Queensland Belt

[alinfred]

come on talk to me

[Anonymous]

Antonio, GDRMCo, 4884bigboy,

The locomotives you might be thinking of are the Victorian Railways "B" class locomotives which are model number ML2. These were introduced in 1952 and in all 26 were built. They looked very similar to the the EMD E units but had cabs at either end but they were also shorter and rode on Co-Co trucks instead of the A1A-A1A trucks on the US engines. During the early 1980's 11 of the "B" class were rebuilt and redesignated the "A" class and it is these units wihich carry the model number AATC22C-2R.

QUOTE: I've got a lot of books that call the Austrailian looking F and E units "Austrailian copies" or "EMD clones".

Not really correct because the locomotives are genuine EMD products, they were just built locally by a Sydney company Clyde Engineering which holds an EMD licence. The "A" class for example contains an EMD 12-645E3B prime engine and an EMD AR10-A4-CA5 / D18 generator.

Several of the "B" class locomotives have been scrapped but a few remain in service. To date all 11 "A" class remain in operation with Freight Australia and V/Line Passenger.

Unfortunately i've got no idea what an AA6 looks like or any details about it. A little help??

[alinfred]

i can place ore coming from mt.isa or greenvale but i am not to sure where your farmers co-op golden hill depot is located

[GDRMCo]

Townsville rural area.

[alinfred]

i would be interested to know what area your queensland belt r/road represents

[Anonymous]

I've got a lot of books that call the Austrailian looking F and E units "Austrailian copies" or "EMD clones".

[AntonioFP45]

GDRMco

Hey guy,

I'm might have been referring to the wrong locomotive. I went to Railpictures.net and typed in Australia in the "Key Word" box.

The Australian version of the EMD "E unit" that's double ended is called an AAT22C-2R. This looks similar to an E8, though with two cabs.

Anyway, just a suggestion for interesting looking motive power. If double ended units like this are not available in N or HO scales, it might be a worthwhile kitbashing project.

Cheers!

[GDRMCo]

Is this what a AA6 looks like?
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/emd511.jpg
or this?
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00002549

[GDRMCo]

I will have a regular local passenger train which runs to the Farmers Co-op Golden Hill Depot with mail and water cans and will pick up 2 reefers with milk butter and beef for sales at markets and in shops. The SD9s will power the freights and ore trains. The Geeps will haul the freights and everything else. I might use AA6s for the passenger train. Or i could use AB6s.

[AntonioFP45]

Cool concept.

I've seen quite a number of Austrailian locomotives. Some look really neat, IMHO. Will you be using any of the "double ended" units on your line?

Also, even though its a shortline are you going to have any passenger trains that "cruise through"? Since you're using GP7s and 9s, the AA6 (double ended E units) and RDC would fit right in if you were considering including passenger trains.

Paint scheme idea offers some good color contrasts! Please post the picture when you get your first locomotive painted.

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Sounds neat!

[GDRMCo]

I have changed my plans on the layout in the new house. Instead of being a branch of the GDRMCo or GDRM&MCo it will be a shortline in N scale called the Queensland Belt. It uses a small fleet of GP7s and GP9s as well as a pair of SD9s. All are painted in a deep red with 8 thin white stripes running horizontaly through the middle of the body and the cab. The roof is a light black seperated from the body with a thin white stripe.