GEs for Victoria?

[Grahame John Ferguson <grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au>]

        Why would a railway system that has standardised on Clyde/GM
locomotives have to introduce another type of locomotive prime mover
generator spare parts etc. just to appease a sub-contractor.  Goninan is not
a partner as such, but is a contractor for maintenance for Rail America,
i.e. Freight Victoria.
        Two weeks ago in the Financial Review the parent company of Goninan,
Howard Smith Ltd, stated that it was closing the Broadmeadow NSW plant and
that Goninan was going to concerntrate on maintenance and refurbishment.
        The number of locomotives that Freight Victoria may require would be
far less than the 120 NRs for the NRC.  So would the unit cost be low to
tool up for an order of say 10 locomotives? Not likely unless Goninans are
going to build at cost.
        Shortline US railroads have a perchant for rebuilding EMD
locomotives, or rebuilding what they already have.  ASR have not bought any
locomotives from Clyde eventhough Clyde is their maintenance contractor.
They have sought to improve the CLP/CLFs.
        Until Freight Victoria start to recover their initial investment and
make a profit, or until it secures huge contracts, it would be unwise to buy
anything new, it is not bankrolled by 3 governments like the NRC was. It
first task is to improve the sub-standard track in Victoria, so as to
increase transit times and tonnage carried.