Built for Australian National in Rosewater (SA) following the success of the NSW 81 Class, the BL Class were purchased for interstate freight on both broad and standard gauge lines. The entire class passed first to National Rail and later Pacific National, and continued to be used on interstate intermodal and steel traffic, as well as The Overland. The class is split between Victoria and NSW, with the Victorian units used on Long Island steel traffic as well as export and domestic broad gauge grain. The NSW units typically see service on bulk freight such as ore, coal, cement and grain.

Source: Trackside