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.

History

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. V/line originally intended to utilize the P classes on push-pull operations, with one locomotive permanently allocated to a single three or four car H set, with a driving cab installed on the non-locomotive end of that set. This never eventuated as Harris motor cabs did not meet the standards of comfort and visibility required by newer regulations of the time.

Originally, all 13 of the class were in service with V/Line. However when the freight and passenger rail divisions of V/Line were separated in 1997, the class would be split between the divisions. P11 to P18 would see continued use by V/line whereas P19 to 23 would be inherited by Freight Australia for inter-modal traffic.

By September 2017, all of V/Line's P class locomotives had been withdrawn from regular passenger service, having been replaced by the VLocity diesel multiple units. 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. 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. As of 2024 Ettamogah Rail Hub has four P class locomotives stored, 2 of which were leased to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre where they would be reactivated and painted into the Victorian Railways blue and yellow paint scheme. P20 has also gone into preservation with 707 Operations, having been donated the locomotive by Pacific National in January 2024.

Status table

References

Bo-Bo locomotives
Clyde Engineering locomotives
Pacific National diesel locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1984
P class
Broad gauge locomotives in Australia
Diesel–electric locomotives of Australia
Standard gauge locomotives of Australia
Passenger locomotives