Victorian Railways S class (diesel)

Victorian Railways S class

Preserved S303 at the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre in October 2007

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Granville Model A7 (first order) A16C (second order) Build date 1957-1961 Total produced 18

Specifications UIC class Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Length Loco weight Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 16-567C Engine type V16 Generator Electro-Motive Diesel D12/D22 Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D27/D37/D47 Cylinders 16

Performance figures Maximum speed 133 km/h (83 mph) Power output 1,350 kW (1,810 hp)

Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 18 Numbers S300-S317 First run 1957 Preserved S303, S308, S310, S313 Current owner CFCL Australia Pacific National RailPower Southern Shorthaul Railroad Disposition 6 in service, 4 preserved, 2 stored, 6 scrapped

The S class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways between 1957 and 1961.

History

File:S302wcr.jpg

West Coast Railway liveried S302 in 2001

Pacific National liveried S307 at Newport Workshops in March 2008

The S class was based on the Electro-Motive Diesel F7 design and were very similar to the GM12 class then being built by Clyde Engineering for the Commonwealth Railways. They were mechanically similar to the 1952 built double ended B class.

The first order for 10 locomotives, were progressively delivered between August 1957 and February 1958. The first four took the names and numbers of the recently scrapped S class steam locomotives, with all being named after prominent Victorians. An additional eight locomotives were ordered for use on the new North East standard gauge line and delivered between November 1960 and December 1961.

The class were initially used on express passenger trains such as the Intercapital Daylight, Southern Aurora, Spirit of Progress and The Overland, but were also used on fast freights. On the broad gauge they often operated in pairs, while on the standard gauge they usually ran solo. A second 'hostlers' cab was provided at the number two end, but was only used around depots, or to haul empty carriages short distances.

In February 1969 two were destroyed in the Violet Town railway disaster, and were deemed uneconomical to repair and scrapped. In January 1967 S317 was badly damaged in a head on collision with X33 south of Broadford Loop and was returned to Clyde Engineering for rebuilding. In June 1982 S317 was again involved in a fatal accident when it ran into the rear of the Spirit of Progress at Barnawartha, killing the crew.

As more modern locomotives were introduced, those on the standard gauge moved to the broad gauge. Examples would periodically appear on the standard gauge.

Withdrawals commenced in the May 1987. In February 1994 four were sold to West Coast Railway for use on their Melbourne to Warrnambool passenger service. By April 1999 only four remained in the V/Line fleet and even these were only used during periods of high demand. A few have been preserved.

Privatisation brought an upturn in the class' fortunes with some overhauled and as at May 2014 remain in service with CFCL Australia, Pacific National, RailPower and Southern Shorthaul Railroad.

Fleet status

Locomotive	Serial no	Name	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status	Owner
First Order
S300	57-164	Matthew Flinders	21 Aug 1957			In service	CFCL Australia
S301	57-165	Sir Thomas Mitchell	4 Sep 1957			Stored	Pacific National
S302	57-166	Edward Henty	18 Sep 1957			In service	Southern Shorthaul Railroad
S303	57-167	C J La Trobe	30 Sep 1957	Jul 1988		Preserved - Operational	Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
S304	57-168	George Bass	15 Oct 1957	May 1987	Mar 1992	Scrapped
S305	57-169	Hamilton Hume	4 Nov 1957	2 Dec 1985	Feb 1991	Scrapped
S306	57-170	John Batman	25 Nov 1957			Stored	Pacific National
S307	57-171	John Pascoe Fawkner	10 Dec 1957			In service	Pacific National
S308	58-179	Sir Redmond Barry	20 Jan 1958	25 Jul 1988		Preserved - Static	Australian Railway Historical Society
S309	58-182	William Lonsdale	24 Feb 1958	19 Jul 1988	1996	Scrapped
Second Order
S310	60-227	George Higinbotham	25 Nov 1960			Under Overhaul	Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
S311	60-228	Sir Ferdinand von Mueller	16 Nov 1960			In service	CFCL Australia
S312	60-229	Peter Lalor	27 Jan 1961			In service	RailPower
S313	61-230	Alfred Deakin	24 Feb 1961	14 Dec 1994		Preserved - Operational	Steamrail Victoria
S314	61-231	Sir John O'Shanassy	20 Apr 1961	7 Feb 1969	7 Feb 1969	Scrapped	destroyed Violet Town railway disaster
S315	61-238	Sir Charles Gavan Duffy	16 Oct 1961	23 Aug 1988	Apr 1992	Scrapped
S316	61-239	Sir Andrew Clarke	10 Nov 1961	7 Feb 1969	7 Feb 1969	Scrapped	destroyed Violet Town railway disaster
S317	61-240	Sir John Monash	7 Dec 1961			In service	Southern Shorthaul Railroad

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons