V/Line G class

V/Line G class

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Two Pacific National liveried G class locomotives in Melbourne in February 2007
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Clyde Engineering
Rosewater
Somerton
Serial number 84/1239 to 84/1243
85/1229 to 85/1235
86/1236 to 86/1238
88/1256 to 88/1265
89/1266
89/1270 to 89/1276
Model Original: Electro-Motive Diesel JT26C-2SS
Rebuilt: Electro-Motive Diesel JT36C-2SS
Build date 1984-89
Total produced 33
Specifications
UIC class Co-Co
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge,
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Bogies Trimount type High Adhesion
Length 19.82 m (65 ft 0 in)
Loco weight 127 tonnes (125 long tons; 140 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 9,600 L (2,100 imp gal; 2,500 US gal)
Prime mover Original: Electro-Motive Diesel 16-645E3B
Rebuilt: Electro-Motive Diesel 16-645F3B
Generator Electro-Motive Diesel AR16A-D18
(G511-G515)
Electro-Motive Diesel AR16A-CA5
(G516-G543)
Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D77
(G511-G525)
Electro-Motive Diesel D87
(G526-G543)
Performance figures
Power output Original: 2,460 kW (3,300 hp)
Rebuilt: 2,830 kW (3,800 hp)
Tractive effort Starting: 337 kN (76,000 lbf)
Continuous: 311 kN (70,000 lbf) at 18 km/h (11 mph)
Career
Operators V/Line
Number in class 33
Numbers G511-G543
First run 16 October 1984
Current owner Aurizon
CFCL Australia
Freightliner
Pacific National
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Qube Logistics
Disposition 31 in service, 2 scrapped

The G Class are a class of diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater and Somerton for V/Line between 1984 and 1989.

History

By the early 1980s the first generation diesels purchased by the Victorian Railways were nearly 30 years old, with an average fleet age of 20 years. In addition 70% of the fleet was of 1,000 horsepower or less, a consequence of the historically large number of branch lines in the state.[1]

Rationalisation of the rail freight task had also been carried out, with small freight consignments being consolidated to 'freight centres' from 1976. Moves had also been made towards the operation of block trains carrying a single commodity, rather than trains carrying a wider variety of freight.[2] Grain became the major commodity carried by rail in Victoria, with the consulting arm of Canadian National commissioned by VicRail in 1983 to find ways of improving efficiency. Recommendations carried out included increasing train sizes to 50 bogie wagons and closing a number of branch lines.[1]

Delivery

At the same time Australian National had placed an order with Clyde Engineering, Rosewater for 10 BL class locomotives, with an option for a further five. VicRail's chairman Alan Reiher, stepped in and negotiated for the five to be completed for the newly formed V/Line.[2][3] The new diesels had a much higher axle load than the smaller T and Y class diesels used on branch lines, with these lines either being upgraded to carry heavier trains or closed.[2] These were all delivered in late 1984.[4][5]

A second order was placed for ten further units that were more tailored to V/Line's requirements. The first five were built with standard gauge bogies being delivered via Sydney. Over the next few years members of the second batch would frequently swap gauges as needs dictated. In July 1986 through running without changing locomotives at Albury began with G class locomotives operating through to Sydney.[6] Two further contracts for eleven and seven broad gauge units had brought the fleet up to 33 by November 1989.[5][7] The first 15 were built at Clyde Engineering's, Rosewater factory with the balance built at Somerton.[8]

Although primarily intended for hauling freight services, they were also used on passenger trains such as the Intercapital Daylight and Sydney/Melbourne Express.[9] They rarely hauled broad gauge passenger trains.[10]

National Rail

When National Rail commenced operating interstate services in the mid 1990s seven (517-520, 522, 523 & 525) were leased by V/Line pending the delivery of the NR class.[11][12]

The class were also used on the first privately operated train on government tracks in Australia, operated by SCT Logistics with V/Line locomotives and crews between Melbourne and Adelaide on 13 July 1995.[2] This was extended through to Perth from October 2000.[13]

