I took this photo of CLP10 in June 2011 just down the road from where I live in suburban Eastwood (Sydney). For a few years, some of the CL class locos that once plied the Australian outback across the Nullabor Plain between Adelaide and Perth,were utilised by local operator QR National (now Aurizon) on east coast intermodal services, so instead of making a long distance pilgrimage to Port Augusta to photograph them, they came to me! CLP10 was built by Clyde Engineering at Granville in Sydney in June 1972 with original road number CL17, the last member of its class built for Commonwealth Railways, and it therefore has the distinction of being the last EMD streamlined cab loco built in the world. Even after a rebuild in the 1990s by Morrison Knudsen for passenger operations, it retains an EMD 645 power plant and the original bulldog nose styling, albeit married to the Mansard roof carbody of a more modern 3000hp unit, a feature also unique to this class. In a way this loco can trace its lineage right back to 1939 EMD demonstrator FT103, and stands as the final example of the iconic American locomotive design that ushered in the modern railway era. Now retired from active service, CLP10 presently sits on death row at Goulburn NSW, along with several of its fellow CL class, awaiting its fate. If sold locally, it is unlikely to go to another operator, as there is allegedly a caveat on the sale - despite its age it is still a versatile mainline unit, and present owner Aurizon may prefer not to see it used on services in competition with its own long haul operations. And as owner, of course theyre entitled to dispose of it on their terms. This leaves the possibility of a Museum. As the CL class were not used by any State based rail systems, a logical home for CLP10 would seem to be the National Rail Museum at Port Dock, Adelaide. But they have their own issues with space and budgeting and are probably not a contender. Perhaps an American Railroad Museum? They would have to have deep pockets. Rumours persist that the locos at Goulburn could be sold to an off shore buyer, possibly for operating overseas (South Africa has been mentioned) or they may just be sold for scrap. As there are six members of the CL class still in active service with Genesee & Wyoming Australia, it is quite likely that one or more of them will be preserved in the long term. But it would seem a shame to scrap CLP10/ CL17, which has its own unique place in railway history. It would seem that The Last Streamliner is facing a most uncertain future. :-(
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:19:38 +0000
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