this si pretty cool! i like the roaring rumbling sound of the diesel electrics but. Used to love the old 2 stroke diesels they were like fire breathing dragons as a kid.
Fantastic video! About 12 years prior to this I had a job for a short while at a coal sampling plant at Gladstone, and had the opportunity one night to help get samples from one of the trains which had come in to the Port of Gladstone (from Oakey Creek). I never had the chance to go out to the mines to see the trains loaded but had a good look around the Port of Gladstone.
I have lost count of the times I have driven under the Boonal coal loader but never seen a train being loaded. It's been there a long time now. I used to work at the South Blackwater (Laleham) mine long ago. Just spent a week (Early May 2017) close to the Rocky-Gladstone line and didn't see any of those locos.
+Codenwarra Cove With the drop in coal prices, mines have closed here and there so it's possible that the mine just to the north of the loader is currently not working. I need to make another trip up there.
@Thomas Munn Most of this coal is metallurgical coal intended to make coke for blast furnaces and not for power stations. The lower grade coal from the top of the seams is also used for power. This is the Bowen Basin and the main seams are called Castor and Pollux. However the Boonal loader serves the Yarrabee mine, which is has low volatile, semi-anthracite if I recall correctly after more than 35 years. I also know about the Drax plant.
+Tanki Divide The electrics are superior. A diesel locomotive rated 4,000 hp can produce no more than that as that is the output of the diesel. A 4000 hp electric locomotive however can, for a limited time, put out substantially more than 4,000 hp. The 4000 quoted for an electric is usually the continuous loading for output at which the motors will not overheat. So output above the 4,000 followed by time below 4,000 will not cause overheating. That makes electrics quicker.
Initially there were problems due to resonances that the track geometry car couldn't pick up, but after stiffening the suspension a bit, the locomotive rode really well, according to John Dunn's history of Comeng (Part 4, Chapter 15). I think most of its bad reputation came from the lack of spare parts and adequate workshop equipment to properly maintain it. If the Maldon-Dombarton line had been built, additional locomotives to work it would've been dual voltage versions of 8650, and it's likely the remaining 86s may have been rebuilt as dual voltage as well.
Thanks for your information. Unfortunately after privatisation of the freight network in New South Wales there was absolutely no interest in fiddling around with electrics, which I greatly regret.
Here in the states they're very generous with their horn soundings. They do it intermittently every time they come to a crossing and then usually all the way through the crossing itself the horn is blasting. Every crossing every time except private crossings. So in town and the big cities train horns are very common indeed. The latest tech is to have the horns mounted right at the crossing itself with a distinct sound while the actual train horn is silent through these type of crossings in heavily populated areas especially at night. That's what the complainers who don't like real train horns get when they complain loud enough. Whatever works...
I don’t know why, but for some reason I assumed you were in Melbourne where many road and foot crossings require a Toot on the whistle. I have been to the US and know of the law requiring a long long short long at every road crossing. I think you will find that the rest of the world sees that as overkill, assuming that if a person is near a rail crossing and they hear a train whistle, they should expect to see a train. Unless a potential danger is seen, a little Toot suffices. Also in some states here, a short Toot is blown when about to leave a station. We also seem to manage somehow without the changing of bells on the loco coming into a station. I had not heard of those street mounted horns. Level crossing here have bells (but not in Queensland!) which ring when active, but still just a Toot suffices. Same with quiet crossings protected by just a STOP sign. To each his own :-)
Why anyone would need to hear that long winded code to watch out for a train is beyond me. Anyone with half a brain hearing any loud train whistle is going to be alert that a train is coming.
When you are starting to think of seriously commencing such a career, go somewhere where drivers wait for their next train and ask a few how they like the job. You may learn a lot.
A far greater shame is coal stealing all the 3900 locomotives which used to run from Brisbane up the Northcoast and never giving them back! Nothing is more stupid than running diesel locomotives for hundreds of kilometres under wire.
I loaded countless 3500 series trains on the Goonyella system over my 25 years in the train loadout at Goonyella/ Riverside mine they are the worst compared to the 3700 series.