Freight Australia

All 33 were included in the sale of V/Line Freight to Freight Victoria in March 1999. On 26 November 1999 G517 and G518 were destroyed in a head-on collision at Ararat between an eastbound grain train and a stationary ballast train.[10][14]

Freight Australia commenced a program of engine upgrades purchasing new engines for some of the G class, with the old engines being used to repower X class locomotives, later recoded the XR class.[15]

In the early 2000s Freight Australia was contracted to move freight between Melbourne and Sydney for CRT Group. The contract contained a clause that if Freight Australia was acquired by a competitor of CRT Group, 10,000 hp (7,500 kW) of locomotive power (calculated by the business CRT Group was offering Freight Australia) was to be transferred to CRT Group.[16] As a result, when Freight Australia was acquired by Pacific National in 2004, G516 and G534 were transferred to CRT.[17] They were included in the sale of CRT Group to QR National in 2005.

Recent years

A condition imposed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Toll Holdings taking control of Pacific National was that nine locomotives be sold to SCT Logistics.[18][19][20] This resulted in nine G class passing to SCT Logistics in February 2007.

By mid 2008 SCT Logistics had received new locomotives, and their G classes were sold to the Australian Wheat Board, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia and Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[5]

Pacific National's fleet operate on both the broad and standard gauges, with the latter often operating in New South Wales.

Features

The G class featured imported General Motors-Electro-Motive Division technology (prime mover, alternator and traction motors) on a locally designed frame and body. Major advances introduced with the class included cab air conditioning, onboard toilet, Trimount type high adhesion bogies, and Super Series wheel creep control to enable heavier loads to be hauled.[21] The locomotives were designed to be of minimum mass, allowing a higher fuel load. The body consists of two side trusses with load bearing supports, roofbows and integral cabs. The side panels are made of fibreglass for the minimum weight, with various accessories mounted in removable roof hatches.

The first five units were fitted with carbody pressurisation, as fitted to many other Australian National locomotives for operation in the dusty outback areas they operated in. Differences in the subsequent units included the fitting of double blade windscreen wipers, lowering of the multiple-unit jumper receptacle, and the changing of the marker light orientation from vertical to horizontal. Recent years have seen many of the class fitted with on line refuelling, and working from Melbourne to Perth on the SCT Logistics service.

Fleet list

Locomotive Named Serial No Entered service Owner Operator Livery Gauge Status
G511 84/1239 October 1984 CFCL Australia Southern Shorthaul Railroad SSR yellow & black Standard Operational
G512 Peter Pan 84/1240 November 1984 CFCL Australia Qube Logistics CFCLA silver & blue Broad Operational
G513 84/1241 November 1984 Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad SSR yellow & black Standard Operational
G514 84/1242 November 1984 Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad SSR yellow & black Standard Operational
G515 Rising Fast 84/1243 November 1984 CFCL Australia Qube Logistics CFCLA silver & blue Broad Operational
G516 85/1229 December 1985 Aurizon Aurizon QR National maroon, yellow & black Standard Operational
G517 85/1230 March 1986 Freight Victoria Freight Victoria V/Line orange & grey Standard Scrapped
G518 85/1231 February 1986 Freight Victoria Freight Victoria V/Line orange & grey Standard Scrapped
G519 85/1232 December 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G520 85/1233 March 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G521 85/1234 February 1986 Qube Logistics Qube Logistics SCT Logistics red, white & black Broad Operational
G522 85/1235 March 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G523 86/1236 March 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G524 86/1237 April 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Broad Operational
G525 86/1238 April 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G526 88/1256 March 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G527 88/1257 April 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G528 88/1258 May 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G529 88/1259 June 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Broad Operational
G530 88/1260 July 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Standard Operational
G531 88/1261 July 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G532 88/1262 August 1988 Qube Logistics Qube Logistics SCT Logistics red, white & black Broad Operational
G533 88/1263 September 1988 Freightliner Freightliner Freightliner green & yellow Standard Operational
G534 88/1264 November 1988 Aurizon Aurizon QR National maroon, yellow & black Standard Operational
G535 Kevin Sheedy Express 88/1265 December 1988 Freightliner Freightliner Freightliner green & yellow Standard Operational
G536 89/1266 February 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G537 89/1270 May 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G538 89/1271 May 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G539 89/1272 June 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G540 Wycheproof 89/1273 August 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G541 Birchip 89/1274 September 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National Blue and Yellow Broad Operational
G542 Warracknabeal 89/1275 October 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Broad Operational
G543 89/1276 November 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational

