Victorian Railways C class (diesel)

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Victorian Railways C Class
Victorian Railways C Class
C501 in VR livery at the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
Power type General Motors EMD
Builder Clyde Engineering (Rosewater, South Australia)
Configuration Co-Co
Length 20.73 m
Locomotive weight 135.00 t
Engine type EMD 16-645-E3
Generator AR-10 alternator
Traction motors 6 × D77/78 DC
Top speed 133 km/h
Power output 3000 hp (2.2MW)
Number in class 10
Number C501-C510
First run 14 May 1977
Former C class locomotive owned by Silverton Rail and renumbered as the Cs class
Former C class locomotive owned by Silverton Rail and renumbered as the Cs class

The Victorian Railways C Class mainline diesel locomotives are a hood unit heavy freight locomotive[1] introduced from 1977, mechanically identical to American EMD SD40s, and used on interstate freight services. Manufactured in South Australia by Clyde Engineering (now EDI Rail) at their Rosewater plant, they were fitted with safety cabs and were the first turbocharged locomotives delivered to the VR, and the last delivered in blue and gold livery.

As their weight kept them from many lines, C501 to C504 were placed into standard gauge service between Melbourne and Albury, and C505 to C510 were placed into service between Melbourne and Serviceton, on interstate express freights. They are notable as the first locomotives on through freight between Victoria and South Australia in August 1979.[1]

The class were transferred by V/Line to National Rail service in 1995, until delivery of its NR class locomotives, after which the C class were put into storage. The class except C501 were then sold to Allco Rail and Silverton Rail, with C505 and C508 leased to National Rail and returned to service as shunters in Melbourne, and the remainder renumbered as the Cs class.[2] C501 has since been restored to original condition by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre and leased back to Pacific National, and most of the Cs numbered locos have been rebuilt and renumbered back to their original identities, with only one Cs numbered loco remaining today (formerly C506).

Today all C Class members are on SG.

[edit] Locomotives

Locomotive Named Entered service Owner Status
C501 George Brown 14 May 1977 Seymour Railway Heritage Centre Preserved - Operational (on hire to Pacific National)
C502 22 June, 1977 Allco Rail In Service
C503 19 July, 1977 Allco Rail In Service
C504 18 August, 1977 Allco Rail Testing and Commissioning
C505 13 September, 1977 Allco Rail In Service
C506 6 October, 1977 Silverton Rail Reclassed as Cs5
C507 4 November, 1977 Allco Rail In Service
C508 16 December, 1977 Allco Rail In Service
C509 10 March 1978 Allco Rail Under Overhaul
C510 11 July, 1978 Allco Rail Under Overhaul

As Cs class:

Locomotive Original Number Entered service (as Cs) Owner Status
Cs1 C507 May 2003 Renumbered back to C507
Cs2 C504 27 July, 2004 Renumbered back to C504
Cs3 C509 Renumbered back to C509
Cs4 C510 November 2003 Renumbered back to C510
Cs5 C506 September 2003 Silverton Rail In Service

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Railmac Publications (1992). Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives. Kitchner Press. ISBN 0 949817 76 7. 
  2. ^ victorianrailways.net: C class information


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