Isa Line Clydes Watco and Qube | Railed It

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Great stuff Kyle! I was in Townsville on Saturday 1/6 on my first visit to that area and discovered this train sitting in Partington Yards. Information I read today (9/6) says these locos are owned and operated by Progress Rail. I look forward as always, to more of your videos - I learn *SO* much out of them!!! 😍

[@kylegleeson8638]

Glad you got something out of it Toby!

[@taureanlea3777]

Good to see old QLD Clydes with different operators across QLD e.g. Watco now, a very different world away from when all of them were part of what was one a fully integrated and Government owned QR. Ahh the good old QR back then 🇦🇺

[@FishplateFilms]

Nice work Kyle! The triple Clydes were a treat and the 2800's sounded good also. Great flying as well and nice audio dubbing on the drone footage. Cheers Gregg.

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks Gregg, Funnily enough I didn't have sound for the first drone shot. On the return I paced the train west of Southern cross to get that notch 8 growl. They got down to 40kph.

[@FishplateFilms]

@@kylegleeson8638 Nice ! I'd love to see 3 Clydes pull a train up the Little Liverpool at Laidley!

[@kylegleeson8638]

I think it did happen when the 2700s were being trialled on coal services. two 23s and two 27s it was about two years ago.

[@Skyvation643]

Another top video. Nice work mate !! Mint drone footage too. Go the Clyde's 😄

[@kylegleeson8638]

Cheers Josh, you still hanging in SEQ, flick me a message I'm looking at coming down in the new year. I've got a new phone, a cane bin crushed it in September

[@Skyvation643]

@@kylegleeson8638 yeah mate sure am ! Yeah let us know mate, be good to catch up. Same number still ??

[@kylegleeson8638]

​@@Skyvation643 yea mate same number the sim card survived surprisingly

[@Skyvation643]

@@kylegleeson8638 hahaha awesome dude 🤙

[@keithposehn]

Nice video. Great to see something besides an endless stream of GT42’s and CM30-8’s.

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks Keith, it sure is!

[@SantaFe5811]

Nice work! My last time to Townsville & the Isa line was 2009, 2600 & 2800 class were supreme! I'm heading over to Townsville next year, looking forward to spending a few days on the Isa line and also down on the Goon show (Goonyella system).

[@kylegleeson8638]

One of the things I wish I'd seen. Might see you around!

[@SantaFe5811]

@@kylegleeson8638 there was something magical about quad 2600s on a loaded coal train on the Newlands System. Incredible sound.

[@Heino5010]

God the triple Clydes sound mental

[@kylegleeson8638]

Yes It was worth the petrol!

[@TCFan25]

Funny how Aurizon flogged them off to South Africa, only to be purchased back again lol! Apart from stinking Aurizon, it's great to see the smaller companies investing in the refurb of these units and giving them a new lease on life. I guess the ex state/semi-private crew operators probably feel more appreciated and in a better position with these smaller companies too - my presumption!

[@kylegleeson8638]

Glencore have purchased the wagons and are leasing the locomotives from Progress Rail. Qube are only crewing these services. The Mount Isa Mines service has taken a turn for the worse. when PN started there was an increase in road train services as there were no container flats available for use. With Glencore tearing up the 9M48/9249 and 6M54/9255 services. Aurizon is currently making up the shortfall with those services re-instated and Glencore are paying for it. There are strings of 40 foot flats at Partington yard and Charters Towers awaiting use by Qube. There are crewing issues as well these locos aren't coping. The Isa Line is riddled with DTC crossing loops. When you get the train to line speed you have to slow down to 25kph. It's not really ideal for 2000hp locomotives. As you probably heard they're getting a work out!

[@TCFan25]

@@kylegleeson8638 Wow...so many more fingers in the pie than I realised. I admit my presumptions were rather naive from the beginning and appreciate the enlightenment. In your opinion which operator do you believe to be currently above board all the rest? Are you much familiar with Bowen Rail? Again I appreciate your feedback and time

[@kylegleeson8638]

@@TCFan25 Ideally Aurizon is top dog. It has purchased One Rail Australia. With more bulk commodity contracts picked up especially in SA. As apart of the ACCC agreement, the ORA coal trains in the Hunter Valley and the single set operating on the Goonyella system are to be divested into another company. Bowen Rail is Adani's solution to bad publicity. If the protesters stop that train the average joe will have no correlation to it. (Those protestors are a pain in the arse making it harder to go lineside especially on the coalfields) I like Bowen Rail, though stating themselves as the next gen and newest operator of Queensland in 20 years is a bit of a flog. Will admit the 4600s are the most powerful Diesel locomotives on NG in Australia.

[@TCFan25]

@@kylegleeson8638 As for Aurizon, fair call. I only came across Bowen as they were recently advertising for cleanskin trainees. Unlike PN, they clearly seem to only want to 'support the locals' - meaning we can't be f*cked with relocation packages, DIDO/FIFO etc...save us the cash and headaches! Out of the lot, they seem to be more on the boutique end of the rail co's with an equally pretentious 20 year statement to boot - Typically these long term plans will get a quarter of that time and either sell up and shut shop. Didn't realise the 4600s were built here - first glance they look very Chinesey to me!

