| PNQ News
The last of the 13 PN Class locomotives and 178 Rail wagons are in the final stages of completion, with all equipment having been purpose built for the Queensland market. Among the major beneficiaries of this investment were Maryborough where the locomotives were constructed, and Ipswich where the wagons were assembled. The wagons were designed and built with both our customers' needs and the future direction of rail freight in mind, and as a result they have the ability to handle a variety of container sizes, thereby creating the opportunity for substantial flexibility in the transport of freight.
EDI Rail’s high adhesion AC traction ‘PN Class locomotive’ presents a major advancement in narrow gauge locomotive technology, and has been specifically selected to ensure that Pacific National are providing their customers with the most efficient and advanced technology available. EDI Rail’s technology associate, the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corporation (EMD), introduced the highly successful AC traction system to the world market.
Rated at 2424 kW (3000 hp) gross power, the locomotives are among the most powerful narrow gauge diesel electric locomotives operating anywhere in the world today. The high adhesion AC traction system provides much higher tractive effort (pulling power) compared to previous DC traction locomotives, as well as significantly reduced maintenance costs, and gives this locomotive its superior fleet performance.
A key optional feature of the PN Class locomotive is the EDI Rail resigned Radial Steering Bogie. Based on the highly successful EMD Radial Truck, these bogies allow the axles to steer through the curves to ensure minimal wheel flange and track wear.
PNQ Wagons are a new design and consist of three different types. RNAY has three 48’ platforms, RNBY has two 48’ platforms and a 40’ centre platform and the RNCY consists of three 40’ platforms. There are a total of six different types of platforms designed for these wagons. There are also two types of newly designed bogies for use on these wagons. The three-pack articulated wagons are the first of their kind to run on the Queensland narrow gauge network. The wagons also have the inclusion of a Spring Park Brake, which allows for faster attach and detach operations, as the park brakes are automatic and operate with air from the locomotive. The longest of the three pack wagons is 46.3 metres and they are designed to operate with a maximum gross tonnage of 20 tons per axle. The wagons were designed by Williams Worley Rail and manufactured by Bradken Rail and delivered out of their Ipswich plant. Components for the wagons come from Newcastle, Brisbane area and Indonesia.
At the outset, PNQ will provide rail haulage services between Brisbane and Cairns, loading and unloading intermodal container freight at Mackay, Merinda, Townsville, and Innisfail, as well as Tennyson in Brisbane and Woree in Cairns.
Pacific National’s customers will use both the FreightWeb and current customer services throughout the nation, to book freight on Pacific National Queensland services, and by mid 2005, up to 20 services per week will be operating between Brisbane and North Queensland.
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