The 81s were built by Clyde under license from GM at Kelso from 1982, with a final four built in 1991, to help replace the older GMs and Alcos which served the State Rail Authority since the start of dieselisation. They have seen service with SRA, Freightrail/Freightcorp, National Rail and now Pacific National. These locomotives are used on a number of different services including Passenger, Grain, Yard work, Container traffic and occasionally Coal duties. The 81s used in Queensland are mainly for shunting at Acacia Ridge, the occasional trip train to Rocklea and also more recently the Bromelton Stone trains.

Technical details

Model NumberJT26C-2SS
BuilderClyde Engineering, Kelso
Locomotive Numbers8101-8184
Number in Class84
Introduced1982
GaugeStandard Gauge (1,435mm or 4' 8½")
AxlesCo-CoTwo 3-axle bogies, each with a traction motor on every axle
Length19.76m
Mass129t
EngineEMD 16-645E3B
Generator/AlternatorEMD AR16
Traction MotorsEMD D77
Power2460kW / 3300HP
Starting Tractive Effort465kN @ 30% adhesion
Continuous Tractive Effort337kN @ 18km/h
Speed115km/h

Photos

11 of 84 locomotives photographed 13%

10 more to reach 25% of the class. Photographed by QRIG gallery archive (7), Shawn4468 (5) and dean.stalker.qld (2). See the leaderboard

Class roster

84 of 84 locomotives
8101182-1020Oct-82--
8102182-1021Nov-82--
810382-1022Nov-82--
810482-1023Dec-82--
810582-1024Dec-82--
810682-1025Feb-83--
810782-1026Feb-83--
810882-1027Feb-83--
810982-1028Mar-83--
811082-1029Mar-83--
811182-1030Mar-83--
8112282-1031Apr-83--
8113182-1032May-83--
8114282-1033May-83--
811582-1034May-83--
811683-1035Jun-83--
811783-1036Jun-83--
8118183-1037Jul-83--
811983-1038Jul-83--
8120483-1039Aug-83--
8121183-1040Aug-83--
812283-1041Aug-83--
8123183-1042Sep-83--
812483-1043Oct-83--
812583-1044Oct-83--

References

'New South Wales 81 class locomotive', Wikipedia (accessed October 2026)
'81 Class', Railtram Australia (accessed October 2026)