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Victorian Railways T class (diesel)
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Railways
T class diesel electric locomotive
are a small branch line and shunting unit built by Clyde Engineering
(now EDI Rail
). They were the most numerous class of diesel locomotives in the state.
The Victorian Railways placed an order with Clyde Engineering for 25 (later 27) Diesel Electric locomotives of their G8 type (based on the EDM GP-7/GP-9 general-purpose locomotive that was a massive sales success in the USA at the time). The aim was to partially dieselise the country branch lines replacing the older (some were 60 years old) steam locomotives of the Y, E, D1 and D4 classes.
The H class
diesel electric locomotive were part of the fifth T class order, but had additional equipment fitted resulting in their recoding.
'Flat top' T413 became a regular on the steeply graded Cudgewa line as it was the only locomotive of the class with dynamic brakes
.
T334 was repainted into the bright pink 'Ozride' livery in 1986, for use in a documentary film for the training of V/Line employees into how not to run a railway. Filming runs were made throughout July 1986 at Moorabool
, and Spencer Street Station with three Harris
carriages also used, repainted pink on one side only and with their pantographs tied down.
The prime mover was an eight-cylinder EMD 8-567C diesel engine, with unit injection Roots blower scavenging through cylinder wall intake and with multiple valve exhaust. The engine operating speed ranges from 275 to 835 r.p.m., and is nominally rated at 950 h.p. Input to the EMD D15 generator was 875 h.p. The engine-cooling system consisted of a direct-driven centrifugal water pump on the engine with radiators, water-cooled oil cooler, cooling fan and water tank.
The main generator and EMD D15 was directly coupled to the engine crankshaft was which converted mechanical energy into electric energy at 600 volts.The power was passed to the electrical cabinets, and is then distributed to the four EMD D19 traction motors, two in each bogie.
D.C. auxiliary generator supplied power for control cabinets, lighting and storage battery charging.
The car body was distinctively long and low being 3.873m high and 14.554 long. The locomotive was single ended with controls on the left hand side.
Maximum speed was 62 mph of 100 kph.
, with mainly low nose locos. Almost half of the flat tops have been rebuilt into the P class, with the remainder preserved, still in use by private operators, scrapped, or used as stationary generators in industry.
A large number of the high cabs and low nose class were withdrawn from service in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with some scrapped, and the remainder sold to current and former private operators including Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, El Zorro
, Great Northern Rail Services
, Southern Shorthaul Railroad
, Specialised Container Transport
, and West Coast Railway
. A number of T classes are also used on tourist railways throughout the state.
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
T class diesel electric locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
are a small branch line and shunting unit built by Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
(now EDI Rail
EDi Rail
Downer Rail is a rail company based in Australia. Formed by a merger of Walkers and Clyde Engineering, it is currently a division of Downer EDi...
). They were the most numerous class of diesel locomotives in the state.
The Victorian Railways placed an order with Clyde Engineering for 25 (later 27) Diesel Electric locomotives of their G8 type (based on the EDM GP-7/GP-9 general-purpose locomotive that was a massive sales success in the USA at the time). The aim was to partially dieselise the country branch lines replacing the older (some were 60 years old) steam locomotives of the Y, E, D1 and D4 classes.
Subtypes
The class can be divided into three main styles by appearance, and into further groups by the design drawings and equipment fitted.- Flat tops: T 320 - T 346 & 413 (first order). Based upon an EMD export locomotive design, this order had a low cab and roof. T413 was built for use on the private Fyansford Cement Works Railway near GeelongGeelong, VictoriaGeelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
, but was later sold to the VR.
- High cabs: T 347 - T 356 and T 357 - T 366 (second and third orders). They differed from the flat tops by having a high cab but were mechanically similar. The 3rd order had an altered radiator design.
- Low nose: T 367 - T 398 and T 399 to T 412 (fourth and fifth orders). The fourth order introduced a new low nose that provided greater driver visibility, and a more modern generator. The fifth order introduced the newer EMD 645EMD 645The EMD 645 family of diesel engines was designed and manufactured by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. Intended primarily for locomotive, marine and stationary engine use, one 16-cylinder version powered the 33-19 "Titan" prototype haul truck designed by GM's Terex...
E engine, replacing the older EMD 567EMD 567The EMD 567 is a line of diesel engines built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. This engine, which succeeded Winton's 201-A, was used in EMD's locomotives from 1938 until its replacement in 1966 by the EMD 645. It has a bore of , a stroke of and a displacement of 567 in³ per cylinder...
used before.
