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 type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Somerton Model EMD G18HBR Build date 1984-1985 Total produced 13
Specifications Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Length 14.55 m (47 ft 9 in) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover EMD 8-645E Generator EMD D15ER Traction motors EMD D29
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output 820 kW (1,100 hp)
Career Operators V/Line, Southern Shorthaul Railroad Number in class 13 Numbers P11-P23 Preserved One: P20 Current owner V/Line Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 5 in service, 7 stored and 1 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.

Originally, all 13 of the class were in service with V/Line. However the freight and passenger rail divisions of V/Line were separated in 1997, and when the freight division was sold to Freight Australia in 1999 they acquired 5 of the class. 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 as standby and for-hire locomotives.^[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. However all have since been repainted into the SSR Yellow and Black livery.^[5]

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

Currently Ettamogah Rail Hub has stored four locomotives, and P20 has gone into preservation with 707 Operations, having been donated the locomotive by Pacific National in January 2024.

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]	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)[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), 707 Operations (2023)	Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos	Under Restoration	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) 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

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. Weekly Operational Notice 14/2019, p. 33
7. Newsrail June 1991 p189
8. Newsrail August 1991 p262