Written By: Scott Jesser
Photos By: Steven Jesser and Scott Jesser
Page Last Updated: 7/12/20
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Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Number Built: 3 Operational: 3 Model: PH37ACmaHi Loco Length: 22.00 Meters Weight: 132 tonnes Engine: GE Powerhaul P616 Alternator: GE 5GTA45 Traction Motors: GE 5GEB24A Horsepower: 3700 Max Speed: 100 km/h |
PH003 leads PN coal train #MA45 at Binbee. (3/2/20)
Photo By: Steven Jesser |
During the AusRail Conference in November 2011, United Group and GE Transportation announced plans to build two narrow gauge PH37ACmai locomotives as technology demonstrators for the Australian market. The manufacturer claimed the PH37ACmai would use 5% less fuel than comparable designs from their competitors and meet EU stage IIIa emission standards by using a high-speed GE PowerHaul P616 diesel engine, rated to produce 2750kW.
Construction of the first Australian Powerhaul unit began at United Group’s Broadmeadow facility in Newcastle in mid-2013 and by the end of October it was substantially complete in grey primer and numbered UGL001. The second and third PowerHaul locomotives were completed during 2014 as UGL002 and UGL003 and all three units were subsequently painted in a dark blue and green colour scheme with white UGL and GE markings on the front of the cab and the side of the long hood.
It had been envisioned that the PowerHaul locomotives would operate on the narrow gauge rail networks in Queensland and Western Australia as demonstrators under United Group ownership, but a downturn in demand for Queensland coal and general mining industry rationalization meant United Group were unable to generate sufficient interest from potential buyers to put the locomotives into traffic, and they remained at Broadmeadow. More than eight years would elapse between the AusRail announcement and the entry into regular traffic of the three PH37ACmaHi units.
Construction of the first Australian Powerhaul unit began at United Group’s Broadmeadow facility in Newcastle in mid-2013 and by the end of October it was substantially complete in grey primer and numbered UGL001. The second and third PowerHaul locomotives were completed during 2014 as UGL002 and UGL003 and all three units were subsequently painted in a dark blue and green colour scheme with white UGL and GE markings on the front of the cab and the side of the long hood.
It had been envisioned that the PowerHaul locomotives would operate on the narrow gauge rail networks in Queensland and Western Australia as demonstrators under United Group ownership, but a downturn in demand for Queensland coal and general mining industry rationalization meant United Group were unable to generate sufficient interest from potential buyers to put the locomotives into traffic, and they remained at Broadmeadow. More than eight years would elapse between the AusRail announcement and the entry into regular traffic of the three PH37ACmaHi units.
PH003 hauling PN coal train #MA37 at Almoola. (24/1/20)
Photo By: Scott Jesser |
PH003 hauling PN coal train #MA45 at Buckley. (3/2/20)
Photo By: Scott Jesser |
The Australian PowerHaul design was initially offered in two configurations as the 120 tonne PH37ACmai and the 132 tonne PH37ACmaHi. The heavier PH37ACmaHi, with a 10,500 litre fuel tank, would be restricted to operation on Aurizon’s Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN), including the Newlands, Goonyella, Blackwater and Moura Systems.
In June 2016, United Group was contracted by Pacific National to maintain its Queensland coal traffic locomotive fleet at PN’s Nebo facility, on the Goonyella System, south-west of Mackay, and agreement was reached to supply the three PH37ACmaHi locomotives to Pacific National. They were subsequently repainted into PN’s blue and yellow colour scheme and reclassified from UGL to PH class, but they remained at Broadmeadow until November 2017, when they were sent by road to Nebo.
Static and dynamic testing was conducted at several locations on the CQCN, including Villafranca (on Goonyella system’s Blair Athol line) and Armuna (on the Newlands system, near Bowen), but another two years passed before the PHs entered traffic.
Since December 2019 Pacific National’s three PH class locomotives have worked trains to the Abbot Point coal export terminal from loading points at Sonoma (on the Newlands System) and Riverside, Goonyella and Middlemount (on the Goonyella System). PN’s Newlands System trains running to Abbot Point usually have 84 x 106 tonne NHAH or NHGH wagons with either one locomotive leading, another locomotive placed between the 42nd and 43rd wagons and a third locomotive on the rear of the train or two locomotives leading and a third locomotive on the rear of the train.
The last locomotive on each set has its cab trailing, allowing the train to set back into the balloon loops at Riverside and Goonyella and loaded in reverse. The balloon loops at these locations were built to enable Goonyella system trains to load and run to Hay Point, but the completion of the Northern Missing Link between the Goonyella and Newlands Systems has allowed trains loading at Riverside and Goonyella to also run across the connection to Abbot Point.
Pacific National’s PowerHaul train consist was initially marshalled with PH003 leading 36 NHAH and 6 NHGH wagons, mid-train remote unit PH002, 4 NHAH, 2 NHGH and 36 NHAH wagons and end-of-train remote unit PH001. In early February 2020 Downer Rail GT42CU-ACe 8326 replaced PH001 on the rear of the consist and in early March PH002 was replaced as the mid-train unit by PH001.
In June 2016, United Group was contracted by Pacific National to maintain its Queensland coal traffic locomotive fleet at PN’s Nebo facility, on the Goonyella System, south-west of Mackay, and agreement was reached to supply the three PH37ACmaHi locomotives to Pacific National. They were subsequently repainted into PN’s blue and yellow colour scheme and reclassified from UGL to PH class, but they remained at Broadmeadow until November 2017, when they were sent by road to Nebo.
Static and dynamic testing was conducted at several locations on the CQCN, including Villafranca (on Goonyella system’s Blair Athol line) and Armuna (on the Newlands system, near Bowen), but another two years passed before the PHs entered traffic.
Since December 2019 Pacific National’s three PH class locomotives have worked trains to the Abbot Point coal export terminal from loading points at Sonoma (on the Newlands System) and Riverside, Goonyella and Middlemount (on the Goonyella System). PN’s Newlands System trains running to Abbot Point usually have 84 x 106 tonne NHAH or NHGH wagons with either one locomotive leading, another locomotive placed between the 42nd and 43rd wagons and a third locomotive on the rear of the train or two locomotives leading and a third locomotive on the rear of the train.
The last locomotive on each set has its cab trailing, allowing the train to set back into the balloon loops at Riverside and Goonyella and loaded in reverse. The balloon loops at these locations were built to enable Goonyella system trains to load and run to Hay Point, but the completion of the Northern Missing Link between the Goonyella and Newlands Systems has allowed trains loading at Riverside and Goonyella to also run across the connection to Abbot Point.
Pacific National’s PowerHaul train consist was initially marshalled with PH003 leading 36 NHAH and 6 NHGH wagons, mid-train remote unit PH002, 4 NHAH, 2 NHGH and 36 NHAH wagons and end-of-train remote unit PH001. In early February 2020 Downer Rail GT42CU-ACe 8326 replaced PH001 on the rear of the consist and in early March PH002 was replaced as the mid-train unit by PH001.
PH003 leading PN Coal train #MA37 at Birralee. (24/1/20)
Photo By: Scott Jesser |
PH003 leading PN Coal train #MA57 through the Leichardt Range. (5/2/20)
Photo By: Scott Jesser |
Locomotive Status
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
PH001 |
PN Blue and Yellow |
Pacific National |
Dec 2019 - Present |
Operational |
PH002 |
PN Blue and Yellow |
Pacific National |
Dec 2019 - Present |
Operational |
PH003 |
PN Blue and Yellow |
Pacific National |
Dec 2019 - Present |
Operational |