Australian National EL class

The EL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for Australian National in 1990–1991.

Australian National EL class
Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia EL class locomotives at Manor in January 2007
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow Serial number 8013-07/90-103 to 8013-07/90-116 Model General Electric C30-8 Build date 1990–1991 Total produced 14
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Length 20.5 m (67 ft 3 in) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover GE 7FDL-12 Engine type V12 diesel Cylinders 12
Performance figures Maximum speed 140 km/h (87 mph) (pre-1998) 125 km/h (78 mph) (post-1998) Power output 2,460 kW (3,300 hp)
Career Operators Australian National Number in class 14 Numbers EL51–EL64 First run 1990 Current owner Rail First Asset Management Disposition 9 in service, 3 stored, 2 scrapped

History

In June 1989, Australian National awarded a contract for 14 Dash 8 locomotives to A Goninan & Co with the first delivered in July 1990. Even though they were the most powerful locomotives to have operated by Australian National, they were fitted with lightweight traction motors which reduced their tractive effort by 33% compared to the preceding DL class locomotives. They were ordered for use on passenger and fast freight services and geared for a top speed of 140 km/h.

They regularly hauled The Ghan and Indian Pacific until replaced by CLP class locomotives in 1994. They were transferred to National Rail, however, following the delivery of the NR class, 13 were returned to Australian National and by November 1997 were stored at Islington Railway Workshops. The 14th had been destroyed in an accident at Mount Christie in February 1997. Six were briefly hired to Australian Southern Railroad in late 1997.

In Jan 2024, the remaining 9 were sold to Railfirst Asset Management. All were overhauled by A Goninan & Co, Bassendean, during which they were re-geared, reducing their top speed to 125 km/h, but resulting in their tractive effort increasing by 19%. All have been repainted into Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia's yellow, blue and silver livery and named after famous Australian racehorses. They have been leased to a variety of operators and have run in all mainland states.

Status table

Key:	In service	Stored	Preserved	Converted	Under overhaul	Scrapped

Number	Name	Serial no	Date	Status	Operator	Notes
EL51	Might and Power	8013-07/90-103	Aug 1990	Off Hire At Islington	N/A	Formerly named Bob Brown
EL52	Light Fingers	8013-07/90-104	Sep 1990	Stored	N/A	Was Listed For sale in Goulburn, Future Unknown
EL53	Northerly	8013-07/90-105	Oct 1990	In service	Leased to SCT Logistics	N/A
EL54	Bonecrusher	8013-07/90-106	Nov 1990	In service	Leased to SCT Logistics	N/A
EL55	Kensei	8013-07/90-107	Dec 1991	Off Hire At Islington	N/A	N/A
EL56	Doriemus	8013-07/90-108	Jan 1991	In service	Leased To Southern Shorthaul Railroad	Damaged Benalla derailment 2006 Damaged Carrington derailment 2010. Repaired after both incidents.
EL57	Gunsynd	8013-07/90-109	Mar 1991	In service	Leased To SCT Logistics	N/A
EL58	Kingston Rule	8013-07/90-110	Apr 1991	Stored	N/A	Damaged Benalla derailment 2006, was repaired. Was Listed For sale in Goulburn, Future Unknown
EL59	N/A	8013-07/90-111	May 1991	Scrapped	N/A	Destroyed in Mt Christie Derailment in 1997.
EL60	Octagonal	8013-07/90-112	Jun 1991	Stored Off Hire, Goulburn	N/A	N/A
EL61	Ethereal	8013-07/90-113	Jul 1991	Scrapped	N/A	Damaged in collision with truck at Vite Vite in 2021 whilst on lease to SCT, now at Islington Workshops being scrapped for parts
EL62	Archer	8013-07/90-114	Aug 1991	Stored Off Hire, Goulburn	N/A	N/A
EL63	Saintly	8013-07/90-115	Sep 1991	Stored Off Hire, Goulburn	N/A	N/A
EL64	Super Impose	8031-07/90-116	Oct 1991	Stored Off Hire, Goulburn	N/A	N/A