Australian National AL class

The AL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater for Australian National in 1976–1977. They were mechanically similar to the CL class but instead of a bulldog nose had two flat ended cabs, similar to the 422 class built for the New South Wales Government Railways in 1969.^[1][2]

History

The AL class initially operated services on the Trans-Australian Railway from Broken Hill to Kalgoorlie, their sphere of operation being extended to Alice Springs and Adelaide when these lines were converted to standard gauge in 1980 and 1983. Although capable of hauling passenger services, they tended to be restricted to slower freight trains to minimise track pounding due to their weight.^[1]

Three were loaned to the NSW Public Transport Commission in 1979 resulting in 80 mechanically similar class 81s being ordered in 1980.^[1] From July 1990, through working into New South Wales was introduced resulting in ALs operating services beyond Broken Hill to Lithgow.^[3]

In 2004, they began to operate to Darwin following this line opening.

Remanufacturing

In August 1992, Australian National awarded Morrison Knudsen Australia a contract to remanufacture the ALs at its Whyalla factory.^[4] As part of the deal Morrison Knudsen purchased the locomotives and leased them back to Australian National for 12 years.

The rebuilding in the first half of 1994 involved stripping back to the frame. Changes included the EMD 645E3 engines being replaced with overhauled EMD 645E3C engines imported from Morrison Knudsen in the US, removing the No 2 end cab and being reclassified as the ALF class. After rebuilding the locomotives did not retain their numbers, for example the first locomotive converted was AL21 which emerged as ALF18.^[1]

In 1994, Australian National's interstate services were transferred to National Rail. The lease with Morrison Knudsen meant the locomotives could only be used on Australian National trains, or a higher lease fee would apply. As a result, the class were not seen on National Rail operated trains, and did not venture onto the wider national standard gauge network until Australian National won hook and pull contracts for private operator SCT Logistics in July 1995.

Private ownership

In November 1997, the AL class were sold to Australian Southern Railroad with Australian National's remaining freight operations. With the splitting up of the Australian Railroad Group in June 2006, 6 went to Aurizon.^[5][6]

Current operations

Aurizon operate the ALF Class locomotives on multiple different trains based out of Adelaide (Motive Power Centre). Such services include Intermodal services between Adelaide and Darwin, Grain (from multiple locations throughout South Australia and Western Victoria) and previously on Ore (on the 1911S/9112S Wirrida Ore train). Overhauls of the class commenced during 2020 with all members of the class bar ALF22 receiving an overhaul.

ALF23 was overhauled at the MPC during 2022, emerging in an Aurizon livery upon return to service. ALF24 received the same treatment in 2023 with all other class members wearing Aurizon logos over the former GWA paint scheme. On June 14th, 2023 ALF21 along with GWA003 and a handful of wagons, was written off following a level crossing collision with a semi trailer in the outskirts of Katherine, Northern Territory. All 4 Aurizon crew members involved in the collision escaped with only minor injuries.^[7]

Fleet list

References