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Australian National AN Class
AN11 in Australian National livery trails an NR class in Newport in May 2008
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Somerton Serial number 92-1297 to 92-1299 93-1300 to 93-1307 Model EMD JT46C Build date 1992–1993 Total produced 11
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Length 22.60 m (74 ft 2 in) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover EMD 16-710G3A Engine type V16 diesel Generator EMD AR11 Cylinders 16
Performance figures Maximum speed 150 km/h (93 mph) Power output 3,030 kW (4,063 hp) Tractive effort (Continuous) 323 kN (73,000 lbf) at 26 km/h (16 mph)
Career Operators Australian National National Rail Pacific National Number in class 11 Numbers AN1–AN11 First run 1992 Current owner Pacific National Disposition 1 in service, 9 stored, 1 scrapped

The AN class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Somerton for Australian National in 1992–1993.

Introduction to service and operating history

They entered service on Australian National's standard gauge network from Broken Hill to Adelaide, Alice Springs and Perth. In 1995, all were leased to National Rail with the transfer of Australian National's interstate operations.

In January 1996, AN10 was destroyed in the Hines Hill train collision. In November 1997, the remaining 10 were sold to National Rail. passing into Pacific National ownership with the sale of National Rail in February 2002. In 2004, they began to operate to Darwin on The Ghan following this line opening with AN3 painted in the Ghan livery between 2004 and 2014.

Future

As of January 2023, AN class locomotives are 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. The class are currently facing storage in Melbourne due to combined high operational costs and mechanical failures. It's rumoured they'll be stored in Werris Creek, New South Wales.

As of 17 February 2023, the entire class is stored, with all except AN1 (which is in Port Augusta) in storage at South Dynon.

In December 2023 the class has been making a return to service with AN1 running from Port Augusta on 4PM4 (3 December) and returning 6MP5 (9 December) after a trip to Spotswood. AN3 and AN8 are also at Spotswood.

In September 2024, AN3 and AN8 were transferred to Port Augusta on 1MP2. They are expected to be stored there. It is unsure on what will happen with AN1, the only operational member of the class at this time.

It is likely AN8 will be scrapped with the possibility of AN3 returning with AN8’s wheels

Fleet status

References

1. ^ "The AN class locomotives" Railway Digest September 1990 page 38
2. AN Class Railpage
3. AN Class Vicsig
4. "Always the bridesmaid – The AN Class" Railway Digest November 2010 page 34

• Clyde Engineering locomotives
• Co-Co locomotives
• Pacific National diesel locomotives
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1992
• Standard gauge locomotives of Australia
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Australia