Australian National DL class

The DL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Kelso for Australian National between 1988 and 1990. All units are stored as of the 1st of September 2023.

Australian National DL class
DL45 in Pacific National livery at Two Wells in December 2007
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Kelso
Serial number88-1244 to 88-1255
88-1267 to 88-1269
ModelEMD AT42C
Build date1988–1990
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
TrucksTri-mount
BogiesTri-mount
Length19.67 m (64.5 ft)
Loco weight121 t
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity8,200 L (1,800 imp gal)
Prime moverEMD 12-710G3
Engine typeTwo-stroke V12 diesel
Displacement8,520 cu in (140 L)
Traction motorsEMD D87
Cylinders12
Cylinder size710 cu in (11.6 L)
Performance figures
Maximum speed153 km/h
Power output3,030 hp (2,260 kW)
Tractive effortStarting 370 kN
Career
OperatorsAustralian National National Rail Corporation Pacific National
Number in class15
NumbersDL36–DL50
First runFebruary 1988
Disposition12 stored
3 scrapped

History

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DL43 in Junee in April 2012

The first of the 15 commenced trials between Clyde Engineering's, Kelso plant and Lithgow in February 1988.[1] The last was delivered in February 1990.[2] They were used on Australian National's standard gauge network on Freight and Passenger traffic from Broken Hill to Adelaide, Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie. In 1995, all 15 were transferred with Australian National's interstate operations to National Rail.

In January 1996, DL37 was destroyed in the Hines Hill train collision. In June 1999, National Rail began operating blue metal trains in New South Wales from Dunmore to Cooks River[3] and in November 1999, from Marulan to Port Kembla both with DLs.[4]

All were included in the sale of National Rail to Pacific National in February 2002. As of January 2014, operational class members were being used on Pacific National freight services in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and as second locomotives on the Indian Pacific between Sydney to Adelaide. DL36 had been in storage at Port Augusta since at least 2008 and was cut up during 2018.[2][5][6]

During May 2016, the class were replaced by 82 class and G class locomotives in the Adelaide hills. During the month DL47 ran as part of light engine movement D171 from Enfield Yard to Lithgow with 8151 leading stored locos X50, DL47, X49 & G519. DL42 & DL45 also ran on light engine D171 on 25 May heading to Lithgow from Enfield Yard with 8162 leading X48, DL42, S306 & DL45.[6] On 1 December 2016, 8129 lead DL45, DL44, DL50 and DL42 on a light engine movement to Port Kembla for reactivation work for grain haulage. The class have since been used in South Australia on grain workings during 2018 and 2019, and since 2021 have been commonly found in the Werris Creek area on grain services from Western and Northwestern NSW to the port of Newcastle. In August 2023 DL41, DL43 and DL44 were placed into storage at Werris Creek,all of the class DL38-47 & DL49-50 are currently stored at both Werris Creek NSW and Lithgow NSW with an unknown future.

Status table

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Key: In service Stored Preserved Rebuilt Under overhaul Scrapped
Locomotive Named Entered service Owner Livery Withdrawn Status
DL36 Peter Morris Feb 1988 Pacific National Australian National green & yellow Nov 1997 Scrapped
DL37 May 1988 National Rail Australian National green & yellow Jan 1996 Scrapped
DL38 May 1988 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)
DL39 Jul 1988 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Lithgow)
DL40 Aug 1988 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Lithgow)
DL41 Sep 1988 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)
DL42 Nov 1988 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)
DL43 Dec 1988 Pacific National Australian National Green and Gold Stored (Werris Creek)
DL44 Dec 1988 Pacific National National Rail orange & grey Stored (Werris Creek)
DL45 Mar 1989 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)
DL46 May 1989 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)
DL47 Jul 1989 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)
DL48 Aug 1989 Pacific National Australian National green & yellow Feb 2020 Scrapped
DL49 Nov 1989 Pacific National National Rail orange & grey Stored (Werris Creek)
DL50 Feb 1990 Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Stored (Werris Creek)

References

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  1. ^ "New ANR Unit Begins Trials". Railway Digest. March 1988. p. 83.
  2. ^ a b "DL Class". Vicsig. 7 June 2010.
  3. ^ "National Rail Holds Steel Traffic and Takes New-to-Rail Local Freight". Railway Digest. April 1999. p. 10.
  4. ^ "Life begins as 40!". Railway Digest. January 2000. p. 30.
  5. ^ "DL Class". Railpage.
  6. ^ a b "PN Loco Update". Motive Power Magazine. July 2016. p. 15.