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. Eleven remain in service with Pacific National.

Australian National DL class
DL45 in Pacific National livery at Two Wells in December 2007
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Kelso Serial number 88-1244 to 88-1255 88-1267 to 88-1269 Model EMD AT42C Build date 1988–1990 Total produced 15
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge Trucks Tri-mount Bogies Tri-mount Length 19.67 m (64.5 ft) Loco weight 121 t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 8,200 L (1,800 imp gal) Prime mover EMD 12-710G3 Engine type Two-stroke V12 diesel Displacement 8,520 cu in (140 L) Traction motors EMD D87 Cylinders 12 Cylinder size 710 cu in (11.6 L)
Performance figures Maximum speed 153 km/h Power output 3,340 hp (2,490 kW) Tractive effort Starting 370 kN
Career Operators Australian National National Rail Corporation Pacific National Number in class 15 Numbers DL36–DL50 First run February 1988 Disposition 7 in service, 6 stored 3 scrapped

History

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 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 at January 2014 they were being used on Pacific National freight services in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and as second locomotives on the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Adelaide. DL36 has been in store at Port Augusta since at least 2008.[2][5][6] DL47 ran as part of D171 from Enfield Yard to Lithgow with 8151 leading X50, DL47, X49 & G519 on 9 May 2016 with DL42 & DL45 also on 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.

Status table

Locomotive	Named	Entered service	Owner	Livery	Status
DL36	Peter Morris	Feb 1988	Pacific National	Australian National green & yellow	Scrapped Port Augusta
DL37		May 1988	National Rail	Australian National green & yellow	Scrapped
DL38		May 1988	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored (Werris Creek)
DL39		Jul 1988	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored (Port Augusta)
DL40		Aug 1988	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored (Chullora)
DL41		Sep 1988	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	In service
DL42		Nov 1988	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	In service
DL43		Dec 1988	Pacific National	Australian National green & yellow	In service (re-activated)
DL44		Dec 1988	Pacific National	National Rail orange & grey	In service
DL45		Mar 1989	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	In service
DL46		May 1989	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored (Werris Creek)
DL47		Jul 1989	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Operational
DL48		Aug 1989 - Feb 2020	Pacific National	Australian National green & yellow	Scrapped
DL49		Nov 1989	Pacific National	National Rail orange & grey	Stored (Werris Creek)
DL50		Feb 1990	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	In service

References

1. "New ANR Unit Begins Trials". Railway Digest. March 1988. p. 83.
2. "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. "PN Loco Update". Motive Power Magazine. July 2016. p. 15.