The H class
Victorian Railways H class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways H Class diesel locomotive are a small shunter that entered service from 1967 for use at the Melbourne Hump Yard, Australia...
diesel electric locomotive were part of the fifth T class order, but had additional equipment fitted resulting in their recoding.
'Flat top' T413 became a regular on the steeply graded Cudgewa line as it was the only locomotive of the class with dynamic brakes
Dynamic braking
Dynamic braking is the use of the electric traction motors of a railroad vehicle as generators when slowing the Locomotive. It is termed rheostatic if the generated electrical power is dissipated as heat in brake grid resistors, and regenerative if the power is returned to the supply line...
.
T334 was repainted into the bright pink 'Ozride' livery in 1986, for use in a documentary film for the training of V/Line employees into how not to run a railway. Filming runs were made throughout July 1986 at Moorabool
Moorabool, Victoria
Moorabool is a bounded rural locality of the City of Greater Geelong Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia.-References:...
, and Spencer Street Station with three Harris
Harris (train)
The Harris trains were the first steel-bodied Electric Multiple Unit train to operate on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They were introduced in 1956 by the Victorian Railways, and last operated in 1988, although a number of the carriages were converted for other...
carriages also used, repainted pink on one side only and with their pantographs tied down.
First Series T320-T346 plus T413
The first series were ordered July 1954. The first in service was class leader T320 which was placed in service 3 August 1955 the others followed with the last T346 24 December 1956. T413 is usually placed in this series as it is mechanically identical to the first T class. The locomotive was purchased by Australian Portland Cement to serve its Fyansford quarry and placed in service on 17 September 1956 and purchased by the Victorian Railways in July 1969. It was the only T fitted with dynamic brakesThe prime mover was an eight-cylinder EMD 8-567C diesel engine, with unit injection Roots blower scavenging through cylinder wall intake and with multiple valve exhaust. The engine operating speed ranges from 275 to 835 r.p.m., and is nominally rated at 950 h.p. Input to the EMD D15 generator was 875 h.p. The engine-cooling system consisted of a direct-driven centrifugal water pump on the engine with radiators, water-cooled oil cooler, cooling fan and water tank.
The main generator and EMD D15 was directly coupled to the engine crankshaft was which converted mechanical energy into electric energy at 600 volts.The power was passed to the electrical cabinets, and is then distributed to the four EMD D19 traction motors, two in each bogie.
D.C. auxiliary generator supplied power for control cabinets, lighting and storage battery charging.
The car body was distinctively long and low being 3.873m high and 14.554 long. The locomotive was single ended with controls on the left hand side.
Maximum speed was 62 mph of 100 kph.
Today
The major operator of T class locomotives today is Pacific NationalPacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
, with mainly low nose locos. Almost half of the flat tops have been rebuilt into the P class, with the remainder preserved, still in use by private operators, scrapped, or used as stationary generators in industry.
A large number of the high cabs and low nose class were withdrawn from service in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with some scrapped, and the remainder sold to current and former private operators including Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, El Zorro
El Zorro (railway)
El Zorro is a railway operator based in Victoria, Australia. It is a private company that was founded in 1999, based in Spotswood, and named by director Ray Evans who has a taste for things Spanish. . The company has three shareholders: director Ray Evans, business manager Geoff Tighe, and Lisa...
, Great Northern Rail Services
Great Northern Rail Services
Great Northern Rail Services is a former railway operator in Victoria, Australia. Great Northern Rail Services was incorporated in July 1993 and provided locomotives and train crews to other rail operators, ran general train operations and operated rail vehicle maintenance services in Victoria...
, Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Southern Shorthaul Railroad was established in December 2003, when the remains of Great Northern Rail Services were purchased from CFCL Australia Pty Ltd. Jason Ferguson was then the Fleet Manager for CFCL Australia, and this company was facing a $1.3M write-off of a bad-debt from the previous...
, Specialised Container Transport
Specialised Container Transport
SCT Logistics is an interstate transport company in Australia, with facilities in Melbourne, Adelaide, Parkes, and Perth. The company was founded in 1974.- History :...
, and West Coast Railway
West Coast Railway (Victoria)
West Coast Railway was the trading name of The Victorian Railway Company Pty Ltd, a railway company operating in Victoria, Australia. The company operated passenger services between Melbourne and Warrnambool from 1993 to 2004.-History:...
. A number of T classes are also used on tourist railways throughout the state.