Australian National EL class
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 Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia EL class locomotives at Manor in January 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
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The EL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by A Goninan & Co, Broadmeadow for Australian National in 1990/91.
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 which saw them regeared 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 silver, blue and yellow livery and named after famous Australian racehorses. They have been leased to a variety of operators and operated in all states.[9]
Status Table
| Number | Name | Serial No | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL51 | Might and Power | 8013-07/90-103 | Aug 1990 | formerly named Bob Brown |
| EL52 | Light Fingers | 8013-07/90-104 | Sep 1990 | |
| EL53 | Northerly | 8013-07/90-105 | Oct 1990 | |
| EL54 | Bonecrusher | 8013-07/90-106 | Nov 1990 | |
| EL55 | Kensei | 8013-07/90-107 | Dec 1990 | |
| EL56 | Doriemus | 8013-07/90-108 | Jan 1991 | |
| EL57 | Gunsynd | 8013-07/90-109 | Mar 1991 | |
| EL58 | Kingston Rule | 8013-07/90-110 | Apr 1991 | |
| EL59 | 8013-07/90-111 | May 1991 | Destroyed Feb 1997 | |
| EL60 | Octagonal | 8013-07/90-112 | Jun 1991 | |
| EL61 | Ethereal | 8013-07/90-113 | Jul 1991 | |
| EL62 | Archer | 8013-07/90-114 | Aug 1991 | |
| EL63 | Saintly | 8013-07/90-115 | Sep 1991 | |
| EL64 | Super Impose | 8013-07/90-116 | Oct 1991 |
References
- ^ "Goninan wins Dash-8 Contract" Railway Digest August 1989 page 268
- ^ "EL51" Railway Digest September 1990 page 325
- ^ a b "The EL class locomotives" Railway Digest October 1999 page 40
- ^ Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia 1854-2007. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 411. ISBN 1-877058-54-8.
- ^ "ELs Stored then Returned to Service" Railway Digest January 1998 page 36
- ^ "SA Snapshot" Railway Digest February 1998 page 31
- ^ "ELs Sold to US Bidder" Railway Digest December 1998 page 12
- ^ EL Class Locomotive Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia
- ^ EL Class Railpage