Victorian Railways: Fleet
Note: This is a sub-section of Victorian Railways
The first locomotives used in the state were small steam locomotives, the majority being imported from the United Kingdom, with later years seeing larger units being built locally - some 343 at Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
Electric locomotives were acquired with the electrification of the suburban railways, with more powerful units acquired when the mainline to Traralgon was electrified.
Dieselisation occurred from 1951, but the B class of 1952 revolutionised main line operations. Apart from the F class shunters, Clyde Engineering had a monopoly on Victorian diesel-electric locomotives, as the Australian licensee of General Motors EMD engines and traction motors, fitting them into locally designed bodies.
Early passenger services were operated with 4 and 6 wheeled "dogbox" passenger carriages, but larger bogie rolling-stock started to appear from the turn of the century.
On the Melbourne suburban network electric multiple units were introduced speeding up services. Experiments were also made with various diesel and petrol railcars for use on smaller branch lines.
By the late 1970s, country passenger services were run down, and older wooden rolling stock was now approaching their use by date. As a result, the New Deal saw modern steel carriages introduced from 1981.
Early wagons were built on four wheeled under frames, but from 1871 bogie vehicles begun to appear. The last four wheeled open wagons were built in 1958, but were not scrapped in large numbers until the 1980s when new bogie wagons replaced them, by 1987 the bogie wagon fleet numbered 5000.
When the Victorian Railways (now known as VicRail) was divided into two in 1983, the Metropolitan Transit Authority received the suburban electric multiple unit fleet, while the State Transport Authority took responsibility for remainder for the provision of country passenger and freight services.
Locomotives [1]
1854 Passenger 2-2-2 tank locomotive. Built in Melbourne by Robertson, Martin and Smith. First orthodox locomotive to be built and run in Australia.
1857 Passenger 2-2-2 locomotive. Built by George England and Co in London. The original No. 1 of Victorian Railways and first passenger engine. Entered service in January 1859. Later re-numbered as 12 and concerted around 1871 to 2-4-0 type. Sold to Yarrawonga Shire in 1890 and worked the Katamatite Tramway. Returned to VR in 1893 and re-numbered 528. Sold 1904.
1857 Goods 0-6-0 locomotive. Built by George England and Co in London. Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5. Entered service January 1859. Re-numbered in 1860 as 11, 13, 15, and 17.
1859 Goods 0-6-0 locomotive. Built by Beyer, Peacock and Co in Manchester. Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Entered service in 1860. Later known as P class and rebuilt early in next century. Last one scrapped in 1921 having run 1,257,136 miles.
1858 Passenger 2-2-2 locomotive. Built by Beyer, Peacock and Co in Manchester. Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Entered service in 1860. Known as 'Singles' from their one pair of six feet driving wheels. Between 1870-74 re-built as 2-4-0 type with smaller driving wheels and later known as J class. The last one (No. 6) was scrapped in 1916
1860 Passenger 2-4-0 saddle tank locomotive. Nos. 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 built by George England and Co. Nos. 28, 30 and 32 built by Slaughter, Gruning and Co. Entered service in 1861. Later known as L class. These were the only saddle tank locomotives used by the company. The last one (no. 20) was scrapped in 1906.
1860 took over six engines from the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Co and gave them numbers. The last of these engines (Nos. 34 and 36) were sold in 1889.
- Nos. 34 (Titania) and 36 (Oberon) built by Robert Stephenson and Co. Built 1855.
- Nos. 38 (Typhoon) and 40 (Sirocco) built by Stothert, Slaughter and Co. Built 1855.
- Nos. 42 (Hurricane) and 44 (Cyclone) built by R. and W. Hawthorn. Built 1855.
1861-77 Goods 0-6-0 locomotive. Later known as O class. The last (No. 135) scrapped 1922
- Nos. 23-33 (odd numbers) built 1861 by Slaughter, Gruning and Co
- Nos. 35-57 (odd numbers) built 1862 by Robert Stephenson and Co
- Nos. 19, 21, and 59-69 (odd numbers) built 1866-71 by Beyer, Peacock and Co
- Nos. 71-81 (odd numbers) built 1870 by Yorkshire Engine Co
- Nos. 127 and 129 built 1879 by Williamstown Workshops
- Nos. 131 to 143 (odd numbers) built 1878-79 by [[Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
- Nos. 145-149 (odd numbers) built 1877 by Beyer, Peacock and Co
Summary of Locomotives taken from Wikipedia
1858 V Class: 12 goods steam locomotives built by George England and Co
1861-81 B Class: 34 mainline passenger locomotives 2-4-0 and built by R. and W. Hawthorn, Beyer, Peacock and Co, and Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1874-1880 F Class: passenger locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock and Co and Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1885-?? Y Class: 31 type 0-6-0 steam locomotives with patten built by Kitson and Co and remainder by Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1886-?? Q Class: 10 type 0-6-0 tender locomotives built by Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1886-?? M Class: first tank locomotives for suburban passenger service
1888-?? E Class: 71 suburban tank locomotives was built by Kitson and Co and Newport Workshops
1893-?? Z Class: 3 locomotives built by the Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1898-1915 nA Class: 17 type 2-6-2 tank locomotive built for their 2ft 6in gauge branch lines by Baldwin Locomotive Works and Newport Workshops
1899-?? V Class: 16 steam locomotives with first one from Baldwin Locomotive Works and remainder from Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1900-03 AA Class: 20 express passenger locomotive built by Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat)
1902-?? A2 Class: 185 express passenger locomotives
1902-?? Dd Class:
1918-26 C class: 26 mainline goods locomotive of the 2-8-0 'Consolidation' type built by the Newport Workshops and ran between 1918 and 1962.
1922-?? K Class: 53 branch line steam locomotives built by Newport Workshops
1925-?? N Class: 83 branch line steam locomotives built by Newport Workshops and North British Locomotive Co
1929-?? X Class: 29 mainline goods locomotive of the 2-8-2 'Mikado' type built by the Newport Workshops
1951-?? R Class: 70 express passenger steam locomotive built by North British Locomotive Co
1951-53 F Class: 16 diesel locomotive shunters built by Dick, Kerr and Co
1952-53 B Class: 11 diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
1953-54 J Class: 60 branch line steam locomotives built by Vulcan Foundry
1953-54 L Class: 25 electric locomotives built by English Electric Co
1955-68 T Class: 94 diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
1957-61 S Class: 18 diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
1959-74 T Class: 27 diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives built by Tulloch
1963-68 Y Class: 75 diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
1966-76 X Class: 24 mainline diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
1968-69 H Class: 5 diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
1977-78 C Class: 10 of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering
2002-06 XR Class: 9 diesel locomotives built by Freight Australia
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Early information from 'Power Parade 1854-1954'. Published by Victorian railways.