New South Wales 85 class locomotive

When introduced they were the most powerful locomotives in Australia with a rating of 2,880 kW. Based at Lithgow depot they were purchased principally to haul coal trains over the Blue Mountains line. They also hauled other freight trains and on occasions passenger services including the Indian Pacific.

In 1982, an empty grain train lead by two 85 classes with 8505 at the front collided with an empty coal train as the result of a wrong side signal failure. The guard on the coal train was badly injured and the driver of the grain train was killed.^[3]

Following the Illawarra line being electrified in 1986, 85s began to operate coal trains from Lithgow through to Port Kembla. They also occasionally hauled coal services from Glenlee Colliery on the Main South line to Port Kembla and Rozelle. They did not operate on the Main North line although in 1993 all were hauled to Taree for repainting at Landsdowne Engineering.^[4]

A combination of National Rail electing to use diesel locomotives on electrified lines and a move to an open access model in New South Wales resulting in electric traction being priced out of the market saw the need for electric traction drop.^[5] In April 1998, the 85 class were withdrawn and stored at Lithgow.^[2][6]