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.
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 [7]