V/Line P class

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V/Line P class
V/Line P11 at Southern Cross in September 2010
hideType and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Somerton Model EMD G18HBR Build date 1984-1985 Total produced 13
hideSpecifications Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Length 14.55 m (47 ft 9 in) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover EMD 8-645E Generator EMD D15ER Traction motors EMD D29
hidePerformance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output 820 kW (1,100 hp)
hideCareer Operators V/Line Number in class 13 Numbers P11-P23 Current owner Pacific National V/Line Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 5 in service, 6 stored and 2 preserved

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.^{[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. A single unit, P13, which had been converted to standard gauge was retained.S^[4] In 2019 Southern Shorthaul Railroad acquired some P class locomotives from V/line. They remain in V/Line colours but with V/Line logos painted over and replaced with the SSR logo.^[5]

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

P22 Sims Street Junction

P23 at Seymour Rail Heritage Centre

Status table[]

Model Railways[]

HO scale[]

Bendigo Rail Models, selling through Auscision, released a model of the P Class locomotive in 2014.^[9]

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.^[10] 3D printed kit by Rob Popovski.^[11]

References[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to V/Line P class diesel locomotives.