The 80 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Comeng for the Public Transport Commission between 1978 and 1983.

History

The 80 class were built by Alco's Australian licensee Comeng as an evolution of the 442 class. The 80 class were the first locomotives in Australia to feature factory-fitted cab air-conditioning and fibreglass body panels and the first in New South Wales delivered without buffing plates. To reduce the need for repainting, the fibreglass panels were pre-coloured hence the class retained their original liveries for longer than had previously been the case."The 80 class locomotives of NSW" Railway Digest September 1999 page 32

An initial order of 30 was followed by an additional order for 20. The first order were delivered in Indian red livery while the second received the reverse livery with a yellow nose and Indian red wings. They were initially introduced on the Main South line before being transferred to the western region for use between Lithgow and Broken Hill. They quickly spread and regularly hauled freight and passenger services on all main lines. Only three locomotives, 8015, 8018 and 8034, received the 1980s-era candy livery. Due to having been repainted after the rebranding of the State Rail Authority to FreightRail, they received small FreightRail logos on the cabsides. In 1988, to celebrate the Australian Bicentenary, 8010 and 8040 received a special livery.

After being fitted with Australian National radios, 8034-45 commenced operating through to Adelaide with Australian National ALs operating into New South Wales in 1990."Through Working" Railway Digest July 1990 page 250 Through working ceased in May 1991 when the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen placed a ban on the 80 class in South Australia."Through Working" Railway Digest July 1991 page 251

Following the formation of National Rail, all were reallocated to the national operator in July 1995."80 Class Return to the NSW North Coast on National Rail Freights" Railway Digest August 1995 page 14 This saw their sphere of operation extended to Melbourne, albeit as trailing locomotives."80s to Victoria" Railway Digest October 1996 page 35

Following National Rail taking delivery of the NR class locomotives, the 80s began to return to FreightCorp in January 1997. As they were surplus to requirements, some were placed in store."80 Class" Railway Digest March 1997 page 37 By April 1997, 30 were in store."80 Class" Railway Digest June 1997 page 40 In September 1997, 8015 and 8039 were loaned to BHP as a trial on services at their Port Kembla steelworks. All were included in the sale of FreightCorp to Pacific National in February 2002.

In March 2003, 24 of the class were sold to Silverton Rail joining 8043 that had been sold to them in 1999."Silverton Rail Loco Transfer" Railway Digest January 2000 page 36 Four (26, 37, 44 & 49) were returned to traffic as 80s1, 80s4, 80s2 & 80s6. All were included in the sale of the business to Coote Industrial and later Qube Logistics. A fifth (8030) was returned to service in 2010 while the other four resumed their original identities. A few of the others have been scrapped with the remainder in store at Broken Hill, Parkes and Werris Creek.80 Class Railpage80 Class Vicsig 8049 has since been sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad and is in service in NSW.

Pacific National operate 8011, 8025, 8033 and 8046 mainly as shunters at Keswick, Broken Hill and Morandoo with 10 in store at Chullora and Werris Creek.

Fleet status Key:In serviceStoredPreservedUnder RestorationUnder RepairScrapped

Locomotive Serial No Completed Current Owner Livery Status Notes 8001 C-6106-1 Nov 78 Silverton Rail FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8002 C-6106-2 Nov 78 FreightCorp PTC Indian red Scrapped 8003 C-6106-3 Dec 78 Pacific National PTC Indian red Scrapped 8004 C-6106-4 Nov 78 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Werris Creek NSW 8005 C-6106-5 Jan 79 Pacific National Pacific National Rural & Bulk Stored Port Kembla NSW 8006 C-6106-6 Jan 79 John Currey PTC Indian red Preserved Werris Creek NSW 8007 C-6106-7 Feb 79 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored 8008 C-6106-8 Feb 79 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8009 C-6106-9 Mar 79 State Rail Authority PTC Indian red Scrapped 8010 C-6106-10 Apr 79 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8011 C-6106-11 May 79 Pacific National Pacific National Intermodal Stored Werris Creek, June 2025 8012 C-6106-12 May 79 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored 8013 C-6106-13 Jul 79 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8014 C-6106-14 Jul 79 Lachlan Valley Railway FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8015 C-6106-15 Aug 79 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored 8016 C-6106-16 Aug 79 Greentrains PTC Indian red Scrapped 8017 C-6106-17 Oct 79 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Chullora NSW 8018 C-6106-18 Oct 79 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8019 C-6106-19 Nov 79 Greentrains PTC Indian red Scrapped 8020 C-6106-20 Nov 79 State Rail Authority PTC Indian red Scrapped 8021 C-6106-21 Dec 79 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8022 C-6106-22 Jan 80 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8023 C-6106-23 Mar 80 Greentrains PTC Indian red Scrapped 8024 C-6106-24 Mar 80 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8025 C-6106-25 Mar 80 Pacific National Pacific National Intermodal Scrapped 8026 C-6106-26 Apr 80 SCT Logistics Greentrains green & yellow Operational 8027 C-6106-27 May 80 Pacific National PTC Indian red Scrapped 8028 C-6106-28 May 80 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8029 C-6106-29 Jun 80 Silverton Rail FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8030 C-6106-30 Jun 80 Qube Logistics Qube silver & yellow Operational 8031 C-6121-1 Nov 81 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Werris Creek NSW 8032 C-6121-2 Dec 81 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Werris Creek NSW 8033 C-6121-3 Jan 82 Pacific National Pacific National Intermodal Operational 8034 C-6121-4 Mar 82 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8035 C-6121-5 Apr 82 Wacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Werris Creek NSW 8036 C-6121-6 May 82 Greentrains PTC reverse Scrapped 8037 C-6121-7 Jun 82 Qube Holdings Greentrains green & yellow Operational 8038 C-6121-8 Jun 82 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8039 C-6121-9 Jun 82 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored 8040 C-6121-10 Aug 82 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8041 C-6121-11 Aug 82 Greentrains PTC reverse Scrapped 8042 C-6121-12 Aug 82 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Werris Creek NSW 8043 C-6121-13 Sep 82 Greentrains PTC reverse Scrapped 8044 C-6121-14 Oct 82 Qube Holdings Greentrains Green & Yellow Operational 8045 C-6121-15 Oct 82 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8046 C-6121-16 Dec 82 Pacific National Pacific National Intermodal Stored 8047 C-6121-17 Jan 83 Pacific National FreightCorp blue Stored Werris Creek NSW 8048 C-6121-18 Dec 82 Greentrains FreightCorp blue Scrapped 8049 C-6121-19 Feb 83 Southern Shorthaul Railroad Greentrains green & yellow with SSR logos Operational 8050 C-6121-20 Mar 83 Pacific National Pacific National Intermodal Stored Stored at Werris Creek following engine failure

References

Further reading

Railpage – 80 Class Locomotive