The AN class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Somerton for Australian National in 1992–1993.
History In the early 1990s, Australian National was pursuing with their fleet modernisation program to replace its first-generation diesel locomotives, of which many had recorded over six million kilometres in distance. AN placed an order in 1991 to Clyde Engineering for 11 locomotives, fitted with Electro-Motive Division's 16-710G3A prime mover. Dubbed the AN class, they were essentially a more powerful version of the previous DL class, while the body design features a raked cab, similar to the EL class.: p. 28
Built at Clyde's Somerton plant and delivered via New South Wales from October 1992 to March 1994, they entered service on Australian National's standard gauge network from Broken Hill to Adelaide, Alice Springs and Perth."The AN class locomotives" Railway Digest September 1990 page 38 In 1995, all were leased to National Rail with the transfer of Australian National's interstate operations.: p. 28
They also saw service on The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide, Until around late 2013, AN3 was regularly used for the service, wearing The Ghans red and silver livery between July 2004 and 2014.: pp. 29, 33, 36
These locos are limited to 130 km/h when trailing behind an NR class locomotive, which the AN class work with.
In January 1996, AN10 was destroyed in the Hines Hill train collision, with its remains being cut up at Port Augusta in late 1997. In November 1997, the remaining 10 were sold to National Rail,: pp. 28-29 passing into Pacific National ownership with the sale of National Rail in early 2002.: p. 29
Future
As of January 2023, AN class locomotives were generally used as trailing locomotives on Intermodal and Steel services between Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. They were commonly used as second locomotives on steel trains in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia."Always the bridesmaid – The AN Class" Railway Digest November 2010 page 34 The class faced storage in Melbourne due to combined high operational costs and mechanical failures. It has been rumoured they will be stored in Werris Creek, New South Wales.: p. 36
AN2 was the first to be withdrawn on 23 December 2022. By March 2023, the entire class had been stored, with all except AN1 (which was in Port Augusta) in storage at South Dynon.: p. 36
In December 2023 the class made a return to service with AN1 running from Port Augusta on 4PM4 (3 December) and returning 6MP5 (9 December) after a trip Spotswood. AN3 and AN8 were also at Spotswood.
In September 2024, AN3 and AN8 were transferred to Port Augusta on 1MP2. They are expected to be stored there. AN1 was withdrawn from service sometime in 2024 and as of late 2025 is currently stored at South Dynon.
Fleet status Key:In serviceStoredPreservedRebuiltUnder overhaulScrapped
LocomotiveSerial noCompletedWithdrawnOwnerLiveryStatusAN192-12971992Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, Awaiting Scrapping AN292-12981992Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 5SM2 23/12/2022AN392-12991992Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowOperationalAN493-13001993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 3SM2 11/01/2023AN593-13011993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 4CM3 02/02/23AN693-13021993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 1PM6 12/01/2023AN793-13031993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 7AM5 15/01/2023AN893-13041993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowOperationalAN993-13051993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 3CM3 11/01/2023AN1093-130619931996National RailAustralian National green & yellowScrapped (accident damaged)AN1193-13071993Pacific NationalPacific National blue & yellowStored, last run 2AM5 17/01/2023
References