Re: C class's and Belarine Peninsula Railways (two qns)

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <35a18dbc.6823915@news.netconnect.com.au> krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel ) writes:
>From: krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel )
>Subject: Re: C class's and Belarine Peninsula Railways (two qns)
>Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 02:59:39 GMT

>On Mon, 6 Jul 1998 19:59:55 +1000, "Reuben Farrelly"
><reubie@bigpond.com.AAA> wrote:

>>Hi people,
>>
>>
>>
>>(2) Why are the C class being scrapped when locos such as the Y, T and B
>>class still live on?  I heard by one person that these locos were just at
>>the end of their era, but then again, there are other locos around which are
>>much older and are still used.  Were there design feature of the C's which
>>meant that they weren't as durable or something like that, or were they just
>>a bad investment which aren't of use any more?
>>
>Turbos. They wear out and C's are real gas guzzlers. The C class are
>hard on track and use more fuel than an NR to haul less load. They are
>NRs "strategic reserve". 
>Two will be rebuilt for shunting duties in Melbourne. Extenally this
>will involve narrowing of the centre windscreen pillar and moving the
>whistles, etc.

>Cheers

>Krel


What I cant fathom is why NR wanted the Cs in the first place , but didnt want 
the ELs.
Granted the lightweight axle load of an EL of 19 tonnes and its high motor 
gearing means that they arnt brilliant for hauling heavy freight trains , they 
would have been ideal for hauling the GSR pass trains .
The Els are at most only 7 years old , have the 12 cylinder equivalent of the 
NR FDL16 series engine , so would be just as fuel efficient and were the only 
loco AN would allow 135km/h running across the TAR.
Sure there were some lease problems with them , but no more than the ANs 
which seem t o have been transferred without any probs.

Now we seem to have a class of locos in limbo land that noone wants or cares 
about.

cheers
MD