{{Short description|Class of Australian diesel-electric locomoitves}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = National Rail NR class<br />(UGL Rail Cv40-9i) | powertype = Diesel-electric | image = File:NR112 on a freight train at Mount lofty.jpg | caption = NR112 on an intermodal train at Mount Lofty | builder = A Goninan & Co<br />Broadmeadow (NR1–NR60)<br />Bassendean (NR61–NR120) | ordernumber = | serialnumber = | buildmodel = General Electric Cv40-9i | builddate = 1996–1998 | totalproduction = 120<ref name=hussey>{{cite book |last=Hussey |first=Frank J. |date=2023 |title=The NR Story |isbn=9780646888453 |publisher=NR Publishing |page=4}}</ref> | rebuilder = | uicclass = Co-Co | gauge = {{RailGauge|1435 mm|allk=on}} | trucks = | bogies = Co-Co | wheeldiameter = | trailingdiameter = | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = | length = {{convert|22|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2.94|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|4.25|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | axleload = | weightondrivers = | locoweight = 132 tonnes | fueltype = Diesel | fuelcap = {{convert|12500|l|impgal usgal|abbr=out}} | lubecap = | coolantcap = | watercap = | sandcap = | powersupply = | consumption = | watercons = | primemover = GE 7FDL-16 | rpmrange = | enginetype = V16 engine | aspiration = | displacement = | alternator = | generator = GE GMG196 | tractionmotors = GE 5GE793A1 | headendpower = No | cylindercount = 16 | transmission = | multipleworking = | maxspeed = {{convert|115|km/h|abbr=on}} | poweroutput = {{convert|3000|kW|abbr=on}} | tractiveeffort = {{convert|520|kN|lbf|2|abbr=on}} | factorofadhesion = | trainheating = | locobrakes = | locobrakeforce = | trainbrakes = | safety = | operator = National Rail (original) <br> Pacific National (current) | operatorclass = | powerclass = | numinclass = 120<ref name=hussey/> | fleetnumbers = NR1, NR2, NR4–NR32, NR34–NR40, NR42–NR78, NR81–NR122 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = 17 September 1996 | firstrundate = 18 September 1996 | lastrundate = | withdrawndate = | preservedunits = | scrapdate = | currentowner = Pacific National | disposition = 117 in service, 3 scrapped }}
The '''NR class''' are Australian diesel-electric locomotives built by A Goninan & Co for National Rail between 1996 and 1998. They are currently operated by Pacific National. The C44aci model locomotives built by UGL Rail at Broadmeadow adopted the design from the NR Class.
==History== [[File:Trailerail liveried NR53 Southern Cross.jpg|thumb|Trailerail liveried NR53 at Southern Cross station on ''The Overland'' duties in May 2007]] [[File:NR30-31.jpg|thumb|NR30 and NR31 in the ''Great Southern'' livery]] [[File:NZ & Aus Railways 31.jpg|thumb|NR27 in the ''Indian Pacific'' MK V livery at Cook, South Australia]] [[File:Ghan awaiting departure in Darwin - panoramio.jpg|thumb|NR109 in ''The Ghan''{{'}}s MK I livery]]
When National Rail commenced operations in April 1993, it inherited a diverse collection of rolling stock and locomotives from various operators to operate interstate freight services in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/background/index.aspx|title=Background – Organisation of Australia's Railways|publisher=www.infrastructure.gov.au|accessdate=10 November 2008}}</ref> The fleet included locomotives of mixed age and power, leased from FreightCorp, V/Line and Australian National.<ref name=oberg1995>{{cite book |last=Oberg |first=Leon |date=1995 |title=Locomotives of Australia |edition=3rd |url=https://archive.org/details/locomotivesofaus0000ober/mode/2up |url-access=registration |location=Kenthurst, New South Wales |publisher=Kangaroo Press |page=363 |isbn=9780864177797 |access-date= |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
In September 1995, National Rail awarded a contract to A Goninan & Co for 80 locomotives, which later became 120.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hussey |first=Frank J. |date=2023 |title=The NR Story |isbn=9780646888453 |publisher=NR Publishing |pages=42–43}}</ref> NR1–NR60 were built at Broadmeadow, and NR61–NR120 were constructed at Bassendean.<ref name=AMRMApr00>{{cite magazine|date=April 2000|title=The Dash 9 in Australia: National Rail's NR class|author=Antony Fitzgerald|magazine=Australian Model Railway Magazine|pages=27–30}}</ref><ref name=DigestOct95>"National Rail Loco Contract Signed" ''Railway Digest'' October 1995 page 6</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hussey |first=Frank J. |date=2023 |title=The NR Story |isbn=9780646888453 |publisher=NR Publishing |page=43}}</ref> The frames were built at Hexham and the bogies at Goninan's Landsdowne Engineering subsidiary in Taree.<ref name=AMRMApr00/><ref name=DigestOct95/>
