The first of the 15 commenced trials between Clyde Engineering's, Kelso plant and Lithgow in February 1988.

[2] They were used on Australian National's standard gauge network on Freight and Passenger traffic from Broken Hill to Adelaide, Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie.

In June 1999, National Rail began operating blue metal trains in New South Wales from Dunmore to Cooks River[3] and in November 1999, from Marulan to Port Kembla both with DLs.

During the month DL47 ran as part of light engine movement D171 from Enfield Yard to Lithgow with 8151 leading stored locos X50, DL47, X49 & G519.

[6] On 1 December 2016, 8129 lead DL45, DL44, DL50 and DL42 on a light engine movement to Port Kembla for reactivation work for grain haulage.