V/Line P class

V/Line P class
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V/Line P11 at Southern Cross in September 2010
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Clyde Engineering, Somerton
Model Electro-Motive Diesel G18HBR
Build date 1984-1985
Total produced 13
Specifications
Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Length 14.55 m (47 ft 9 in)
Fuel type Diesel
Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 8-645E
Generator Electro-Motive Diesel D15ER
Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D29
Performance figures
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output 820 kW (1,100 hp)
Career
Operators V/Line
Number in class 13
Numbers P11-P23
Current owner Pacific National
V/Line
Disposition 1 in service as a Standard Gauge shunter, 12 stored

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 1950's 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]

Status table

Locomotive Pre-conversion Entered service (T) Re-entered service (P) Owner(s) Notes
P11 T336 9 May 1956 5 June 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995) 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)
P13 T340 30 October 1956 10 July 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995) V/Line Passenger Standard Gauge Shunter
P14 T330 2 July 1956 1 August 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995)
P15 T344 9 December 1956 22 October 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995)
P16 T332 22 July 1956 23 November 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995)
P17 T327 28 May 1956 19 December 1984 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995)
P18 T339 7 October 1956 15 February 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995) 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)
P20 T337 23 September 1956 29 May 1985 V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004)
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)
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) Operational on standard gauge in VR blue & gold livery.
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)

Model Railways

HO scale

Bendigo Rail Models, selling through Auscision, released a model of the P Class locomotive in 2014.[5]

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 N Scale Australia.

[6]

3D printed kit by Rob Popovski

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. ↑ http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/BRM%20P%20Class%20Locomotive.htm
  6. ↑ http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObbhO5MzpAQ/TVTn42MRJkI/AAAAAAAAALU/DJBLL9Cj3go/s1600/PNew_34_view_800.jpg
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