Railways and Tramways of Australia

Ready, set, go

 

The first 90 Class locomotives commenced service in New South Wales on 29 May 1994.

 

An acute need for more motive power in the early 1990s led Freight Rail, a division of the State Rail Authority of New South Wales, to reach an agreement with Clyde Engineering for the supply of new locomotives. Two types were ordered: heavy-powered units, which became the 90 Class, and medium-powered units, which became the 82 Class.

 

The locomotives were leased from Clyde Engineering under a Ready Power agreement in which Clyde would maintain the locomotives for 15 years at a new facility on Kooragang Island, near Newcastle.

 

Obtained for Hunter Valley coal haulage, 31 of the single-cab 90 Class units were built in London, Ontario, Canada. They had 4000 horsepower (2863 kW) available for traction and weighed 165.2 tonnes. Another four units were later built locally. Many members of the class were named after male Olympic medallists.

 

Following trials, six of the 90 Class commenced revenue service on 29 May 1994. 9001 and 9006 departed Kooragang Island for Mount Thorley. They were followed later by 9004 and 9002. Finally, 9005 and 9007 worked light engine to Port Waratah and then attached to a train for Newdell.

 

Shortly after the 90 Class began operating, the 82 Class entered service. They are similar in appearance, but the 82 Class has cabs at both ends.

 

The heavy weight of the 90 Class restricted their range to Hunter Valley coal working in regular service. They are owned by Pacific National and are now approaching the end of their working lives. Most members of the 90 Class have been placed into storage.

 

The Ready Power agreement provided the 90 Class locomotives in 1994 that were ready and set to go.

 

Bibliography

‘First 82 and 90 Class units enter service’, Railway Digest, vol. 32, no. 7, July 1994, p 13.

‘New diesel units galore: older diesels withdrawn’, The Railway News, vol. 46, no. 3, June 1994, pp 53–9.

‘Ready Power is taking off in New South Wales’ Network, vol. 31, no. 3, July-August-September 1994, pp 17–21.

R Renton, ‘Loco profile: the Ready Power 82 and 90 Class’, Motive Power, no. 93, May 2014, pp 29–57.