During 2013, a number of Pacific National's ubiquitous NR Class locomotives passed through the workshops at UGL Rail, Spotswood (Melbourne, Victoria) to be fitted with ECP/WDP braking systems. Reclassified as the NRE Class, these locomotives are to be transferred to the Bulk Rail division for use on quarry traffic between Marulan South and Rooty Hill in NSW.

As of December 2013, only one locomotive had been reclassified as such - NR(E)17. NR120 also had the cab numbers rearranged to permit the addtion of an "E", although this has not eventuated since the locomotive has been returned to service. By the end of December 2013, NRE17 had been renumbered back to NR17.