Preserved High cab T357 and Flat top T320 in January 2007Low nose T373 in September 2005
In July 1954, the Victorian Railways placed an order with Clyde Engineering for 25 (later extended to 27) diesel electric Electro-Motive DieselG8 locomotives to partially dieselise country branch lines.[1][2][3][4]
In June 1959, the first of an additional ten entered service. Although mechanically similar to the first batch, they differed by having a cab raised above the hood line.[5] A further ten entered service from December 1961.[6]
In September 1965, the first of an order for 32 was delivered. These differed by having a lower nose.[7] A final order for 19 was delivered from April 1967.[8] The last five were built with an extra 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) of ballast weight for improved adhesion and low speed controls for use as shunting locomotives in Melbourne. These were reclassified as the H class shortly after being delivered.[9]
In July 1969, an additional flat top unit was purchased second hand from Australian Portland Cement who had ordered it for use at its narrow gauge Fyansford Cement Works Railway, Geelong in 1956. Although outwardly similar to the original T class units, it was fitted with dynamic brakes, and became a regular on the steeply graded Cudgewa line.[3]
Although ordered as branch line locomotives, as branch lines began to close, they were often used on main line services.
In 1984/85, Martin & King, Somerton rebuilt 13 flat tops as P class locomotives. This 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.[10]
Many were withdrawn in the late 1980s with the arrival of the G class locomotives. In October 1992, six low nose locomotives were sold to Australian National with five entering service as the CK class as shunters and bankers in Adelaide. All were included in the sale of Australian National to Australian Southern Railroad in November 1997. One was resold to SCT Logistics with the remaining four operating on the narrow gauge Eyre Peninsula Railway as at January 2014.[11][12]
In 1987, T343, T322, T323 and T324 were sold to Bob White Electrix in Geelong for use as stationary generator units, providing electrical power for testing high voltage electric motors and generators, bound for submarines. The estimated cost by the State Electricity Commission (SEC) of Victoria to install electrical transformers and a connection to the state electricity grid was exponentially higher than the rumoured purchase price from V/line of $2500 per locomotive. The locomotives had their bogies removed and were placed on concrete blocks, side-by-side, at the Bob White Electrix facility at North Shore. These units are still located at this facility and still appear to be in use as of 2023.
Those remaining with V/Line Freight were included in the sale to Freight Australia and in 2000, some stored examples were reactivated and fitted with standard gauge bogies to haul grain services in southern New South Wales.[14] These passed with the Freight Australia business to Pacific National in August 2004.
Subtypes
The class can be divided into three main styles by appearance:
Flat tops: T320-T346 (first order). Based on Electro-Motive DieselG8 locomotive design, this order had a low cab and roof.[3][15]
High cabs: T347-T356 and T357-T366 (second and third orders). They differed from the flat tops by having a high cab but were mechanically similar. The 3rd order had an altered radiator design.[5][6][16][17]
Low nose: T367-T386, T387-T396, T397-T406 and T407 to T417 (fourth to seventh orders). The fourth order introduced a new low nose that provided greater driver visibility, and a more modern generator. The sixth order introduced the newer EMD 645E engine, replacing the older EMD 567 used before.[7][8][18][19][20][21]
The H class diesel electric locomotive were part of the seventh T class order (numbered T413-T417 at delivery) but renumbered shortly after delivery.[9][22]
T360, built as a third-generation unit, was wrecked in an accident and sent back to Clyde for rebuilding, emerging with a low nose. This is due to the fourth series being well into manufacturing when the accident happened.
T413: Built in 1956 for the narrow gauge Fyansford Cement Works Railway, Geelong as D1, without marker lights and with stock EMD footplates. In 1969, it was sold to Victorian Railways, renumbered T413, converted to broad gauge and had its stock EMD footplates replaced with the standard VR ones and marker lights added.
T414: Built in November 1956 as DE02 for BHP, was used at their Iron Knob and Whyalla Steelworks. Was not included in Morrison-Knudsen rebuild program like the rest of the class. In 2006 it was sold to SCT Logistics and rebuilt with a cab similar to those on the fourth and fifth generation Ts (controls laid out for long-end leading), and renumbered T414.[23][24][25]
