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The P class are a class of diesel locomotives rebuilt from T class locomotives by Clyde Engineering, Somerton for V/Line in 1984–1985.

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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 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

History

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.[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. In October 2022, P14 was sighted in SSR Yellow and Black livery at North Bendigo workshops, returning to South Dynon on October 18th before heading out to Cranbourne, Caulfield and Carrum with EV120 "Evie" and T386 the following day[5]

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	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
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	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
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]	V/Line Mk3 with SSR imprints	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]	V/Line Mk2 with SSR imprints	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)	Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos	Stored	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)	VR Blue and Gold	Preserved-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)	VR Blue and Gold	Preserved-operational	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge

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

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