Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Brad White, Dean Jones, Lewis Rosenbauer, Ian Green, Simon Barber, Thomas Bulic and Jack Martin
Page Last Updated: 9/8/20
During 1989, Australian National decided that it would award GE a contract to build 14 new units, unusual for CR/AN which had only ever had locomotives made by GM or EMD. The units were to be used on both freight and AN operated passenger trains such as the Indian Pacific. With a top speed of 140km/h, they are also one of the fastest mainline diesel locomotives ever built in Australia. The locomotives were constructed by A Goninan & Co at its Broadmeadow factory and were given the classification of EL. All 14 units from EL51 to EL64 were delivered to AN during 1990.
EL60-8030-872-8044 with #7761V at Goldsborough. (29/7/19)
Photo By: Brad White |
EL57-EL60 at Weston on a Pelton coal train. (13/4/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
The ELs had a unique design for the time, with a sharply slanted front. They only have one cab with a wide-body design. A GE 7FDL engine was chosen as the powerplant for each unit. All units wore the standard Australian National green and yellow scheme.
Upon entry to service, the units were used on the Indian Pacific passenger service until replaced by CLP class which had head end power equipped. They could also be seen on trailerail services as well as other freight trains mostly within South Australia. In 1996, EL59 was destroyed in a head on collision at Mt Christie and later scrapped.
In 1997, AN was sold to ASR however the EL class fleet was left out of this sale. As a result, the class were stored before being sold to CFCLA during 1998 and 1999. In 1999, EL57 was the first unit to be repainted into CFCLA blue and silver livery, with the rest of the fleet eventually having the same treatment as well as minor overhauls. In 2001 however, EL51 and EL61 both had their former AN schemes modified with Freight Australia signage, for hire from CFCLA to FA to be used in freight operation within NSW. EL58 was repainted in a full FA livery in 2002. All units have since been repainted into CFCLA livery.
The units have seen work with a large amount of rail operators under CFCLA ownership. Some of these include Freight Australia, Interail, Pacific National, Austrac, Patrick Portlink, LVRF, QR National SCT and SSR. They have been used on just about every type of service from intermodal, grain to coal services in NSW, SA, Victoria and Queensland.
Today, the ELs are operated on some PN coal services in NSW, EL60 and EL64 are with Sydney Rail Services for mainly infrastructure use around Sydney and EL62 and EL63 are operated by Bowman Rail in South Australia for ore traffic and have had Bowmen decals applied. All ELs asides scrapped EL59 continue under CFCLA ownership with some stored.
Upon entry to service, the units were used on the Indian Pacific passenger service until replaced by CLP class which had head end power equipped. They could also be seen on trailerail services as well as other freight trains mostly within South Australia. In 1996, EL59 was destroyed in a head on collision at Mt Christie and later scrapped.
In 1997, AN was sold to ASR however the EL class fleet was left out of this sale. As a result, the class were stored before being sold to CFCLA during 1998 and 1999. In 1999, EL57 was the first unit to be repainted into CFCLA blue and silver livery, with the rest of the fleet eventually having the same treatment as well as minor overhauls. In 2001 however, EL51 and EL61 both had their former AN schemes modified with Freight Australia signage, for hire from CFCLA to FA to be used in freight operation within NSW. EL58 was repainted in a full FA livery in 2002. All units have since been repainted into CFCLA livery.
The units have seen work with a large amount of rail operators under CFCLA ownership. Some of these include Freight Australia, Interail, Pacific National, Austrac, Patrick Portlink, LVRF, QR National SCT and SSR. They have been used on just about every type of service from intermodal, grain to coal services in NSW, SA, Victoria and Queensland.
Today, the ELs are operated on some PN coal services in NSW, EL60 and EL64 are with Sydney Rail Services for mainly infrastructure use around Sydney and EL62 and EL63 are operated by Bowman Rail in South Australia for ore traffic and have had Bowmen decals applied. All ELs asides scrapped EL59 continue under CFCLA ownership with some stored.
EL55-C508 with a loaded QUBE grain at Murtoa. (28/2/14)
Photo By: Brad White |
EL60-1432-44202-8030-442s1 with #8116 at Oolong. (22/3/14)
Photo By: Lewis Rosenbauer |
Locomotive Status
Road No.EL51
EL52 EL53 EL54 EL55 EL56 EL57 EL58 EL59 EL60 EL61 EL62 EL63 EL64 |
LiveryCFCLA
CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA |
OwnerCFCLA
CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA CFCLA |
Begun ServiceAug 1990
Sep 1990 Oct 1990 Nov 1990 Dec 1990 Jan 1991 Mar 1991 Apr 1991 May 1991 Jun 1991 Jul 1991 Aug 1991 Sep 1991 Oct 1991 |
Current StateStored
Stored Operational Stored Operational Operational Operational Stored Scrapped Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational |
Photos of EL Classes
EL64 with a demo roadrailer consist to NSW at Kilmore East. (26/11/91)
Photo By: Ian Green |
EL53 with the Indian Pacific makes a stop at Kalgoorlie. (17/12/90)
Photo By: Simon Barber |
EL60-EL56 with #5MS9 at Albion. (18/10/07)
Photo By: Ian Green |
EL54-45s1-8026 with loaded grain train #2CM7 at Broadford. (4/2/13)
Photo By: Brad White |
EL60 with a Robel Rail train at Redfern. (25/9/19)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
EL62-EL63 with #4416S at Bungama. (30/7/20)
Photo By: Jack Martin |
Information sourced from Auscision Models, Vicsig, Wikipedia and An Australian Locomotive Guide by Peter Clark