The first locomotive to be completed was NR61, which was trialled on 18 September 1996, between Midland and Jumperkine.<ref name=DigestOct96>"First Perth-Built NR Class Commence Trials Ahead of NSW Units" ''Railway Digest'' October 1996 page 6</ref> The first Broadmeadow-built unit ran on 23 September 1996.<ref name=DigestOct96/> The early units were delivered without National Rail branding or logos, but later locomotives were delivered in the full livery. Testing was carried out on the NSW Main Northern line between Werris Creek and Maitland, using ballast wagons and 442 class locomotives, in dynamic braking mode, as dynamic loads.<ref>"NR Class Testing" ''Railway Digest'' November 1996 page 4</ref> Each locomotive was required to accumulate {{convert |10000 |km}} of trouble-free running before being accepted.<ref name=AMRMApr00/>
As part of its contract, A Goninan & Co was required to maintain the fleet. A depot was built alongside the Newport to Sunshine railway in the western Melbourne suburb of Spotswood to cater for this.<ref name="AMRMApr00" /><ref name="DigestOct95" /> Pacific National announced in September 2022 that the company had committed more than A$160 million towards the overhauling of the company's NR class units for East – West Intermodal traffic.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230127113652/https://pacificnational.com.au/pacific-national-investing-heavily-in-critical-rail-freight-infrastructure-and-rollingstock/ Pacific National Invests]. Retrieved 27 January 2023. [https://pacificnational.com.au/pacific-national-investing-heavily-in-critical-rail-freight-infrastructure-and-rollingstock/ the original] on 27 January 2023.</ref>
==Entry to service== With the arrival of the NR class, the V/Line C class (which were owned by National Rail) and relatively new EL class were withdrawn and stored.<ref name=AMRMApr00/><ref>"The NR class locomotives & National Rail's motive power fleet" ''Railway Digest'' April 1998 page 16</ref> Once all 120 units were delivered, National Rail retained the AN, BL and DL class locomotives, along with thirteen 81 class and several hired G class. The new locomotives were placed on time sensitive trains first.<ref name=AMRMApr00/>
When first delivered, the NR class were banned from running in New South Wales by the Environment Protection Authority due to excessive noise when under dynamic braking, but the ban was lifted after further testing. The class could also not lead on the Victorian standard gauge network due to the lack of suitable radio equipment. In later years NR76 to NR98 were provided with V/Line Section Authority System equipment to work the Western standard gauge line, while NR1 to NR13 and NR61 to NR72 were fitted with V/Line radios to operate on the Victorian North East line.<ref name=AMRMApr00/>
==Notable accidents== On 25 May 2006, NR33 was involved in a level crossing incident in Lismore, being the third locomotive on Adelaide to Melbourne freight service 4AM3, behind DL40 and NR52. A truck drove into the side of the NR during low visibility conditions and the subsequent accident saw 41 freight wagons of the train land on top of NR33. The locomotive was subsequently written off afterwards.<ref>{{cite report |last= |first= |date=2 February 2007 |title=Collision between rigid tipper truck/quad axle trailer and freight train 4AM3, Lismore, Victoria, on 25 May 2006 |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/rair/rair2006004 |work= |location= |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau |docket= |access-date=15 February 2025 |pages=4, 8, 13}} (see PDF for details)</ref>
On 21 April 2016, train 3MP5 derailed near Rawlinna in Western Australia. The two locomotives, NR34 and NR50, were badly damaged, but both were rebuilt and returned to service in late 2016 and mid 2017 respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2016/rair/ro-2016-005/ |title=Investigation: RO-2016-005 – Derailment of train 3MP5 at Rawlinna, WA on 21 April 2016}}</ref>
