Australian National EL class
Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia EL class locomotives at Manor in January 2007
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderA Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow
Serial number8013-07/90-103
to 8013-07/90-116
ModelGeneral Electric C30-8
Build date1990–1991
Total produced14
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length20.5 m (67 ft 3 in)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverGE 7FDL-12
Engine typeV12 diesel
Cylinders12
Performance figures
Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph) (pre-1998)
125 km/h (78 mph) (post-1998)
Power output2,460 kW (3,300 hp)
Career
OperatorsAustralian National
Number in class14
NumbersEL51–EL64
First run1990
Current ownerRail First Asset Management
Disposition9 in service, 3 stored, 2 scrapped

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

History

In June 1989, Australian National awarded a contract for 14 Dash 8 locomotives to A Goninan & Co[1] with the first delivered in July 1990.[2] 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.[3][4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

In November 1998, the remaining 13 were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia.[7] 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%.[3][8] 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.[9]

Status Table

Key: In Service Stored Preserved Converted Under overhaul Scrapped
NumberNameSerial noDateStatusOperatorNotes
EL51 Might and Power 8013-07/90-103 Aug 1990 In Service Leased to Rio Tinto 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 Bowmans Rail N/A
EL54 Bonecrusher 8013-07/90-106 Nov 1990 In Service Leased to Bowmans Rail N/A
EL55 Kensei 8013-07/90-107 Dec 1991 Of 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 Southern Shorthaul Railroad 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 Of 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 In service On Hire to Southern Shorthaul Railroad N/A
EL63 Saintly 8013-07/90-115 Sep 1991 Of hire, Islington N/A N/A
EL64 Super Impose 8031-07/90-116 Oct 1991 In Service Leased To Rio Tinto N/A

References

  1. ↑ "Goninan wins Dash-8 Contract" Railway Digest August 1989 page 268
  2. ↑ "EL51" Railway Digest September 1990 page 325
  3. 1 2 "The EL class locomotives" Railway Digest October 1999 page 40
  4. ↑ Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia 1854-2007. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 411. ISBN 978-1-877058-54-7.
  5. ↑ "ELs Stored then Returned to Service" Railway Digest January 1998 page 36
  6. ↑ "SA Snapshot" Railway Digest February 1998 page 31
  7. ↑ "ELs Sold to US Bidder" Railway Digest December 1998 page 12
  8. ↑ EL Class Locomotive Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia
  9. ↑ EL Class Railpage
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