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V/Line G class

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For the 1877 broad-gauge steam locomotives, see Victorian Railways G class (1877). For the 1925 narrow-gauge steam locomotives, see Victorian Railways G class.

V/Line G class
Pacific National G533 in February 2007
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering
Rosewater
Somerton
Serial number84-1239 to 84–1243
85-1229 to 85–1235
86/1236 to 86–1238
88-1256 to 88–1266
89-1270 to 89–1276
ModelOriginal: EMD JT26C-2SS
Rebuilt: EMD JT36C-2SS
Build date1984–1989
Total produced33
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge,
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
BogiesTrimount type High Adhesion
Length19.82 m (65 ft 0 in)
Loco weight127 tonnes (125 long tons; 140 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity9,600 L (2,100 imp gal; 2,500 US gal)
Prime moverOriginal: EMD 16-645E3C
Rebuilt: EMD 16-645F3B
GeneratorEMD AR16A-D18
(G511-G515)
EMD AR16A-CA5
(G516-G543)
Traction motorsEMD D77
(G511-G525)
EMD D87
(G526-G543)
Performance figures
Power outputOriginal: 3,300 hp (2,500 kW)
Rebuilt: 3,600 hp (2,700 kW)
Tractive effortStarting: 337 kN (76,000 lbf)
Continuous: 311 kN (70,000 lbf) at 18 km/h (11 mph)
Career
OperatorsV/Line
Number in class33
NumbersG511-G543
First run16 October 1984
Current ownerAurizon
Linx Cargo Care Group
Pacific National
Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Qube
Rail First Asset Management
Watco Australia
Disposition30 in service, 2 scrapped, 1 Overhaul Repair
G515 and VL353 lead the cement from South Dandenong to Victoria Dock at Huntingdale
Qube Logistics G532 at Sunshine North with 9345 Empty Hanson Quarries Service. This Service runs twice a Day from either Brooklyn or Westall to Kilmore east to load Rock and return to Brooklyn or Westall. TDN's 9341, 9342, 9345 & 9346 are Brooklyn running codes. TDN's 9343, 9344, 9347 & 9348 are Westall running codes.

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

History

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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

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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

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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

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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 when an eastbound grain train collided with a stationary ballast train at 70 km/h.[10][14]

Freight Australia commenced a program of engine upgrades purchasing new, more powerful EMD 16-645F3B engines for some of the G class, with the old engines being used to repower X class locomotives, later recoded the XR class.[15][16] The upgraded G classes were G523, G526, G529, G530, G531, G536, G541 and G543. These locos now have a power output of 3,800 hp (2795 kW).

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.[17] As a result, when Freight Australia was acquired by Pacific National in 2004, G516 & G534 were handed over to Linx Cargo, while 2 X class locomotives went to CRT Group, and later to Linx Cargo.

A condition imposed by the Australian Competition & 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, CFCLA 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.

In 2015, Freightliner purchased G533 and G535 from AWB Limited. [21] In the same year, they passed to Genesee & Wyoming Australia when their parent company, Genesee & Wyoming purchased Freightliner and integrated their Australian operations. [22] The 2 Gs now operate with Aurizon, following their purchase of ORA (formerly GWA) in 2022.

Qube Logistics' G521 and G532 were overhauled by Gemco and repainted in 2021.

Features

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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.[23] 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

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Key: In Service Stored Preserved Converted Under Overhaul Scrapped
Locomotive Name Serial Number Entered service Withdrawn Owner Operator Livery Gauge Status
G511 (BL36) 84-1239 October 1984 Watco Australia Watco Australia Watco Black & Yellow Standard Operational
G512 (BL37) Peter Pan 84-1240 November 1984 Rail First Asset Management Qube Railfirst silver & blue Broad Operational
G513 (BL38) Mike Moy 84-1241 November 1984 Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad SSR yellow & black Standard Operational
G514 (BL39) Graham Cotterall 84-1242 November 1984 Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern ShorthaulRailroad SSR yellow & black Standard Operational
G515 (BL40) Rising Fast 84-1243 November 1984 RailFirst Qube Railfirst silver & blue Broad Operational
G516 85-1229 December 1984 Linx Cargo Care Group Linx Cargo Care Group Linx Cargo Care Blue with Swift logos Standard Operational
G517 84-1231 February 1985 November 1999 Freight Australia Freight Australia V/Line Orange & Grey Broad Scrapped due to accident
G518 85-1232 May 1985 November 1999 Freight Australia Freight Australia V/Line Orange & Grey Broad Scrapped due to accident
G519 85-1232 December 1985 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National Blue & yellow Standard Operational, reactivated March 2022
G520 85-1233 March 1986 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia Green & Yellow Standard Operational
G521 85-1234 February 1986 Qube Qube Qube Yellow and Grey Standard 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 Standard 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 Standard Operational
G528 88-1258 May 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia Green & yellow Broad Operational
G529 Sam Azzopardi 88-1259 June 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G530 88-1260 July 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Standard Operational
G531 88-1261 August 1988 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G532 88-1262 September 1988 Qube Qube Qube Yellow and Grey Broad Operational
G533 88-1263 November 1988 Aurizon Aurizon Aurizon yellow & logos with green Freightliner trim. Standard Operational
G534 88-1264 November 1988 Linx Cargo Care Group Linx Cargo Care Group Linx cargo Care Blue With Swift logos Standard Operational
G535 88-1265 December 1988 Aurizon Aurizon Aurizon yellow & logos with green Freightliner trim. Standard Operational
G536 89-1266 February 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National blue & yellow Broad Operational
G537 Triples 89-1270 May 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Undercoat Standard Overhaul Repair
G538 89-1271 May 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G539 89-1272 June 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Standard Operational
G540 Wycheproof 89-1273 August 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Pacific National Blue & 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 Standard Operational
G543 89-1276 November 1989 Pacific National Pacific National Freight Australia green & yellow Broad Operational
  • G511-515 were originally built as BL36-40.
  • G543 was built with (and still has) a desktop cab layout, being a test bed for the DL and AN class locomotives.

References

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  1. ^ a b Peter Foote (October 1987). "V/Line Grain Handling". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 292–297.
  2. ^ a b c d 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 978-1-877058-54-7.
  4. ^ G Class (G511-G525) Archived 31 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railpage
  5. ^ a b c G Class Archived 17 June 2004 at the Wayback Machine Vicsig
  6. ^ "V/Line Standard Gauge Report" Railway Digest August 1986 page 247
  7. ^ G Class (G526-G543) Archived 31 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railpage
  8. ^ G class diesel electric locomotives Archived 28 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 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. ^ a b "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  15. ^ "ARHS Railway Museum: History 1950 – now". railwaymuseum.org.au. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  16. ^ Hewison, P, Kimpton, R. (2002) Freight Australia's Rollingstock Initiatives, Conference on Railway Engineering, Wollongong, 10–13 November 2002, pp. 293–294
  17. ^ Peter Attenborough (February 2006). "Colin Rees Transport (CRT)". Australian Model Railway Magazine. Vol. 22, no. 256. p. 37.
  18. ^ "SCT Logistics gains part of Toll's rail divestments" Archived 4 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express.com.au 16 February 2007
  19. ^ SCT secure PN starter kit Archived 4 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express Issue 77 March 2007
  20. ^ "SCT launches G class Kevin Sheedy Express" Archived 4 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railway Digest September 2007 Page 5
  21. ^ "Change of ownership of Locomotives G533 and G535" (PDF). Australian Rail Track Corporation. 9 January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015.
  22. ^ G&W concludes Freightliner acquisition Railway Age 27 March 2015
  23. ^ Railmac Publications (1992). Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives. Kitchner Press. ISBN 0-949817-76-7.
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