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Photo of the Month - August
August's photo of the month is class leader 3551 leading 3504 ahead of a loaded coal train through Yukan bound for Dalrymple Bay.
Aurizon's 3551 class locomotives began their life as the 3900 class. 30 3900 class locomotives were built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Government Railways between 1988 and 1990.
The locomotives were originally designed and built with the intention to be used on passenger and general freight trains on the North Coast line between Brisbane and Rockhampton as they were geared higher than the 3500 class - which were built specifically for the purpose of coal haulage, and were designed to operate at higher speeds.
As time went on, the 3900 class were withdrawn from leading general freight trains and were placed on remote slave duties on coal trains.
To suit this work better, a number of modifications were made to those 3900s. Some notable changes included the addition of access ladders, axle hung traction motors and lower gearing. These modified units were re-classed as the 3551 class.
A total of 19 3900 class locomotives were converted to 3551 class. The rest remained on North Coast traffic until they were withdrawn from service.
Date Taken: July 10th, 2023
Image supplied by: Felix Castelan
Aurizon's 3551 class locomotives began their life as the 3900 class. 30 3900 class locomotives were built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Government Railways between 1988 and 1990.
The locomotives were originally designed and built with the intention to be used on passenger and general freight trains on the North Coast line between Brisbane and Rockhampton as they were geared higher than the 3500 class - which were built specifically for the purpose of coal haulage, and were designed to operate at higher speeds.
As time went on, the 3900 class were withdrawn from leading general freight trains and were placed on remote slave duties on coal trains.
To suit this work better, a number of modifications were made to those 3900s. Some notable changes included the addition of access ladders, axle hung traction motors and lower gearing. These modified units were re-classed as the 3551 class.
A total of 19 3900 class locomotives were converted to 3551 class. The rest remained on North Coast traffic until they were withdrawn from service.
Date Taken: July 10th, 2023
Image supplied by: Felix Castelan
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