Written By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Ian Green
Page Last Updated: 24/7/20
Designed for short-haul grain services in Victoria on lightly laid lines, V/line decided to order 3 road-rail vehicles. Similar ideas had been used in the United States and Canada at this time, with what were essentially trucks hauling stored freight wagons on lines where full size locomotives were not permitted or did not have access to.
The vehicles were to be made by Western Star Trucks in the United States and rail equipment was provided by Brandt Industries of Canada. Only 1 of these trucks were ever made and delivered to V/line however. The unit was numbered RTL1, which abbreviated from ‘Road Transferable Locomotive’. It received the V/line Freight branding and livery, as well as other features such as a locomotive horn.
The vehicles were to be made by Western Star Trucks in the United States and rail equipment was provided by Brandt Industries of Canada. Only 1 of these trucks were ever made and delivered to V/line however. The unit was numbered RTL1, which abbreviated from ‘Road Transferable Locomotive’. It received the V/line Freight branding and livery, as well as other features such as a locomotive horn.
RTL1 in V/line Freight livery at South Dynon. (9/98)
Photo By: Ian Green
Photo By: Ian Green
The unit was delivered in 1995 and began its first trials north of Bendigo in the same year. It would then conduct more testing on the Cobram and Dookie branchlines. During this testing phase, it was able to haul up to seven loaded grain hopper wagons. In 1998, it was used in Gippsland to haul grain hoppers from Wurruk, west of Sale, across Thomson River into Sale yard. By 1999 and 2000, it was used to haul log trains between Bairnsdale and Sale on the Gippsland line before its official reopening. These trains were often consisting of up to 15 wagons.
When Freight Victoria began operations, taking over from V/line Freight in 1999, it received the livery of its new owner. It continued to operate trains in Gippsland as it was the only locomotive light enough to run over the Avon River bridge at Stratford. By 2000, the bridge was strengthened to handle the weight of a conventional locomotive. With this, it was no longer required in the area and returned it Melbourne where it was stored.
In 2004, ownership passed to Pacific National after takeover from Freight Australia. During its ownership with PN, it was not used on rail and continued storage in South Dynon.
It was sold to Just Track in 2011 where it was used during the 2012 upgrade of the Gawler line in Adelaide. It would assist by hauling ballast wagons and ballasting track. In 2015, it was used to haul flat wagons on the Southern Sydney Freight Line between Enfield and Leightonfield. Today, it is presumed stored.
When Freight Victoria began operations, taking over from V/line Freight in 1999, it received the livery of its new owner. It continued to operate trains in Gippsland as it was the only locomotive light enough to run over the Avon River bridge at Stratford. By 2000, the bridge was strengthened to handle the weight of a conventional locomotive. With this, it was no longer required in the area and returned it Melbourne where it was stored.
In 2004, ownership passed to Pacific National after takeover from Freight Australia. During its ownership with PN, it was not used on rail and continued storage in South Dynon.
It was sold to Just Track in 2011 where it was used during the 2012 upgrade of the Gawler line in Adelaide. It would assist by hauling ballast wagons and ballasting track. In 2015, it was used to haul flat wagons on the Southern Sydney Freight Line between Enfield and Leightonfield. Today, it is presumed stored.
Locomotive Status
Road No.RTL1
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LiveryFreight Australia
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OwnerPacific National
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Begun Service1995
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Current StateStored
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All information sourced from, Vicsig, http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c561m.htm & Wikipedia