Railways and Tramways of Australia
8180 and 8129 hauling a rake of grain wagons westward, Old Kangaloon Rd crossing, west of Robertson, 16 January 2015.
Pacific National locomotives TT131, 9312 and TT117 on the coal roads passing Tarro with an Up coal train, 20 April 2017.
Pacific National Locomotive Fleet
David Matheson
27 December 2020
Updated 21 December 2025
Pacific National is one the largest rail freight operators in Australia, with trains operating in all mainland states and territories. Freight traffic includes coal, grain, steel and intermodal freight. Its fleet consists of over 500 active locomotives and over 10,000 active wagons. Two broad business areas of Pacific National are national intermodal freight haulage and bulk haulage. National intermodal freight haulage includes interstate containerised freight services, interstate steel freight services, and the provision of locomotives for passenger trains.
Bulk haulage includes coal, grain, minerals, concentrates and construction materials. Pacific National is the second-largest coal rail haulage provider in Australia. In New South Wales coal trains operate from mines in the Hunter Valley, Illawarra, Lithgow, Mudgee and Gunnedah regions, with coal for export being hauled to the ports of Newcastle and Port Kembla. Coal is also transported to power stations and steelworks. In Queensland Pacific National operates from mines in the Bowen Basin through the Goonyella, Blackwater and Newlands rail systems. Additionally, Pacific National carries grain in the eastern states of Australia.
Pacific National was formed in 2002 when a joint venture between Toll Holdings and Patrick acquired the assets of the National Rail Corporation and the New South Wales Government operator FreightCorp. In 2007 Pacific National was purchased by Asciano, but in 2016 it broke away to become a standalone company when it was sold to Australian Logistics Acquisition Investments.
The following classes were represented in the Pacific National fleet in October 2025.
Some of the classes indicated above also have units in service with other operators.
A few interesting features of the Pacific National fleet are noted below.
The most powerful locomotives in the fleet are the 71 Class electric units, which have a traction output of 4000 kW.
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The newest locomotives in the fleet are the 94 Class units, which commenced service in 2025.
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The most numerous class is the NR Class, of which there are 117 units in service.
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References
‘Motive Power 2025 Australia wide fleet list’, Motive Power, issue 162, November/December 2025.
Clark, PJ, An Australian locomotive guide, 2nd edn, Rosenberg, Sydney, 2015.
Oberg, L, Locomotives of Australia: 1854 to 2007, 5th edn, Rosenberg, Sydney, 2010.
Pacific National, <www.pacificnational.com.au>.
Scott, J, Power to the rails: a history of Victoria’s diesel and electric locomotives, John Scott, Melbourne, 2011.
Walters, C, A guide to Australasian locomotion, 2023 edn, Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division, Sydney, 2022.
8224 and 8225 with an Up freight, Taree, 12 July 2020.
Pacific National locomotives NR60, LDP009 and NR48 with a Down freight train approaching Warnervale station, 9 October 2020.