NREC RL class locomotive

RL class locomotive
RL304 with 44204 at Cronulla Railway Station, NSW
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder RTS, Islington Railway Workshops Model NREC AT36-C Build date 2005–2010 Total produced 9
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Length 19.1 m (62 ft 8 in) Loco weight 132 tonnes Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 16-645F3B Traction motors General Electric GE752 Cylinders 16
Performance figures Maximum speed 115 km/h (71 mph) Tractive effort 2,610 kW (3,500 hp)
Career Operators Southern Shorthaul Railroad Qube Logistics Number in class 9 Numbers RL301–RL307, RL309–RL310 First run October 2005 Current owner Qube Logistics Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 9 in service

The RL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Rail Technical Support Group (RTS) for the National Railway Equipment Company at Islington Railway Workshops in Australia.

The concept of the RL class dates back to 1994 when Morrison Knudsen Australia purchased some 442 class locomotives from the State Rail Authority with the aim of rebuilding them with EMD 16 645F3B engines. However the project was shelved and the locomotives scrapped.

Following National Railway Equipment Company purchasing Morrison Knudsen, the project was revitalised albeit using new locomotive frames. Nine were built by RTS at Islington Railway Workshops, Adelaide between 2005 and 2010 with bogies and compressors from the 442s and reconditioned parts from the United States.

Seven were originally built and initially owned by ^[1][2][3] One was included in the sale of the South Spur Rail Services business to Qube Logistics in May 2010 who later took delivery of a further two. A tenth was not completed after a defect was discovered in the frame and scrapped.

They have hauled freight services in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In April 2016, the six Greentrains units were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad.^[4][5]

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