of BEE, the scheme tended to concentrate wealth, so a second tier was established.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-Based_Black_Economic_Empowerment

The five Watco 2170s are currently being loaded onto low-loaders at Fisherman Island, possibly gearing up for transfer to Warwick. Watco is just wrapping up the construction of a new locomotive paint shed within the SDSR precinct in the Warwick yard.

At least two 2170s in Transnet Livery have been sighted at the Brisbane Port. Illuminated number boards show 2181 and 2188. As
"D" locos, these 2170s may be restricted from working to Warwick unless QR and Watco come to an agreement on the axle load of these locomotives and the axle load status of the Southern Line, which is currently 15.75-tonnes.

Maybe they are just here for parts or Watco are confident they will soon get grain contracts in other parts of Qld with heavier capacity lines.

The same restrictions apply to loading at Capella if they are planning to load there still after the Super Depot at Yamala is completed.

Outside of Capella all of the Central Queensland loading points can handle heavier locos with them all being on coal lines.

At least two 2170s in Transnet Livery have been sighted at the Brisbane Port. Illuminated number boards show 2181 and 2188. As
"D" locos, these 2170s may be restricted from working to Warwick unless QR and Watco come to an agreement on the axle load of these locomotives and the axle load status of the Southern Line, which is currently 15.75-tonnes.

Some of the 2100's had their fuel tanks shortened back in the QR days.  It was supposed to allow them on light load lines.  Would this be enough to get them back on the southern line ?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/72538521@N02/37254776652/in/photolist-YL5tao

All of the Watco 2170s were previously modified to "A" locos like 2105A (the D on the 2105 means Driver Only in this instance, the meaning has changed to a weight restriction for the 2300D class and 2170 class), then in the early to mid-1990s had small extra tanks added so they could reach Townsville from Rockhampton without refueling, becoming F locos. 2170F class remain under the 94.5-tonne limit, however many of the 2170Fs were pushed past the 94.5-tonne limit with later cab rebuilds and modifications, and reportedly higher axle loads on the lead bogies under the cab, earning the D on their cabside and reverting to the 2170 class status (in short the 2170F class can go almost anywhere on the QR network, the 2170 class cannot). Removing or not filling the small F tank might solve the weight problem, but would cause issues with longer rail hauls.

the D on the 2105 means Driver Only in this instance, the meaning has changed to a weight restriction for the 2300D class

I always thought that the D on the 2300D's was for Dunny! After all they were originally briefly 2300C (C for coal I believe).

the D on the 2105 means Driver Only in this instance, the meaning has changed to a weight restriction for the 2300D class

I always thought that the D on the 2300D's was for Dunny! After all they were originally briefly 2300C (C for coal I believe).

The D as a weight restriction suffix I think came about with the maxi-cab conversions of the previously unmodified 2150s and the 2170s (2202-2210) in the early 2000s - these locos were already way over the 15.75-tonne axle load limit and while the D meant Driver Only on their cabs, it came to mean that any 2150 or 2170 with a D was available only for 20-tonne axle load lines - this was then extended the 2300Ds (after QR toyed with the C). In all honesty the C should have been used on all the heavy 2150s, 2170s and 2300s to end any confusion with the previous use of the D. Plus there's also the issue that Aurizon has a 2300D class, while the 2170s with a D, are still members of the 2170 class, while the 2170s with an F are the 2170F class. And that's pretty much why Aurizon's various Clyde classes can be very hard to keep track of

the D on the 2105 means Driver Only in this instance, the meaning has changed to a weight restriction for the 2300D class

I always thought that the D on the 2300D's was for Dunny! After all they were originally briefly 2300C (C for coal I believe).

The D as a weight restriction suffix I think came about with the maxi-cab conversions of the previously unmodified 2150s and the 2170s (2202-2210) in the early 2000s - these locos were already way over the 15.75-tonne axle load limit and while the D meant Driver Only on their cabs, it came to mean that any 2150 or 2170 with a D was available only for 20-tonne axle load lines - this was then extended the 2300Ds (after QR toyed with the C). In all honesty the C should have been used on all the heavy 2150s, 2170s and 2300s to end any confusion with the previous use of the D. Plus there's also the issue that Aurizon has a 2300D class, while the 2170s with a D, are still members of the 2170 class, while the 2170s with an F are the 2170F class. And that's pretty much why Aurizon's various Clyde classes can be very hard to keep track of

It was ever thus.

Back when 2100 itself was new and the only member of its class, it worked an ARHS tour to Toowoomba where a pair of PB15s took over for a trip to the south. 2100 had a sheet steel cover over the hole where its dynamic brakes should be, since there was concern that it would exceed the limit of then 90 tons (The metric system was introduced in January 1973, although QR were painting tare weights in tonnes in orange on vehicles some time before that.) I recall that there was a partitioned fuel tank that limited the fuel load so that the 2100s could actually get up to the Goonyella system which was the only place they could then run with full fuel tanks, All other 2100 class always had dynamic brakes fitted, since they were not the problem originally thought.

Peter

QR's 1754 hauled ex-Aurizon/ex-Transnet 2188D from Fisherman Island to Watco's Warwick facilities yesterday. The first of the Watco 2170s to be transferred.

Could not Watco make sure no additional fuel tank remains on locos ie back to 2170F status and keep them to the weight limit then just add an inline tanker to carry fuel to well and truly  extend their range thus allowing them to travel all over the contract area and maybe go from Warwick to Enerald on one tank when shifting regions

So now I wonder where the 5 2250's in Adelaide will end up.

Whyalla with GWA

So now I wonder where the 5 2250's in Adelaide will end up.
Whyalla with GWA

There is to be an upgrade of the Gypsum service on the west coast by GWA

Another two Watco 2170s were transferred to Warwick by QR today.

A very speculative thought and with no basis in fact - but with Watco using Queensland Nickel facilities in Townsville to unload, store and prep its new grain rollingstock, there appears to be a possibility that Watco and its new 2170s may be destined for a more permanent working arrangement with Queensland Nickel. Five GL26C-2s would be just about the right number for nickel ore traffic from the port to the refinery.

Back to the future.  For many years 2150-54 had the job after they converted from 2 X 51 wagons and a single 2800 ( painful to watch the agonizing progress from Saunders St to Ingham  Rd ), to 3 X 34 for the 2150's.

Watco's 2188D has broken cover in Warwick in the traditional Watco black and yellow livery.

Watco's 2188D has broken cover in Warwick in the traditional Watco black and yellow livery.

There is a photo in the SDSR September 2019 Newsletter.

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