NR77 & NR78 Bogan Gate NSW. Sat 28th June 2025

Running a few minutes early NR77 & NR78 pass through Bogan Gate NSW with west bound high speed express intermodal service 7SP7 bound for Perth WA, another three days away. Being a morning service ex Goobang Junction the train does not feature double stacked containers. In the background are Rail First Asset Management's locomotives CF4412 and CF4422 in lay up in the Silo Siding. The pair are awaiting a branch line loaded grain train to arrive off the Tottenham NSW line and have been hired out to Qube Logistics. A renown early runner 7SP7 is well subscribed today with few empty spots, quiet a few removal company containers, strangely no Kent removals, are aboard with Pedemonts, Grace, AMG, Bundaberg Removals and Furniture Freighters all heading west. Bogan Gate history: GrainCorp closed down the Bogan Gate grain handling facilities as part of their "reform" initiative in 2017. Many local jobs were lost as a result with many local families leaving the town to seek other employment. The Manildra Group operate a large terminal, served by rail, four kilometres away at Bogan Gate West. Bogan Gate railway station opened on the 15th of December 1896 and closed on the 18th of November 1989 after the "Silver City Comet" passenger train service was terminated. The 621 metre long Silo Siding, to the right as the train approaches, is still in use and a rake of grain hoppers can be seen stored in the distance. The old five-ton hand crane is all that remains of the once Goods Siding, also the site of the yards Loading Bank. The Loading Bank was demolished some years back and the Goods Siding was also lifted and removed. The 553 metre Loop Line, to the left of the main line, seldom sees use due to the length of today's trains which use the 1,920 metre long Yarrabandai Loop, another 22kms down the line. However, it is often used as a locomotive run around for grain trains that come off the Tottenham NSW branch line. Across from the station building is the Bogan Gate Hotel, which was refurbished in 2022 and offers cold beer plus a lunch and dinner menu, it's popular with many locals, passing truck drivers and farmers. NR class GE Cv40-9i model locomotive: Goninan's at Newcastle NSW built NR1 to NR 60 whilst their Western Australian factory at Bassendean built NR61 to NR120. The loco's were originally built for the National Rail Corporation, an Australian federal government initiative involving state government shareholders. The NR class are designated GE model Cv40-9i series using imported American technology from General Electric USA with the locomotives built by Goninan & Co under license from GE. Powered by a four stroke V16 turbo charged GE 7FDL-16 prime mover delivering just over 4,000hp and a published track speed of 115KMh. Nearing 30 years of age the NR class have been a success story and have proved to be a most reliable locomotive, however, in recent years some reliability issues have surfaced as the locomotives age. Pacific National have been overhauling the locomotives to extend their working life. High speed express freight locomotives have come along way technology wise since the introduction of the NR class. GE's latest product is the C44aci series, although based on the Cv40-9i series concept, vast improvements in technology and fuel efficiencies have been made. Some 117 of the NR class remain in service, three have been written off and scrapped, they being: NR33 which was written off and scrapped due to the level crossing accident damage incurred at Lismore VIC on the 25th of May 2006. NR41 & NR79 were also scrapped in early 2024 after the level crossing collision and derailments west of Broken Hill NSW on the 31st of December 2023. To conserve fuel the NR class, have a three-stage horsepower setting activated in the driver cab, this is to provide only the power needed to the tonnage hauled at the time. Settings are: 2,850hp, 3,560hp and 4,020hp. The "NR" class are to be replaced with the new "94" class with the first new locomotives being completed in mid 2024 with the first four of 50 locomotives, being completed. The 94 class are designated C44ESACi "Evolution Series" model. NR77 was handed over new on the 13th of February 1997, and sister NR78 on the 17th of March 1997, both were built by Goninan's at Bassendean WA. Did you know? Bogan Gate was first settled around two kilometres to the north of its present location. The original settlement was around the Gunningbland Creek area where a small lagoon provided fresh water to the settlers. When the railway was established, the settlers moved to where the town exists today. Originally, the main west line was to have gone via Trundle but this was later changed to Bogan Gate. The "Selectors Arms Hotel" can still be seen today, derelict, near the Bogan Gate North passive level crossing. 1004hrs on Saturday 28th June 2025.