On 24 December 2019, 7MP5 hauled by NR80/NR59 collided with the rear of 2K66 Watco/CBH grain train, at Jumperkine, Western Australia, which resulted in a driver fatality. NR59 was later forwarded back to Melbourne, while NR80 was rebuilt at UGL Bassendean, being released as NR122 during early 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2019/rair/ro-2019-022/ |title=Investigation: RO-2019-022 – Collision between freight trains 7MP5 and 2K66, at Jumperkine, Western Australia, on 24 December 2019}}</ref>
On 31 December 2023, emergency services were called to the Barrier Highway after train 7SP5 with NR41/NR79 collided with a truck. The crash caused the deaths of both train drivers. The truck driver was uninjured. Both locomotives were destroyed and were scrapped during the clean up of the site.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Hayley |title=Two dead in horror crash between truck and train at highway level crossing |url=https://7news.com.au/news/fears-for-victims-of-serious-crash-as-train-and-truck-collide-near-nsw-border-c-13071666 |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=7NEWS |date=31 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last= |first= |date=29 May 2024 |title=Level crossing collision between freight train 7SP5 and a truck at the Barrier Highway level crossing, near Cutana, South Australia, 31 December 2023 |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2025/report/ro-2023-009 |work= |location= |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau |docket= |access-date=15 February 2025}}</ref>
==Features== The NR Class introduced many new features. These were the first locomotives in Australia to have "variable horsepower", which meant that the power output of the engine had three different settings, making the NR class the most fuel-efficient locomotives in Australia. They have GE 7FDL-16 engines, with power levels of {{convert|2850|HP|kW|abbr=on}}, {{convert|3560|HP|kW|abbr=on}} or {{convert|4020|HP|kW|abbr=on}}, mass of {{convert|132|t|abbr=on}}, a Co-Co wheel arrangement and a maximum speed of {{convert|115|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hussey |first=Frank J. |date=2023 |title=The NR Story |isbn=9780646888453 |publisher=NR Publishing }}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2025}} They can hold {{Convert|12500|L|U.S.gal|lk=on|abbr=on}} of fuel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 June 2025 |title=Network Service Plan - Addenda |url=https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=Network-Service-Plan&fileref=%2fsites%2fExtranet%2fNetwork+Service+Plan%2fNetwork+Operating+Requirements+and+Addenda%2fNA_NSP_03+-+Addenda+R09-2025.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=1d9e6739a0ae9f9eadcdbc788ac21e1a0c925fc409fa1cb7405fbff235d677f3 |publisher=V/Line |access-date=29 July 2025 |website=corporate.vline.com.au |page=24}}</ref>
The NR Class cab was designed taking into consideration the results of an extended consultative process with the end users. This has resulted in a cab that has been well accepted. The layout of the control stand evolved from a British Rail Class 60 cab, and is substantially different from the more common AAR type I (stand) and Type II (desk) cabs.<ref>Hussey, F. (2005). ''How the NR Class got their cabs: in The NR Class – a Loco for Australia''. Railway Digest, 43(9), 29.</ref>
The design is a long hood unit locomotive, with only one cab but two separate sets of controls within the cab, which allow it be driven either "A" or "B" end leading. This locomotive had to pass all tests, such as being able to shunt if required, drive "long end leading" if needed, and allow drivers to do checks on fuel, brakes, and sand. Despite the twin controls, operation of the class "B" end leading is avoided, with single NR classes being turned on turntables or rail triangles to ensure they face the correct way.<ref name=AMRMApr00/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *{{Avery-Freight}} *{{Oberg-Locomotives-5th}} *{{cite book |last=Hussey |first=Frank J. |date=2023 |title=The NR Story |isbn=9780646888453 |publisher=NR Publishing}} {{refend}}
==External links== *[http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/class/37 NR class database at Railpage] *{{commons category-inline}}
{{AusLocos|state=collapsed}}
Category:Co-Co locomotives Category:Diesel locomotives of Australia Category:Pacific National diesel locomotives Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1996 Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of Australia Category:General Electric locomotives