Victorian Railways H class (diesel)

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For the 1877 steam locomotives, see Victorian Railways H class (1877). For the 1941 steam locomotives, see Victorian Railways H class.

Victorian Railways H class
Pacific National H1 at Kensington in June 2012
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Granville
ModelEMD G18B
Build date1968–1969
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo-Bo
Gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Length12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEMD 8-645E
GeneratorEMD D25E
Traction motorsEMD D29
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output820 kW (1,100 hp)
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class5
NumbersH1–H5
Current ownerPacific National
Disposition2 preserved, 2 stored, 1 scrapped

The H class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways in 1968–1969.

History[edit]

The H Class were built as T class locomotives with modifications for use at the Melbourne Hump Yard.[1] They were fitted additional equipment for their duties, including extra weight for traction, "manual power control" to allow low speed operation, and an accurate low speed speedometer.

The H class were delivered as T413 to T417, but were reclassified before entering service. The class rarely left Melbourne due to their excessive weight, until being approved to operate on the same lines as the N class in January 1987.[1] All were included in the sale of V/Line Freight to Freight Victoria in May 1999 and passed with the business to Pacific National in August 2004.[2][3][4]

Pacific National sold three of the H class to the Ettamogah Rail Hub in 2015. Two of those were on-sold to 707 Operations in 2018. H4 was scrapped in 2020, while H1 had had its long hood cladding removed and was stored in North Dynon between 2020 and April 2022, when it was transferred to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre as part of a long-term restoration project. In mid-2023, all four of the surviving H classes were bought by Watco Australia, and are currently being refurbished at Newport Workshops.[4]

Status table[edit]

Key: Withdrawn Preserved Converted Scrapped
Locomotive Delivered as Entered service Owner(s) Status
H1 T413 20 December 1968 VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Watco Australia (2023) Under Overhaul
H2 T414 7 January 1969 VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015), Watco Australia (2023) Under Overhaul
H3 T415 7 February 1969 VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015), Watco Australia (2023) Under Overhaul – Previously leased to 707 Operations
H4 T416 24 February 1969 VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) Scrapped North Geelong.
H5 T417 14 March 1969 VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015), Watco Australia (2023) Under Overhaul – Previously leased to 707 Operations

Reference:[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b McNicol, S. (1992). Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives. Kitchner Press: Railmac Publications. ISBN 9780949817761.
  2. ^ "H Class diesel electric locomotives". Mark Bau's VR website. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023.
  3. ^ "H Class (Vic, Diesel-Electric)". Railpage.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Locomotives: H Class". Vicsig.net. 7 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
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