Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Joshua Watson, Ian Green, Thomas Bulic, Dean Jones, Macauley Haywood, Jack Martin, Thomas McIntosh and Brad White
Page Last Updated: 18/8/20
The SDA1 locomotives were constructed between 2011 and 2015 by Chinese company CSR Ziyang. They were made in partnership with German company MTU Friedrichshafen who supplied engine equipment in the form of a 20V4000R43L V20 engine fitted to each loco. The locomotives produce 4,220hp and were the first Chinese export locomotives made for Australia. SCT, Bradken Rail and Qube Logistics were the companies who would place orders for these units. They are dual cab locomotive with a wide-body design similar to the much older 81, G and BL class units. The cabs are isolated from the frame to reduce vibration and noise for crew comfort. In total, 18 of these SDA1 units were constructed.
CSR009-CSR002-SCT005 with #2BM9 at Menangle Park. (8/1/20)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
BK001-BK002 in Swanson Dock. (21/1/17)
Photo By: Ian Green |
CSR Class
|
Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Manufactured: China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited Number Built: 12 Model: SDA1 Loco Length: 22 meters Weight: 134 tonnes Engine: MTU20V4000R43L EFI Horsepower: 4250 Max Speed: 115 km/h Significant Events: 2012: CSRs enter service 2017: BK001 and BK002 are reclassed to CSR011 and CSR012 |
CSR005-SCT009 with SCT intermodal 6BM9 at Exeter. (25/1/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
In September 2010, SCT placed an order of 6 units from CSR Ziyang. In 2011, this order was extended by 4 to make for a total of 10 locos. They were intended for interstate freight traffic under SCT, predominantly on the Melbourne to Perth corridor to supplement their SCT class locomotives. The units received the classification of CSR, being numbered CSR001 to CSR010 which were the first SDA1 units shipped to Australia. They received the nickname ‘Pandaroos’ by SCT crews as a mix up between iconic Australian and Chinese animals. They all received the red and white standard livery, with CSR007 to CSR010 receiving SBR logos in place of SCT signage for hire on ore services in SA. These services have since ceased operation and the units now run regular SCT trains still wearing the SBR signage. One of the first services utilising the class was general freight between Horsham and Melbourne. In 2013, the entire fleet would be withdrawn as asbestos was discovered in them, despite having asbestos-free certification. They were all back in service during early 2014 with the substance removed. Today, all 10 original units work SCT services between Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as well as other SCT operated trains such as the Horsham freight in Victoria. In January 2017, SCT acquired Bradken units BK001 and BK002 renumbering them to CSR011 and CSR012 respectively. They were also repainted into the standard SCT livery and work alongside the original 10 units, for a total of 12.
CSR002-CSR006 with #5BM9 at Tarro. (3/11/17)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
CSR008-CSR005-SCT015-SCT002-CF4403 at Corio with #1PM9. (1/7/20)
Photo By: Macauley Haywood |
CSR009-CSR005 with #5MP9 at Bolivar. (30/11/18)
Photo By: Jack Martin |
CSR007-CSR009 with #9104S at Osborne. (20/5/14)
Photo By: Jack Martin |
Locomotive Status
Click on underlined Road No. for more photos
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2012 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2014 - Present |
Operational |
|
SCT w/ SCT logos |
SCT |
2014 - Present |
Operational |
BK Class
|
Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Manufactured: China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited Number Built: 2 Model: SDA1 Loco Length: 22 meters Weight: 134 tonnes Engine: MTU20V4000R43L EFI Horsepower: 4250 Max Speed: 115 km/h |
BK001-BK002 with 7922V arriving at Swanson Dock. (21/1/17)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Bradken Rail would also order 4 of their own units, however only two would ever be made and delivered. These would become the BK class and were ordered in conjunction with the SCTs CSR class, shipped with the last 4 CSR units in December 2011. Bradken was intending to use the units on ore service which would never eventuate. The two units were numbered BK001 and BK002 and wore a similar livery to the CSRs, however the red and white livery was altered to blue and white with Bradken logos. A bright orange would also be applied to the pilots of both units. Asides the livery and classification, every other aspect was identical to the CSRs. Despite these new units being delivered, they never saw operation with their owner, sitting idle at East Greta for a number of years. They would then be moved to Broadmeadow for use by Qube as training for their new QBX class before their delivery. In January 2017, the two units were acquired by SCT and would generally be used on the Horsham/Dooen freight to and from Melbourne. By the end of that year, both units were repainted into the standard SCT livery and renumbered CSR011 and CSR012. They continue to work alongside the other CSR class with SCT.
BK001-BK002 with #9721V Sims Street Junction. (1/7/17)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
BK002 with #7922V from Dooen at Newport. (23/3/17)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Locomotive Status
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
BK001 |
Bradken |
SCT |
2014 - Present |
Reclassed as CSR011 |
BK002 |
Bradken |
SCT |
2014 - Present |
Reclassed as CSR012 |
QBX Class
|
Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Manufactured: China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited Number Built: 6 Model: SDA1 Loco Length: 22 meters Weight: 134 tonnes Engine: MTU20V4000R43L EFI Horsepower: 4250 Max Speed: 115 km/h |
QBX002-QBX004 near Goulburn with 1311N Harefield freight. (25/5/19)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
In January 2013, Qube ordered 6 SDA1 model units to become the QBX class numbered QBX001 to QBX006. By March 2015, all 6 units were in service operating trains in NSW, Victoria and more recently, SA on interstate grain trains. All units are mechanically identical to the previous CSR and BK classes, but wear the standard Qube livery. They all remain in service for Qube.
QBX003-QBX006 with #1311 at Cullerin. (29/9/17)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
QBX006-QBX004-QBX005-44202 with #1311 at Yanderra. (8/4/17)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
QBX002-QBX003 with #2MC7 at Dysart. (1/10/18)
Photo By: Brad White |
QBX002-QBX005-QBX003 with #7762V at Lara. (9/7/20)
Photo By: Macauley Haywood |
Locomotive Status
Click on underlined Road No. for more photos
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
QUBE Yellow |
QUBE |
2016 - Present |
Operational |
|
QUBE Yellow |
QUBE |
2016 - Present |
Operational |
|
QUBE Yellow |
QUBE |
2016 - Present |
Operational |
|
QUBE Yellow |
QUBE |
2016 - Present |
Operational |
|
QUBE Yellow |
QUBE |
2016 - Present |
Operational |
|
QUBE Yellow |
QUBE |
2016 - Present |
Operational |
Information sourced from Wikipedia and 'An Australian Locomotive Guide' by Peter Clark