Considering PN have junked surplus, derelict 48 Class in the past, could this be gearing up for another go?

Perhaps this is the beginning of the great purge of 2013 that everyone has been talking about... It would not surprise me if the Werris Creek stuff gets razed (separate to this), and perhaps the stuff in storage at Geelong too.

Scrapping redundant items is on the table once again.

On a bit of a side topic, are those semaphore signals still standing at East Greta junction?

If they are still there, is there any plans to remove them?

If they have been removed, what safeworking is currently in this area, and when where they removed?

The PL's are being scrapped, but still have a few weeks of life in them.

Semaphores still at East Greta Junction, still staff and ticket working.

From Wiki,
EL      3300HP
PL/48 1050HP

So assuming your track is good for an EL, slightly more than 3 x the HP. 9 PL/48's to pull same train as 3 x EL.

I'm going to guess the overall operating cost per hour for a 48 class is not less than 1/3 of an EL.

Also there were often issues with the cabs in the PLs & 48s used, meaning due to something not functioning properly, a certain loco couldn't lead and would have to be 2, 3 or 4 in the lashup.

Will 48cl bogies fit a 44 or 45cl? Don't Rail Corp want parts for 4801?
They should auction off the parts.

Will 48cl bogies fit a 44 or 45cl? Don't Rail Corp want parts for 4801?
They should auction off the parts.

I agree/support the concept that prevents PN was sulking and cutting up their unwanted toys and thus preventing others having a go at rail traffic they normally abandon anyway. (noting there has not been one scuessful significant longterm rail operator start up in Australia that wasn't already big (such as PNa nd QR) off dregs from others). ARG seem to do their own thing on mostly own tracks.

However, I cannot honestly see any significant player starting up using 40-50 year 1000HP old 48 class locos. I know they have been a good loco, but times up! Even Qr have decided same for its sucessful but aging 1720's. The days of running light weight trains made up with a string of ancient locos over long distances are quickly dying. It doesn't pay. I can see some value in the hook and pull over some lines leaving heavy locos to do the mainline work, but even these days must be numbered.

Well the thing is that these are PNs 1 scale toys and if they choose to find out if old Alcos burn forever if lit with a torch it's their call .They are not public property and therefore no one else gets to call the shots .
As has rightly been said no new railway is going to make much of a dent on the rail freight world with billy carts and you could argue that based on that why keep them if they take up space . The passing of them may create a need for more modern equals and thats not such a bad thing . It could also result in branch lines  getting better perway so they can take heavier engines .
It may be romantic to some having these old relics doing 10-20 km/k all day on a remote branch and hauling to the coast but they are really slow on any kind of load and modest grades . Doing engine changes on the mains is not a cheap business so better to improve the branches and keep "big engines" on the trains .

noting there has not been one scuessful significant longterm rail operator start up in Australia that wasn't already big (such as PNa nd QR) off dregs from others). ARG seem to do their own thing on mostly own tracks.

LVRF -> Independent Rail were continually expanding since their days of initial operation with some 47 Class and discarded open wagons. For a while, it seemed like the west was RUN by IRA, until they lost the Blayney contract to PN.

P&OTA -> Qube Logistics. They're killing it, finding new traffic in NSW and Victoria, as well as chasing down "the big boys" and keeping them honest.

SCT?

I agree/support the concept that prevents PN was sulking and cutting up their unwanted toys and thus preventing others having a go at rail traffic they normally abandon anyway. (noting there has not been one scuessful significant longterm rail operator start up in Australia that wasn't already big (such as PNa nd QR) off dregs from others). ARG seem to do their own thing on mostly own tracks.

However, I cannot honestly see any significant player starting up using 40-50 year 1000HP old 48 class locos. I know they have been a good loco, but times up! Even Qr have decided same for its sucessful but aging 1720's. The days of running light weight trains made up with a string of ancient locos over long distances are quickly dying. It doesn't pay. I can see some value in the hook and pull over some lines leaving heavy locos to do the mainline work, but even these days must be numbered.

arg does not exist anymore.

Hi All,

Those little 48ers are a great locomotive to work on. I think that the PL's would be close to the same being spaced out better minus the second control stand. Those locomotives are worth more to PN as scrap then selling them off to a competitor or selling them overseas. I reckon that it's sad to see the PL's being scrapped so soon because they are better for visibility on the point of some trains especially out on some of those country branchlines. I cannot see RailCorp/NSW Trains buying a 48/PL class to rebuild 4801 or buy a couple for spare parts. I'm not getting into an argument over RailCorp/NSW Trains and their plans on restoring these locomotives.

TLGM

LVRF -> Independent Rail were continually expanding since their days of initial operation with some 47 Class and discarded open wagons. For a while, it seemed like the west was RUN by IRA, until they lost the Blayney contract to PN.

P&OTA -> Qube Logistics. They're killing it, finding new traffic in NSW and Victoria, as well as chasing down "the big boys" and keeping them honest.

SCT?

I agree, but these are stil small players and more than a few others have come and gone. QRN only got a leg up because its existing size in Qld.

arg does not exist anymore.

I meant ASR

While dumping a load of coal at PW today I noticed what looked like the bodies of a couple of 48's/pl's laying on their sides in the process of being cut up, from where I was  down near the overbridge into PWCS [private road & need a identity pass ] it was impossible to see any numbers etc, there was also a green body being cut up also. This is  in a new scrap yard where the fiberglass fuel tanks were manufactured at the end of Parker St.  Will try to get some more info tomorrow.


Wally.

I meant ASR

Now GWA.

While dumping a load of coal at PW today I noticed what looked like the bodies of a couple of 48's/pl's laying on their sides in the process of being cut up, from where I was  down near the overbridge into PWCS [private road & need a identity pass ] it was impossible to see any numbers etc, there was also a green body being cut up also. This is  in a new scrap yard where the fiberglass fuel tanks were manufactured at the end of Parker St.  Will try to get some more info tomorrow.


Wally.

Wally,

Any and all information re: numbering would be appreciated. I'm trying to find out which locos are scrapped versus stored as for the Railpage locos database, any any information "from the ground" is always appreciated.

They should of made any salvagable wheels available to the private sector, theres a few 44cl needing wheels I believe.

Guys  ,from what  I have been able to see & a few enquires it appears the Loco's that were cut up are /were  8003, 8009, PL4, PL5 , & a unknown 48 class. There is very little left to see of any of the loco's to be able to see any numbers from the street fence ,I will try to see the office people for other info next week .


Wally.

Wally, thanks for the info mate, this gels with other information out there in cyberspace.