V/Line P class

Class of diesel locomotives used in Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Quick Facts Type and origin, Power type ...
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+12 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, Pacific National, Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Number in class13
NumbersP11-P23
PreservedThree: P13, P19, P20
Current owner707 Operations
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Disposition7 in service, 3 stored and 3 preserved
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History

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

The P class were rebuilt from Victorian Railways first series T class locomotives by Clyde Engineering for V/line. 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 the inclusion a head end power (HEP) generator.

In the early 1980's, V/line were looking to modernize Victorian passenger services. with the intended introduction of H type carriages, V/line needed a locomotive to pull them. it was decided that it was more economical to rebuild existing locomotives to modern specifications then completely new locomotives. V/line decided to rebuild first-series T Class locomotives to modern specifications. The reasons behind this were that the T class locomotives had become life expired and the frames of the locomotives had ample space to mount a HEP generator. 13 First series T classes would be rebuilt at Clyde Engineering's Somerton, Victoria plant to P class specifications. 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 the inclusion of a head end power (HEP) generator.

When built, P class locomotives were most commonly used in either a push-pull mode with H type carriages or operated as single locomotives with a 3-4 carriage train. The P classes also saw use on revenue freight services. In freight service, the head end power was occasionally used for the powering of refrigerated containers.[1][2][3]

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.[4] In 2019, Southern Shorthaul Railroad acquired five P class locomotives from V/Line. Initially the acquired units remained in V/Line livery, but with the V/Line logos removed and replaced with the SSR logo. Starting in 2022 the 5 units SSR had acquired at the time would be progressively repainted into the SSR Yellow and Black livery, with all units being painted by late 2023.[5]

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P17-IEV102-P18 at Ashburton on an overhead inspection run to Alamein

Up until November 2024 V/Line had retained P12, P13 and P15 for use as standby and for-hire locomotives. However SSR has since also acquired P12 and 15 and 707 Operations acquired P13 from V/Line for preservation, marking the end of any P class locomotives being under V/Line ownership.[6] As of 2025 Ettamogah Rail Hub has three P class locomotives stored, 2 of which were leased to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre where they were reactivated and painted into the Victorian Railways blue and yellow paint scheme, and SRHC has since acquired P19 from ERH for preservation. P20 has also gone into preservation with 707 Operations, having been donated the locomotive by Pacific National in January 2024.[citation needed]

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P22 Sims Street Junction
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P23 at Seymour Rail Heritage Centre
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P14 in SSR livery doing an Overhead evaluation run at Carrum

Status table

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More information Key: ...
Key: In Service Stored Preserved Converted Under Overhaul Scrapped
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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)[7] 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), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2024) V/Line Mk3 In Service 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Ran 707ops charted with R707 & P15 26 November 2023
P13 T340 30 October 1956 10 July 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), 707 Operations (2024) V/Line Mk2 Preserved 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) standard gauge Ownership transferred to 707 Operations in November 2024
P14 T330 2 July 1956 1 August 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)[7] 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), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2024) V/Line Mk3 In Service 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)[7] 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)[7] SSR Yellow and Black 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)[7] 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), Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (2025) Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos Stored 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Acquired by SRHC from Ettamogah Rail Hub for preservation in February 2025
P20 T337 23 September 1956 29 May 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), 707 Operations (2023) V/Line Orange and Grey Preserved – Operational 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge Noted as having revolving quartz halogen lights added at each end.[8][9] Donated to 707 Operations in 2023 and returned to service on 14 September 2024.[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)

Ettamogah Rail Hub (2024)

VR Blue and Gold 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)

Ettamogah Rail Hub (2024)

VR Blue and Gold operational 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge

References

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