The BLs were built by Clyde under license from GM in the early 1980s for Australian National for use on Intercapital freights. They have seen service with AN, National Rail and now Pacific National. These locomotives are used on a number of different duties including ore trains, broad gauge steel trains to Long Island, Vic, and East Coast Banking duties. The BLs seen in Queensland are generally coupled between two NRs for banking duties on the East Coast between Melbourne and Brisbane.