90 Class

The 90 class are a class of heavy mainline diesel locomotive introduced from 1994 in the state of New South Wales. They are the heaviest locomotives on the network and are only used on Hunter Valley coal workings. Purchased under a Ready Power contract like the 82 class, the first batch of 90 class were built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD), London, Ontario, Canada (9001–9031) in 1994, while new locomotives were obtained in 2006, built by EDI Rail Cardiff, New South Wales (9032–9035). Despite two manufacturers of the 90 class, the specifications remain the same. They have EMD 16-710G3A sixteen cylinder, two-stroke engines, rated at 3,030 kW (4,060 hp), have a mass of 165 t, have Co-Co wheel arrangement and have a maximum speed of 115 km/h. The EMD 710 series was the last major development of large two-stroke engines by the former Electro-Motive Division of the General Motors Corporation. More recent engine development has focused on a new four stroke design. 90 Class locomotives are of a single ended cab design, with an almost identical cab layout to the 82 Class. The 90 class are restricted to coal haulage in the Hunter Valley due to their size and weight. They are usually found to be working in threes, but are also found working with 81 class 82 class 92 Class and G Class locomotives which now frequent the Hunter Valley on Pacific National coal workings. A large number of the class are named after Olympic sportsman from past Games. 9001–9031 are in the Freightcorp Livery, with Pacific National decals over the Freightcorp logo, while the 4 which were built by EDI have the Pacific National livery.

Operations
Restricted to the Hunter Valley the 90 class are used on the Main Northern line as far as Muswellbrook. They did operate to Dartbrook mine located between Muswellbrook and Aberdeen before that mine closed. From Muswellbrook they operate as far as Ulan on the Ulan line. 90 class have worked at times due to loco shortage, general freight but you would most likely count them on one hand and then did not work outside Hunter Valley

Outside of the Hunter
The 90 class have rarely worked outside of the Hunter Valley and worked anything other than coal trains. Members of the class have visited the Wheel lathe at DELEC and one was on display at Central Station for the 100th Anniversary of Clyde Engineering in 1998.