Australian National BL class
Class of diesel locomotives
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Power output | 3,300 horsepower (2,500 kilowatts) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | Australian National National Rail Pacific National |
| Number in class | 10 |
| Numbers | BL26–BL35 |
| Delivered | 1983 |
| Current owner | Pacific National |
| Disposition | 9 in service, 1 stored |
The BL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater, for Australian National between 1983 and 1986. All but BL35 remain in service with Pacific National.
History
In 1982, Australian National placed an order for with Clyde Engineering for 15 Electro-Motive Diesel JT26C-2SS locomotives (an evolution of the New South Wales 81 class locomotive), to be classed BL and numbered 26 through 40. Australian National only took delivery of the first 10, with the other five delivered to V/Line as their G class. The first five were delivered with standard gauge bogies, the last five with broad gauge bogies.
The 10 Australian National locomotives were transferred to National Rail and converted to standard gauge in 1995, following the conversion of the Adelaide to Melbourne line. In December 1996, they began to operate on services to Sydney and Newcastle.[1] In September 1998, after being repainted into SteelLink livery by Rail Services Australia, Chullora, four were transferred back to the broad gauge to haul steel trains for BHP from Long Island to Dynon.[2][3] For a period in the late 1990s, they were rostered to haul The Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide.[4]
As of April 2021[update], three were in service on the broad gauge, six on the standard gauge and one is in store.[5]
BL35 suffered a fire which damaged the roof, and is now stored at Werris Creek, awaiting scrapping.
References
- ^ "BLs into NSW" Railway Digest January 1997 page 36
- ^ "Long Island Steel Trains" Railway Digest April 1998 page 34
- ^ "BL Class".
- ^ "SA Standard Gauge" Railway Digest May 1999 page 37
- ^ "Australia Wide Fleet List 2014" Motive Power issue 96 November 2014 page 69
External links
Media related to Australian National BL class at Wikimedia Commons
- v
- t
- e
Commonwealth Railways/Australian National rolling stock
- D(NSWGR Q)
- F(NSWGR K)
- G
- K
- KA
- C
- CA
- CN
- L
