The NRE 3GS24C is a genset locomotive manufactured by National Railway Equipment Company, Paducah, Kentucky for use in Australia.
History Five members of the class were built for El Zorro. However, before they had left the United States, El Zorro collapsed.
In May 2013, two were unloaded at Port Kembla as demonstrators.NREC Introduces the Multi Engine locomotive to Australia Rail Express 22 May 2013"The new NREC 1200 Class Locomotives" Railway Digest July 2013 page 28"NREC 1200 Class GenSet locomotives move to South Australia" Railway Digest January 2015 page 6
After being demonstrated, they were stored at Broadmeadow. In December 2014, they were hauled to Islington Railway Workshops and are scheduled to enter service with Bowmans Rail hauling containerised hay trains from Bowmans. The other three remain in store in the United States. Unit 1203 was sold to Caraminer S.A., a subsidiary of the Central Railway Construction Company (CCFC) of Uruguay, to be used in trackwork trains. It was shipped in March 2021 from USA.
Summary OwnerClassNumber in classRoad numbersBuiltNotesWatco Australia120021201-12022013Originally ordered by El Zorro before they ceased trading, Sold to Watco Australia in late 2021.Caraminer S.A.11203Originally ordered by El Zorro before they ceased trading, Sold to Caraminer S.A. in early 2021.National Railway Equipment Company21204-1205Originally ordered by El Zorro before they ceased trading, Stored in the United States, future unknown.
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