V/Line P class
V/Line P11 at Southern Cross in September 2010
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Somerton
ModelEMD G18HBR
Build date1984-1985
Total produced13
Specifications
Gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Length14.55 m (47 ft 9 in)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEMD 8-645E
GeneratorEMD D15ER
Traction motorsEMD D29
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output820 kW (1,100 hp)
Career
OperatorsV/Line, Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Number in class13
NumbersP11-P23
Current ownerPacific National
V/Line
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Disposition5 in service, 6 stored and 2 preserved

The P class are a class of diesel locomotives rebuilt from T class locomotives by Clyde Engineering, Somerton for V/Line in 1984–1985.

History

V/Line P12 at North Melbourne in August 2007
Freight Australia P22 at North Melbourne in April 2010

The P class were rebuilt from 1950s T class locomotives by Clyde Engineering. The rebuild involved a new cab and carbody, replacing the EMD 8-567C engine with an EMD 8-645E, replacement of the main generator and traction motors, and provision of a separate head end power generator.

Only first-series T Class locomotives were suitable for upgrading because their frames were designed for EMD 12-567 engines, with only 2/3rds of the length used to cut down on weight (and allow a Bo-Bo, instead of A1A-A1A or Co-Co wheel arrangement). When rebuilt, the 8-645 engine took the place formerly occupied by the 8–567, and the remaining space was utilised for the head-end power unit.

The first eight of the class were in service with V/Line; Pacific National has one engine stored, and Ettamogah Rail Hub has four. In passenger usage, they were most commonly used in push-pull mode with H type carriages, but also operated as single locomotives if required. In freight service, the head end power was occasionally used for the powering of refrigerated containers.[1][2][3]

When first introduced, it was hoped to allow push-pull operations with one locomotive permanently allocated to a single three- or four-car H set, with a driving cab installed in the non-locomotive end of that set. This failed because while the Harris motor cabs were sufficient for 1950s standards of comfort and visibility, the conversion cost any application of the grandfather clause and so visibility of signals etc. was deemed insufficient.

By September 2017, all of V/Line's P class locomotives had been withdrawn from regular passenger service, having been replaced by the VLocity diesel multiple units. Though P12, P13, which had been converted to standard gauge, and P15 were retained and are stored at South Dynon.[4] In 2019 Southern Shorthaul Railroad acquired some P class locomotives from V/line. They remain in V/Line colours but with V/Line logos painted over and replaced with the SSR logo. In October 2022, P14 was sighted in SSR Yellow and Black livery at North Bendigo workshops, returning to South Dynon on October 18 before heading out to Cranbourne, Caulfield and Carrum with EV120 "Evie" and T386 the following day[5]

P17-IEV102-P18 at Ashburton on an overhead inspection run to Alamein
P22 Sims Street Junction
P23 at Seymour Rail Heritage Centre
P14 in SSR livery doing an Overhead evaluation run at Carrum

Status table

Locomotive Pre-conversion Entered service (T) Re-entered service (P) Owner(s) Current livery Current status Gauge Notes
P11 T336 9 May 1956 5 June 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[6] V/Line Mk3 In service, North Bendigo shunter 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Ran the last V/Line Sunbury passenger and Leongatha freight trains
P12 T329 18 June 1956 7 June 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995) V/Line Mk3 Stored Active 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Ran 707ops charted with R707 & P15 26th November 23
P13 T340 30 October 1956 10 July 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995) V/Line Mk2 In service 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) standard gauge V/Line Passenger Standard Gauge Shunter
P14 T330 2 July 1956 1 August 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[6] SSR Yellow and Black In service 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P15 T344 9 December 1956 22 October 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995) V/Line Mk3 Stored Active 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Ran 707ops Charter with R707 & P12 26 Dec 23
P16 T332 22 July 1956 23 November 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[6] SSR Yellow and Black In service 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P17 T327 28 May 1956 19 December 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[6] V/Line Mk3 with SSR imprints In service 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P18 T339 7 October 1956 15 February 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[6] SSR Yellow and Black In service 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Ran both the last V/Line Leongatha and Sunbury passenger trains.
P19 T331 2 July 1956 26 March 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos Stored 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P20 T337 23 September 1956 29 May 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos Stored 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Noted as having revolving quartz halogen lights added at each end.[7][8]
P21 T338 23 September 1956 27 June 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos Stored 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P22 T328 18 June 1956 11 September 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Seymour Rail Heritage Centre (2015) VR Blue and Gold Preserved-operational 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) standard gauge
P23 T326 28 May 1956 11 September 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Seymour Rail Heritage Centre (2015) VR Blue and Gold Preserved-operational 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge

References

  1. ↑ "P class d/e locomotives". Victorian Railways. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "P Class (VIC)". Railpage. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "VICSIG". VICSIG. 19 April 2006. Archived from the original on 19 June 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Costanzo, Karl (September 2017). "V/Line Cab Committee Report" (PDF). LocoLines. No. 69. RTBU Victoria Locomotive Division. pp. 26–27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "VICSIG". vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p. 33
  7. ↑ Newsrail June 1991 p189
  8. ↑ Newsrail August 1991 p262
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