# Australian National EL class

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 with the first delivered in July 1990. 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.
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. 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.
In November 1998, the remaining 13 were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (later RailFirst Asset Management). 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%. All were 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.

## Status table

| Key: | In service | Stored | Preserved | Converted | Under overhaul | Scrapped |
| Number | Name | Serial no | Date | Status | Owner | Livery | Operator | Notes |
| EL51 | Might and Power | 8013-07/90-103 | Aug 1990 | Off Hire At Islington | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | Formerly named Bob Brown |
| EL52 | Light Fingers | 8013-07/90-104 | Sep 1990 | Stored | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | Was Listed For sale in Goulburn, Future Unknown |
| EL53 | Northerly | 8013-07/90-105 | Oct 1990 | In service | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | Leased to SCT Logistics | N/A |
| EL54 | Bonecrusher | 8013-07/90-106 | Nov 1990 | In service | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | Leased to SCT Logistics | N/A |
| EL55 | Kensei | 8013-07/90-107 | Dec 1991 | Off Hire At Islington | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | N/A |
| EL56 | Doriemus | 8013-07/90-108 | Jan 1991 | In service | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | 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 | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | Leased To SCT Logistics | N/A |
| EL58 | Kingston Rule | 8013-07/90-110 | Apr 1991 | Stored | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | 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 | National Rail | AN Greeen & gold | N/A | Destroyed in Mt Christie Derailment in 1997. |
| EL60 | Octagonal | 8013-07/90-112 | Jun 1991 | Stored Off Hire, Goulburn | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | N/A |
| EL61 | Ethereal | 8013-07/90-113 | Jul 1991 | Scrapped | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | 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 | Stored Off Hire, Goulburn | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | N/A |
| EL63 | Saintly | 8013-07/90-115 | Sep 1991 | Stored Off Hire, Goulburn | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | N/A |
| EL64 | Super Impose | 8031-07/90-116 | Oct 1991 | Stored Off Hire, Goulburn | Rail First Asset Management | RFAM silver & blue | N/A | N/A |