Australian National BL class

The BL class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater, for Australian National between 1983 and 1984. All but BL35 remain in service with Pacific National.

Australian National BL class
Four BL class locomotives, two in National Rail livery, two in SteelLink livery
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Rosewater Serial number 83-1010 to 83-1019 Model EMD JT26C-2SS Build date 1983–1984 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Length 19.82 m (65 ft 0 in) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover EMD 16-645E3B Engine type Two-stroke V16 diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Cylinders 16
Performance figures Power output 3,300 horsepower (2,500 kilowatts)
Career Operators Pacific National Number in class 10 Numbers BL26–BL35 Delivered 1983 First run 1983 Last run 1984 Current owner Pacific National Disposition 9 in service, 1 stored

BL32 and 8141 lead a freight in Mildura in September 2020.

BL27 and BL32 on a freight in Mildura, in September 2020

History

In 1982, Australian National placed an order for with Clyde Engineering for 15 Electro-Motive Diesel JT26C-2SS locomotives (an evolution of the New South Wales 81 class locomotive), to be classed BL and numbered 26 through 40. Australian National only took delivery of the first 10, with the other five delivered to V/Line as their G class. The first five were delivered with standard gauge bogies, the last five with broad gauge bogies.

The 10 Australian National locomotives were transferred to National Rail and converted to standard gauge in 1995, following the conversion of the Adelaide to Melbourne line. In December 1996, they began to operate on services to Sydney and Newcastle.^[1] In September 1998, after being repainted into SteelLink livery by Rail Services Australia, Chullora, four were transferred back to the broad gauge to haul steel trains for BHP from Long Island to Dynon.^[2][3] For a period in the late 1990s, they were rostered to haul The Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide.^[4],

As of June 2025, three were in service on the broad gauge, six on the standard gauge and one is in storage. All wear the Pacific National livery.^[5]BL35 suffered a fire which damaged the roof, and is now stored at Werris Creek.