Thanks to you, too. I think it’s a great pity that the 3900 series were not returned to the rest of QR for use on the North Coast line. And the government is too gutless to demand they get given back. I suppose they are all scrapped by now.
Whatever are left are owned by Aurizon now, and possibly all converted to 3550. 3550 class is currently in service in the Goonyella corridor and serviced at the Jilalan depot. The dead end road at jilalan has become a 3550 graveyard.
@raykat42 Thanks for that update. I know that the 3900 series was grabbed by the coal division before Aurizon was created because coal was short of electrics, but they certainly should have been returned to QR when Aurizon was created. Now when the tilt train is undergoing maintenance, the replacement carriages are hauled by sluggish diesels whereas electric locomotives would have been somewhat more sprightly. At least now Aurizon has more electrics than they know what to do with. Of course you will be well aware of all that.
One of the best videos of central qld in the glory days!!
👍👍
this si pretty cool! i like the roaring rumbling sound of the diesel electrics but. Used to love the old 2 stroke diesels they were like fire breathing dragons as a kid.
Fantastic video! About 12 years prior to this I had a job for a short while at a coal sampling plant at Gladstone, and had the opportunity one night to help get samples from one of the trains which had come in to the Port of Gladstone (from Oakey Creek). I never had the chance to go out to the mines to see the trains loaded but had a good look around the Port of Gladstone.
+ozdazz
Hi. It's great that this video bought back some memories and maybe answered some questions.
been there done that 07-11...loved it...
One night I did a lot more than ride 😊😉 Diesel, 10k tonnes....
tressteleg1 no doubt you might have more than 10k to love lol
👍
I have lost count of the times I have driven under the Boonal coal loader but never seen a train being loaded. It's been there a long time now. I used to work at the South Blackwater (Laleham) mine long ago. Just spent a week (Early May 2017) close to the Rocky-Gladstone line and didn't see any of those locos.
+Codenwarra Cove
With the drop in coal prices, mines have closed here and there so it's possible that the mine just to the north of the loader is currently not working. I need to make another trip up there.
Last time I was out that way - December 2016, the Boonal loader was working, there was a stockpile by the road.
Hopefully coal prices are going to pick up soon as worlds wide nations are building hundreds of coal power plants. I heard a figure of 750 plants!
@Thomas Munn Most of this coal is metallurgical coal intended to make coke for blast furnaces and not for power stations. The lower grade coal from the top of the seams is also used for power. This is the Bowen Basin and the main seams are called Castor and Pollux. However the Boonal loader serves the Yarrabee mine, which is has low volatile, semi-anthracite if I recall correctly after more than 35 years. I also know about the Drax plant.
I was a driver in Bluff in the 80's 5 clyde loco's 100 wagons or 3 loco's and 60 wagons
Those electric engines changed everything nevertheless there still seems to be occasional diesel trains in the Bluff area.
My dad works at the mine between bluff and blackwater and by the way i like this video awesome views
Thanks. I would like to be able to get more modern video on the coal lines, but now getting aboard is trickier than ever.
6:24: "Junction speed 80km/h"
Mostly due to the usage of moveable point frogs, as can be seen clearly @6:31......
How do these electric locomotives compare to the diesel ones? Are they more or less powerful, and can they accelerate a train quicker?
+Tanki Divide
The electrics are superior. A diesel locomotive rated 4,000 hp can produce no more than that as that is the output of the diesel. A 4000 hp electric locomotive however can, for a limited time, put out substantially more than 4,000 hp. The 4000 quoted for an electric is usually the continuous loading for output at which the motors will not overheat. So output above the 4,000 followed by time below 4,000 will not cause overheating. That makes electrics quicker.
Are they going to continue using them? Because they have been scraping a bunch of the older locos. Are these being replaced?
@@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042 20 of these 3800 class locos were ordered in 2006 and another 25 in 2007 so they were fairly new as locos go.
Righteo....the EL’s in this vid are near 4000hp but DC traction motors, could lift a load and motor along, but
👍
Remember when they tested these things on the NSW network, being a co-co-co configuration they cause all sorts of issues with the SG track geometry
Interesting!
