Austrac (Australian Traction Corporation Pty Ltd) was formed in January 1995, trading as Austrac Ready Power. It leased the then disused Junee locomotive depot, purchased three ex-Freight Corp locomotives 44229, 44233 and 4537 and by June 1995 had these locomotives overhauled, modified and painted to meet long term leasing requirements with BHP Port Kembla.
Thereafter Austrac purchased further ex-Freight Corp locomotives in the form of 4814, 4816, 4836 and eventually 4820. In August 1997 Austrac became the first private operator to sign a track access agreement with the Rail Access Corporation and shortly thereafter commence hauling freight between Griffiths, Junee and Port Botany using leased Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (CFCLA) rolling stock.
Then in February 1998 it purchased narrow gauge locomotives NB1872 and NB1873 from Westrail, converted them to standard gauge using bogies from withdrawn Hamersely Iron M636 class, and later that year commenced a Sydney-Melbourne service in conjunction with VLine. This service ceased when VLine was sold to Freight Victoria but Austrac continued with NSW freight working, hauling logs from Junee to Port Kembla, fertiliser from Incitec Newcastle to Yass Junction, Goulburn and Dqmeric, grain from throughout NSW for Weston Milling as well as continuing its Sydney metropolitan freight service. Austrac also provided all crewing requirements for ATN Access until this company ceased operation in August 2002.
In mid 1999 Austrac unsuccessfully attempted to recommence a stand alone Sydney-Melbourne freight service using leased CFCLA EL Class locomotives and rolling stock and a year later was placed into voluntary administration and its rail operation (Austrac Operations) was shut down. In 2004 the maintenance activities of Austrac moved to a new name, Junee Railway Workshops Pty Ltd, retaining only the lease of the Junee locomotive depot and the 48 Class locomotives, other assets passing to CFCLA.
This presentation will cover Austrac from start up until liquidation, including visits to the Junee Railway Workshops.
Approximate run time: 84 minutes.