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.

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, Southern Shorthaul Railroad Number in class 13 Numbers P11-P23 Preserved One: P20 Current owner V/Line Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 5 in service, 7 stored and 1 preserved

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 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.

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

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, leaving P13 as the only P class locomotive still owned by V/Line to date. 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 gone into preservation with 707 Operations, having been donated the locomotive by Pacific National in January 2024.

P22 Sims Street Junction

P23 at Seymour Rail Heritage Centre

P14 in SSR livery doing an Overhead evaluation run at Carrum

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)	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), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2024)	V/Line Mk3	Stored Active	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Ran 707ops charted with R707 & P15 26th November 23
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)	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), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2024)	V/Line Mk3	Stored Active	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Ran 707ops Charter with R707 & P12 26 Dec 23
P16	T332	22 July 1956	23 November 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)	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)	SSR Yellow and Black	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)	SSR Yellow and Black	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), 707 Operations (2023)	V/Line Orange and Grey	Preserved – Operational	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Noted as having revolving quartz halogen lights added at each end. Donated to 707 Operations in 2023 and returned to service on September 14, 2024.
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) Ettamogah Rail Hub (2024)	VR Blue and Gold	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) Ettamogah Rail Hub (2024)	VR Blue and Gold	operational	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge