A must-read! Now online is a brand new long-read about the AURIZON Coal trains at Gladstone Australia. Take a look at Siemens E40AC electrics, the most powerful narrow-gauge locomotives in the world, in every day service. Click here (or click the image) and enjoy.

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In July 2008, the first Siemens electric type 3800, set foot in Australia. Since then the Germans are delivering 20 such machines to Queensland Rail, ordered in April 2006. In October 2007, 25 additional machines were ordered, of which delivery will start at the end of 2009.

This month the roll-out took place of the first electric for another (private) operator from down-under. Pacific National, the largest private railway company in Australia, will soon be able to take delivery of the first of 23 Class 7100 electric freight locomotives. The locomotive rolled out of the Munich-Allach plant on February 16 and is due to arrive in Brisbane, Australia, at the beginning of April. It will then continue on its journey to the coal mines in Queensland. The other 22 locomotives will be delivered over the next 12 months. They are currently being built in the Siemens plant in Munich-Allach, Germany.

Weighing 132 metric tons, the Class 7100 electric freight locomotive is a six-axle vehicle with a power rating of 4,000 kW and a maximum speed of 80 km/h. It will be operating on the narrow Australian track gauge of 1,067 millimeters. Pacific National wants to use the powerful locomotive for coal transport in Queensland. Its efficient traction and regenerative brake systems ensure lower energy consumption and a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions.- Siemens

When there are railway fans from Australia, which would like to contribute pictures or information about these machines, please let us know. Maybe we can make a picture-gallery about these machines.