V/Line P class

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

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)
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
Number in class13
NumbersP11-P23
Current ownerPacific National
V/Line
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Disposition5 in service, 6 stored and 2 preserved

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By September 2017, all of V/Line's P class locomotives had been withdrawn from regular passenger service, having been replaced by the VLocity diesel multiple units. A single unit, P13, which had been converted to standard gauge was retained.[4]

P22 Sims Street Junction

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)[5] 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 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
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] V/Line Mk2 with SSR imprints 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 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P16 T332 22 July 1956 23 November 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[7] V/Line Mk2 with SSR imprints 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)[8] 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)[9] V/Line Mk2 with SSR imprints 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.[10][11]
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 Undergoing restoration 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge

Model Railways

HO scale

Bendigo Rail Models, selling through Auscision, released a model of the P Class locomotive in 2014.[12]

Models in V/Line Orange (P11, P14, P16 and P18) and both Freight Australia (P19 and P20) and Freight Australia with Pacific National decals (P21 and P22) are fitted with the original head-end power fan arrangement, handrails and small side mirrors. Models in V/Line Passenger Mark 1 (P11 and P15) are fitted with the modified head-end-power fan arrangement and the large side mirrors, but the original handrail layout. The remaining models, V/Line Passenger Mk2 (P13 and P17) and Mk3 (P11 and P12) are fitted with the modified head-end-power fan arrangement, the large side mirrors, and the modern handrail layout. The range does not include any models of locomotive P23.

N scale

Brass etched kit by Aust-N-Rail.[13] 3D printed kit by Rob Popovski.[14]

References

  1. P Class diesel electric locomotives Mark Bau's VR website
  2. P Class Railpage
  3. P Class Vicsig
  4. Costanzo, Karl (September 2017). "V/Line Cab Committee Report" (PDF). LocoLines (69). RTBU Victoria Locomotive Division. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  5. Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p.33
  6. Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p.33
  7. Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p.33
  8. Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p.33
  9. Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p.33
  10. Newsrail June 1991 p189
  11. Newsrail August 1991 p262
  12. http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/BRM%20P%20Class%20Locomotive.htm
  13. "VLine P class (unassembled, unpainted)". Aust-N-Rail. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  14. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObbhO5MzpAQ/TVTn42MRJkI/AAAAAAAAALU/DJBLL9Cj3go/s1600/PNew_34_view_800.jpg
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