Did FCAB Chile attempt South African diesel purchase?

[Mel Turner]

In 1999/2000 there were rumorus that the Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolovia (Antofagasta (Chili) and Bolivia Railway Company – FCAB) were negotiating the purchase of surplus diesel locomotives out of South Africa. They may have been represented by Richelieu Projects from Montreal, who have acted as their factors in a number of overseas deals. In the end they purchased 10 x GL26C-2’s from the Queensland Government Railways, these arrived in Chile October 9 2001. The 3’6” gauge units had been in long term storage, were made good, undercoated, and reguaged to meter. Price delivered FOB Brisbane was US$1.65 million the lot.

The FCAB has a history of purchasing blocks of used diesels for rebuild core. 12 ex CN NF210 in 1988/9, 7 more CN NF210 ex Nicaragua 1995 (6 retained –1 onsold), 8 G12/G22/G26C-2 ex WAGR in 1998, 4 GR12 ex Colombia 2001 (1 retained – balance to FCO Bolivia), 12 GR12 + 1 U8B ex Colombia and 7 engineless GL22C’s ex Qld in 2005. The FCAB tender to the Colombian Government Receiver for the 2005 batch of GR12's was US$80k per unit, units cannibalised, and on average in storage u/s for 10 years. On 3' gauge bogies, all traction motors will require replacement (missing or obsolete D-36).

Does anyone have any details, and can confirm that the South African negotiations actually took place?

World wide higher HP 3'6"/meter rebuild core is becoming exceedingly scarce, now that Australia has fully corporatised, most of their operators prefer rebuild over new purchase, and the emerging private operations in Africa look like they will also go down this path, as are Brazil and Argentina. Have any moves been made to dispose of Zimbabwe's pool of u/s motive power?

[Rob Stanier]

Does South Africa have a surplus of diesel locomotives at present, or are there likely to be a surplus in the very near future?

I know of one private railway company located in Australia who are currently looking for second hand 3'6" gauge loco's.

I also remember the sale of ten members of the 2100 class QR locomotives to FCAB. QR are now suffering from a locomotive shortage and I would not be surprised if they now regret this sale.

Cheers
Rob