Model railways

HO Scale

Auscision Models has announced a future project including G Class Mark 1 locomotives - G511, 512 in early V/Line orange/grey and Freight Australia green/yellow (and 512 only in Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia blue/grey), 513 and 514 in late V/Line orange/grey, Specialised Container Transport red/white and Southern Shorthaul Railroad yellow/black, 515 in Freight Victoria green/yellow and in Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia blue/grey.[22] The models are expected to be delivered either as DC, or for an additional charge they could be pre-fitted with DCC and Sound.

Austrains in 2014 released models of the G class locomotive retailing at about $300 per model, and originally intended to include the option of pre-fitted DCC and Sound for an additional $100.. The range included "G 220" in VR Blue and Gold, using the body shell of a Series 1 type; in V/Line the locomotives included G 511, 518, 523 and 531. Freight Australia locomotives included G 513, 521 and 539, and the Pacific National models include 532, 535 and 540.[23]

Powerline released models of the first two batches of G class locomotives in V/Line Orange in 1989, then with a new motor type in 1997. The first run included G 513, 515, 521 and 523 with a single motor, and 512, 514, 522 and 524. The second run had G 511, 513 with single motors and 512 with dual motors.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 Peter Foote (October 1987). "V/Line Grain Handling". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 292–297.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lee, Robert (2007). The Railways of Victoria 1854–2004. Melbourne University Publishing. pp. 228, 232,236. ISBN 978-0-522-85134-2.
  3. ↑ Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s - 2007. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 398. ISBN 1-877058-54-8.
  4. ↑ G Class (G511-G525) Railpage
  5. 1 2 3 G Class Vicsig
  6. ↑ "V/Line Standard Gauge Report" Railway Digest August 1986 page 247
  7. ↑ G Class (G526-G543) Railpage
  8. ↑ G class diesel electric locomotives Mark Bau's VR Website
  9. ↑ Julian Insall (January 1994). "Exit the Sydney/Melbourne express". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 7–9.
  10. 1 2 "The G class locomotives of Victoria" Railway Digest April 2000 page 23
  11. ↑ Antony Fitzgerald (April 2000). "The Dash 9 in Australia: National Rail's NR class". Australian Model Railway Magazine. p. 27.
  12. ↑ "NR G Class" Railway Digest April 1996 page 37
  13. ↑ "Freight Australia Takes Over SCT Services to Perth" Railway Digest November 2000 page 11
  14. ↑ Collision Between Freight Train 9784 and Ballast Train 9795 at Ararat, Victoria on 26 November 1999 (PDF). Australian Transport Safety Bureau. March 2000. ISBN 0-642-27466-5. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  15. ↑ "ARHS Railway Museum: History 1950 - now". www.railwaymuseum.org.au. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  16. ↑ Peter Attenborough (February 2006). "Colin Rees Transport (CRT)". Australian Model Railway Magazine. Vol. 22 no. 256. p. 37.
  17. ↑ QR National/Interail Trackside
  18. ↑ "SCT Logistics gains part of Toll's rail divestments" Rail Express.com.au 16 February 2007
  19. ↑ SCT secure PN starter kit Rail Express Issue 77 March 2007
  20. ↑ "SCT launches G class Kevin Sheedy Express" Railway Digest September 2007 Page 5
  21. ↑ Railmac Publications (1992). Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives. Kitchner Press. ISBN 0-949817-76-7.
  22. ↑ http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/G%20Class%20Locomotive%20%28Series%201%29.htm
  23. ↑ "Austrains G Class Diesel Loco - Upcoming". Austrains.
  24. ↑ "Locomotives" (PDF). Powerline.
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