Initially there were problems due to resonances that the track geometry car couldn't pick up, but after stiffening the suspension a bit, the locomotive rode really well, according to John Dunn's history of Comeng (Part 4, Chapter 15). I think most of its bad reputation came from the lack of spare parts and adequate workshop equipment to properly maintain it. If the Maldon-Dombarton line had been built, additional locomotives to work it would've been dual voltage versions of 8650, and it's likely the remaining 86s may have been rebuilt as dual voltage as well.
Thanks for your information. Unfortunately after privatisation of the freight network in New South Wales there was absolutely no interest in fiddling around with electrics, which I greatly regret.
Why is it the 86s suffered cracked frames hauling coal and not a scratch with the Qld electrics? Different build and config etc?
I have no idea.
They don't sound their horn very often there do they?
No, it’s not Melbourne :-)
Here in the states they're very generous with their horn soundings. They do it intermittently every time they come to a crossing and then usually all the way through the crossing itself the horn is blasting. Every crossing every time except private crossings. So in town and the big cities train horns are very common indeed. The latest tech is to have the horns mounted right at the crossing itself with a distinct sound while the actual train horn is silent through these type of crossings in heavily populated areas especially at night. That's what the complainers who don't like real train horns get when they complain loud enough. Whatever works...
I don’t know why, but for some reason I assumed you were in Melbourne where many road and foot crossings require a Toot on the whistle.
I have been to the US and know of the law requiring a long long short long at every road crossing. I think you will find that the rest of the world sees that as overkill, assuming that if a person is near a rail crossing and they hear a train whistle, they should expect to see a train. Unless a potential danger is seen, a little Toot suffices. Also in some states here, a short Toot is blown when about to leave a station. We also seem to manage somehow without the changing of bells on the loco coming into a station. I had not heard of those street mounted horns. Level crossing here have bells (but not in Queensland!) which ring when active, but still just a Toot suffices. Same with quiet crossings protected by just a STOP sign. To each his own :-)
isn’t m’erica rules...2shorts/1long/1short blast...qld aus 2sec for a rxing
Why anyone would need to hear that long winded code to watch out for a train is beyond me. Anyone with half a brain hearing any loud train whistle is going to be alert that a train is coming.
I’d love to be a driver one day
When you are starting to think of seriously commencing such a career, go somewhere where drivers wait for their next train and ask a few how they like the job. You may learn a lot.
Hope you dont have a social life, and a very understanding significant other.
The attitude of management towards their staff leaves a lot to be desired from what I hear. On top of shiftwork etc.
Ouch, 23kph over a Slow 15. Geez Im glad these things went to Jillalan.
It's a shame all the 3100s were rebuilt as 3700s
A far greater shame is coal stealing all the 3900 locomotives which used to run from Brisbane up the Northcoast and never giving them back! Nothing is more stupid than running diesel locomotives for hundreds of kilometres under wire.
@@tressteleg1 Yeah
@@tressteleg1 There is far more to it than that. I wont say any more.
@@MrBundyrumandcoke I’m all ears!
I loaded countless 3500 series trains on the Goonyella system over my 25 years in the train loadout at Goonyella/ Riverside mine they are the worst compared to the 3700 series.
Thanks for your inside knowledge 😊
I've been loading trains in the Goonyella corridor as a driver for the past 15 years, and I concur.
Thanks to you, too. I think it’s a great pity that the 3900 series were not returned to the rest of QR for use on the North Coast line. And the government is too gutless to demand they get given back. I suppose they are all scrapped by now.
Whatever are left are owned by Aurizon now, and possibly all converted to 3550. 3550 class is currently in service in the Goonyella corridor and serviced at the Jilalan depot. The dead end road at jilalan has become a 3550 graveyard.
@raykat42 Thanks for that update. I know that the 3900 series was grabbed by the coal division before Aurizon was created because coal was short of electrics, but they certainly should have been returned to QR when Aurizon was created. Now when the tilt train is undergoing maintenance, the replacement carriages are hauled by sluggish diesels whereas electric locomotives would have been somewhat more sprightly. At least now Aurizon has more electrics than they know what to do with. Of course you will be well aware of all that.