Re: WA L class ( WAS Austrac to operate in NW NSW.)

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

In article <36308933.DCE74140@bigpond.com> Rod Young <berlina@bigpond.com> writes:
>From: Rod Young <berlina@bigpond.com>
>Subject: Re: WA L class ( WAS Austrac to operate in NW NSW.)
>Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 23:48:36 +1000

>> >rebuilding????
>>
>> >Is this V/Lines answer to a severe shortage of h.p.??   Does this mean they
>know
>> >something that we dont???  do they think they will get V/Line??  W.C would
>not
>> >need these Locos on their N.G. lines would they??
>>
>> I suppose this could be the closest Victorians will get to hearing a
>> "C"  Class again...... the Ls are the same mechanically, aren't they?
>>

>Yes I believe so, except the technology is 10 years older...definitely no
>wheelcreep!
>and probably no  IDAC traction controll either.
>                                         Rod


Yes they were the first locos in Australia to use the EMD 645 E3 turbocharged 
engine , not  a bad effort in 1968, although surely these days if they were to 
be rebuilt a differant engine would be used , maybe something like the EMD 710 
G series used in the 82s .
This would allow a bit more room to accomadate the dynamic braking resistor 
grids which had to be squeezed in , to get the loco length down to suit Aus 
loading guages.
If they do go to Vline or whatever its called , it will be interesting to see 
if the dual control stands are retained , as historically Vline seems to have 
some aversion to dual control in its hood units.

cheers
MD