Australian National AN class

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, [New South Wales|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.^{: 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. 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AN2 was the first to be withdrawn on 23 December 2022.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 is stored, with all except AN1 in storage at South Dynon.^{: p. 36}
In December 2023 the class has been making a return to service with AN1 running from Port Augusta on 4PM4 and returning 6MP5 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

Locomotive	Serial no	Completed	Owner	Livery	Status
AN1	92-1297	1992	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, Awaiting Scrapping
AN2	92-1298	1992	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 5SM2 23/12/2022
AN3	92-1299	1992	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Operational
AN4	93-1300	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 3SM2 11/01/2023
AN5	93-1301	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 4CM3 02/02/23
AN6	93-1302	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 1PM6 12/01/2023
AN7	93-1303	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 7AM5 15/01/2023
AN8	93-1304	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Operational
AN9	93-1305	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 3CM3 11/01/2023
AN10	93-1306	1993	National Rail	Australian National green & yellow	Scrapped
AN11	93-1307	1993	Pacific National	Pacific National blue & yellow	Stored, last run 2AM5 17/01/2023