AN class
Encyclopedia
The AN class is a set of Australia
n diesel electric locomotives
, ordered by the Australian National Rail Commission in 1991. Eleven in number, these "JT46C" locomotives from the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors
were for use on flagship intercapital freight services. Introduced to service in 1992, they were bodied by Clyde Engineering
at their Somerton, Victoria
, plant using EMD and local components. As the railway's flagship class, and their first new acquisition, the locomotives were allocated the "AN" class identifier.
The AN Class were the most powerful locomotives in the Australian National fleet, their 16-cylinder EMD 710
prime mover producing up to 4120 horsepower
- which also makes them some of the most powerful locomotives in Australia
. By contrast, the flagship NR class
of Australian National's successor company National Rail
produce only 4,080 horsepower
.
When Australian National was broken up in 1992, the AN Class (numbering only 3 in-service locomotives at the time) were transferred to the successor company National Rail
, with whom they operated until 2001. They were then passed on to Pacific National
after National Rail's merger with FreightCorp and privatisation. Nowadays AN class locomotives can be seen anywhere around Australia, but they are usually confined to the Sydney-Adelaide-Perth corridor, or as trailing units on Melbourne-Adelaide services.
The class was originally painted in the Australian National corporate scheme. Many now wear National Rail's grey and orange livery, while the Australian National livery still remains on a number of units. AN 5 is the only locomotive which wears the Pacific National scheme, with most just having decals over the National Rail logo (where the unit wears the National Rail livery). AN3 is painted in The Ghan livery, for use leading GSR's
The Ghan service.
All members of the AN class remain in service, except for AN10, which was scrapped along with DL37 after the Hines Hill collision
. AN8 was damaged by fire at Ki Ki, South Australia
in March 2009, with the future of the locomotive unknown.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n diesel electric locomotives
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
, ordered by the Australian National Rail Commission in 1991. Eleven in number, these "JT46C" locomotives from the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
were for use on flagship intercapital freight services. Introduced to service in 1992, they were bodied by Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
at their Somerton, Victoria
Somerton, Victoria
Somerton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 21 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume....
, plant using EMD and local components. As the railway's flagship class, and their first new acquisition, the locomotives were allocated the "AN" class identifier.
The AN Class were the most powerful locomotives in the Australian National fleet, their 16-cylinder EMD 710
EMD 710
The EMD 710 is a line of diesel engines built by Electro-Motive Diesel . The 710 series largely replaced the earlier EMD 645 series. The EMD 710 is a large two-stroke diesel engine that has a displacement per cylinder. Since its introduction, EMD has continually upgraded the 710G diesel engine...
prime mover producing up to 4120 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
- which also makes them some of the most powerful locomotives in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. By contrast, the flagship NR class
NR class
The NR class are an Australian mainline diesel electric locomotives introduced by National Rail in 1996. They were the only locomotives ordered by National Rail, thus being named the "NR" Class...
of Australian National's successor company National Rail
National Rail Corporation
The National Rail Corporation was a rail operator in Australia. The Australian Government, New South Wales and Victoria established the National Rail Corporation in 1992...
produce only 4,080 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
.
When Australian National was broken up in 1992, the AN Class (numbering only 3 in-service locomotives at the time) were transferred to the successor company National Rail
National Rail Corporation
The National Rail Corporation was a rail operator in Australia. The Australian Government, New South Wales and Victoria established the National Rail Corporation in 1992...
, with whom they operated until 2001. They were then passed on to Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
after National Rail's merger with FreightCorp and privatisation. Nowadays AN class locomotives can be seen anywhere around Australia, but they are usually confined to the Sydney-Adelaide-Perth corridor, or as trailing units on Melbourne-Adelaide services.
The class was originally painted in the Australian National corporate scheme. Many now wear National Rail's grey and orange livery, while the Australian National livery still remains on a number of units. AN 5 is the only locomotive which wears the Pacific National scheme, with most just having decals over the National Rail logo (where the unit wears the National Rail livery). AN3 is painted in The Ghan livery, for use leading GSR's
Great Southern Railway (Australia)
Great Southern Railway , owned by Serco Asia Pacific, is a tourism business and rail transport operator in Australia.GSR operates interstate passenger trains aimed at the tourist market:* The Indian Pacific...
The Ghan service.
All members of the AN class remain in service, except for AN10, which was scrapped along with DL37 after the Hines Hill collision
Hines Hill train collision
The Hines Hill train collision occurred on the Eastern Goldfields Railway on 14 January 1996 at Hines Hill, Western Australia. Two trains entered a crossing loop simultaneously in opposing directions, although signals at the exit from the crossing loop were correctly showing red for...
. AN8 was damaged by fire at Ki Ki, South Australia
Ki Ki, South Australia
Ki Ki is a small village on the Dukes Highway , the main link between Adelaide and Melbourne in South Australia. It has a small post office, parking bay, town hall, engineering business "Ki Ki Engineering" and is surrounded by large pastoral properties...
in March 2009, with the future of the locomotive unknown.