[@kylegleeson8638]

The 4600s were built in the USA by Progress Rail/EMD, they are the base export model with a different cab. Search up GT42AC. Adani was going to go with GE Powerhaul locomotives. The three demonstrator units PN picked up did a few runs on the Newlands and ended up as mid train units on the Goonyella. It is rather stupid there were people in Townsville interested in driving down to work for Bowen Rail.

[@duodetrenes]

Like 48. Wonderful video. Iam suscribe in your channel. Getting from argentina

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks my friend. Argentina has nice railways I subscribed to you as well. Glad to have followers all over the world!

[@michaelfeldman-budarick9295]

Another incredible video kyle, I always look forward to them Clyde's look awesome especially when they run elephant style

[@kylegleeson8638]

It's been great! It's reminiscent of scenes on the Moura and Newlands systems prior to GT42s.

[@michaelfeldman-budarick9295]

@@kylegleeson8638 I can't wait for the pn sugar train with 83 class love single ones on the Proserpine set, also looking forward to watching those new 46 class with Bowen rail

[@kylegleeson8638]

That was the only footage I got over its three years of operation. Haven't had the opportunity to go to Mackay during the crush.

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Excellent detail complimented with good train scenes. No fishing rod and tackle this time required? The new Aurizon "all over yellow"' looks a touch boring, keeping costs down I guess. Cracking scenery adds value, great work Kyle.

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks Dave, no not this time around! I wasn't in a rush to get to the next spot. Yea Canary livery weathers poorly, its only good for the first two months.

[@trevormaxwell3480]

A great video though thanks a lot

[@John-wd5om]

Thanks for an amazing video kyle, I love the drone footage! Also what is the name of the band used in the closing titles please?

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks John! The song at the end is; Elevators Need Rock Too by Spence. It can be found in the KZbin Audio Library

[@John-wd5om]

@@kylegleeson8638 thanks Kyle, I will check that song out!

[@shcdoodle1]

Is Qube getting any super clydes? Also ive always wondered why they use rotary dump wagons for mineral traffic as opposed to bottom dump wagons. Great video as always, btw.

[@kylegleeson8638]

PRA001 is doing odd jobs around Townsville currently. Will definitely get coverage when it leads. Only one as of current. www.flickr.com/photos/191234560@N02/51690778399/in/datetaken-public/

[@kylegleeson8638]

Mineral concentrates clump together and don't fall through doors too well compared to coal and ballast. A good example is sugar cane. We use a tippler to unload bins like a rotary dump.

[@rodneyjeffery9726]

Cool mate

[@philm8329]

Awesome video mate great to see the old stomping ground the locos Qube are using are our old 2170's by the looks any chance what numbers please mate

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks! Glencore have leased seven locomotives from Progress Rail; six GT22C-3M (2250s) repatriated from Africa and one GT38LC-3 (2700). Dubbed PRL 201-206 and PRA001

[@philm8329]

@@kylegleeson8638 thank a million mate

[@1960bobthebuilder]

@@kylegleeson8638 Just a slight correction...the GT22C-3M locomotives we see here working for QUBE , were , in my opinion, never located in Africa. They follow the standard design of the 2300s with a full size fuel tank, and a cowling on the left hand side of the locomotive to accomodate the turbo. (Located about one metre behind the driver's assistant's side of the cab.) Many of the 2170 class on the other hand, were relocated to South Africa. And many of them have returned to Australia, and are being operated by Watco. They are 16 cylinder locomotives. They have no turbo and no cowling. Many of them have short fuel tanks as well. This was in order for them to not be too heavy for the rail system back in the 1980s. I used to have a hand in maintaining them for QR back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

[@kylegleeson8638]

@@1960bobthebuilder Aurizon shipped them off in 2014 with Progress Rail repatriating them in late 2019 and further rebuilding them in Victoria fitting them with toilets for use by late 2021. There are still six 2250s in Africa currently. Nice mate.

[@1960bobthebuilder]

@@kylegleeson8638 Ok. I stand corrected. I must have watched too many South African videos which had only 2170 locos. I never knew there were any 2250 locos in South Africa.

[@maxcocks3468]

I love your videos One of my best friends drive coal trains and of Serena My 1st Passion is horse racing do you like horse racing I love your driving shots on which 2nd do more than me

[@kylegleeson8638]

Thanks Max. Nice. Yea I don't mind horse racing, its amazing to see the movement of them galloping.

[@TheSouthernytIRL]

And now there's bowen rail

[@kylegleeson8638]

Will have to see. Protesters have been going crazy since they've started up. Gotta weigh up the risks; getting put in the back of a police vehicle or wasting a lot of effort for entitled individuals to stop the network.

[@trevormaxwell3480]

How many rail operaters do we need

[@trevormaxwell3480]

A great video though thanks a lot

[@kylegleeson8638]

Glad you enjoyed it Trevor