Railway Digest – January 2019

NREC Watco Queensland Locomotives
In July 2018, Watco signed a contract with Grain Corp to operate grain trains in Queensland from areas to the west of Mackay, on the Central line from the Emerald area and on the Moura line to Gladstone and from the Darling Downs and Goondiwindi/Thallon area to Brisbane. To haul these grain trains. Watco has ordered eight new 1678kW locomotives from National Railway Equipment Company (NREC) in the United States. Peter Clark reports on these new machines, that although similar to the QUBE 1100 class, have some interesting features of their own.

The Alexandra Rail Bridge, Rockhampton
For almost 120 years, the Alexandra rail bridge has been carrying trains across the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton. As Mike Martin reports, the heritage listed, five-span steel truss bridge remains a vital piece of infrastructure on the North Coast Line linking Brisbane to Cairns.

Continuing a Tradition
An important milestone occurred on Sunday 9 December 2018, at the ARHS - Victorian Division’s Railway Museum, adjacent to Newport Workshops. 34 drivers were formally awarded Certificates to operate heritage equipment, including 10 DERM drivers, 28 heritage diesel drivers, 9 steam locomotive firemen, and 5 steam locomotive drivers. On hand were representatives from the four main-line heritage groups, the Museum itself, retired steam crews, former steam trainers, family members/partners, Union officials, V/Line (including from their Registered Training Organisation department), and from the State Government the current and recently retired Registrars, Tourist and Heritage Railways. David Campbell was there.

Out and about
A selection of images from around Australia, taken during 2018.