| Australian National EL class | |
| Powertype: | Diesel-electric |
| Builder: | A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow |
| Serialnumber: | 8013-07/90-103 to 8013-07/90-116 |
| Buildmodel: | General Electric C30-8 |
| Builddate: | 1990 - 1991 |
| Totalproduction: | 14 |
| Uicclass: | Co-Co |
| Length: | 20.5m (67.3feet) |
| Fueltype: | Diesel |
| Primemover: | GE 7FDL-12 |
| Enginetype: | V12 diesel |
| Cylindercount: | 12 |
| Maxspeed: | 140km/h (pre-1998) 125km/h (post-1998) |
| Poweroutput: | 2460kW |
| Operator: | Australian National |
| Numinclass: | 14 |
| Fleetnumbers: | EL51 - EL64 |
| Firstrundate: | 1990 |
| Currentowner: | Rail First Asset Management |
| Disposition: | 9 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.
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 Jan 2024, the remaining 9 were sold to Railfirst Asset Management.[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]
| 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 | In Service | Leased to Rio Tinto | ||
| 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 | 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 | N/A | ||
| EL63 | Saintly | 8013-07/90-115 | Sep 1991 | In service | On hire to Bowmans Rail | N/A | |
| EL64 | Super Impose | 8031-07/90-116 | Oct 1991 | In Service | Leased To Rio Tinto | N/A |