Queensland Railways 2100 class
| Company type | Diesel-electric locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Eagle Farm, Queensland , Australia |
| Products | Diesel-electric locomotives |
| Parent | Queensland Rail |
Queensland Railways 2100 class
The 2100 class consists of 24 diesel-electric locomotives constructed by Clyde Engineering at Eagle Farm, Queensland, for Queensland Rail during the period from 1970 to 1973. Based on the Electro-Motive Diesel GL26C design, these units are powered by a V16 EMD 645E diesel engine producing 1491 kW and utilize Electro-Motive Diesel D29 traction motors.
Featuring a Co-Co wheel configuration and weighing 97.5 tonnes, the 2100 class was mainly assigned to freight duties, including grain haulage. They have a top operating speed of 80 km/h and are equipped with dynamic braking capabilities. The locomotives were numbered sequentially from 2100 through to 2123.
At present, Aurizon operates this class, with one locomotive still active. Five have been rebuilt into the 2300 class, three are held in storage, thirteen have been exported overseas, and two have been dismantled.
History
The 2100 class was initially manufactured to handle coal transport on the Goonyella railway line. The heavier construction standards of this new route permitted these locomotives to function at their full loaded weight of , representing an increase over earlier restrictions. To accommodate operations on older tracks, their fuel tanks were designed with a section that could be isolated to reduce overall weight.
Funding for the first ten units came from the developers of the Goonyella Riverside Mine, while Queensland Rail purchased an additional two. Following the mine’s opening in 1971, early deliveries were utilized for freight and suburban passenger services around Brisbane. A further twelve locomotives were procured specifically for use at the Peak Downs Mine.
During the late 1980s, multiple 2100 class locomotives were assigned to haul the diesel-powered passenger train known as the Capricornian, which ran between Brisbane and Rockhampton until its cessation in 1989. Notably, units such as 2112, 2113, and 2117 were integral during the service’s final operational months, with recorded runs extending into May and June of that year.
By the early 2000s, numerous units had been retired. In September 2001, ten locomotives were sold to Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia in Chile, while one unit (2177) was shipped to South Africa in August 2013. Additionally, five locomotives were transferred to Queensland Rail’s subsidiary Australian Railroad Group in Western Australia after undergoing refurbishment by Downer Rail at Port Pirie.