Re: [TAS] Rare sight in Hobart

["Graeme" <gvrail@thatsent.com.au>]

In speaking to Tasrail, I understand from their senior engineering staff
that they have developed an onboard system and other mods to enable multi
coupling of EE and GM products.  They plan after testing to install it on
the very last higher horsepower units delivered new to Tasrail, and not on
any older or ex Queensland class 1300/ZC class units.

Having seen the operational headaches here in WA with GM and EE units not
being compatible it's very interesting to learn of this development.  As I
understand it, despite the reliability and robustness of GM units, there is
in Tasmania quite a strong loyalty attached to EE as maintenance people
there have been able to do a lot to the engines with their 40 plus years of
experience with EE.  I suspect the considerably cooler climate also helped
overcome problems that were more evident in Qld and WA with the higher
horsepower EE units that had more problems than the low/medium horsepower
units

--
Graeme Vellacott
PO Box 322
CANNINGTON 6987
AUSTRALIA
Email:   gvrail@thatsent.com.au
Ph/Fax: +61 8 9451 5630
Visit www.thatsent.com.au
John Duncan McCallum <mccallum@melbpc.org.au> wrote in message
38769E66.B4671550@melbpc.org.au">news:38769E66.B4671550@melbpc.org.au...
>
>
> Athan wrote:
>
> > Tonight, seen in Hobart, was a very unusual scene.  As is my want, I
> > enjoy watching the evening goods shunt and leave, but tonight, was in
> > for a real treat.  The consist for tonight was made up of 4 different
> > classes of locomotives.
>
> > In the lead:    2010    formerly QR 1466   first in service 8/64.
> > modified in NZ, now DQ class.
>
> > second:        4588    I think this was it's first visit to Hobart.  A
> > DC class, built as DA1489, in Canada (A 2070) , and served in New
> > Zealand, 1964.
>
> This loco has been to Hobart before in similar circumstances. There was
> an
> article in "Tasmanian Rail News" about it.
>
> > third unit:   2056    Another QR, completely unmodified, slave unit.
> > Was QR 1475.
>
> > final unit:    2101   a named loco, ZR2- Audrey Mills, is an English
> > Electric, and led this unlikely set into Hobart.  Recently modified
> > braking allows this to run with GMs. Originally QR2355, first introduced
> > in 1973, moved to Tas in 1987 (ZB 6) and then in 1997 became ZR 2.
> > Livery: supposively ANR yellow, but consistent with recent rolling stock
> > from ANR days, best described as sooted grime.
>
>
> This is interesting. Did 2101 trail the set out of Hobart? If so, was it
> powering?
> I find this hard to believe that it would have been modified for MU
> operation
> as this would have been expensive. It would have required the
> replacement
> of the EE control system by a GE/EMD unit.
>
> John McCallum