National Rail Corporation - Fleet

Fleet

Upon commencing operations in April 1993 National Rail inherited a diverse collection of rolling stock. The fleet included locomotives of mixed age and power provided by Australian National, FreightCorp and V/Line. This was an interim measure pending delivery of a fleet of modern locomotives to replace them. An order for 120 NR class locomotives was placed with A Goninan & Co in September 1995. The first unit commenced trials in September 1996 with all delivered by October 1997.

With the arrival of the NR class National Rail was able to return leased units to their owners, including FreightCorp 422, 80, 81, and 82 class units; Silverton Tramway Company 442s; and V/Line C class locomotives. The relatively new Australian National EL class were also withdrawn from the National Rail roster in November 1997 and placed in store at Islington Railway Workshops. Once all 120 NR class locomotives were delivered, the National Rail retained the BL, DL and AN class units, along with thirteen 81 class and several hired G class.

National Rail decided it would operate diesel locomotives over the electrified New South Wales lines from Sydney to Broadmeadow and Lithgow.

To operate SteelLink services for BHP from Long Island to Dynon on the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge X class locomotives were hired from V/Line until replaced by four dedicated BL class locomotives.