V/Line G class

Infobox Locomotive

---

caption = Pacific National liveried G class G533 and classmate
name = V/Line G Classcite book
author = Railmac Publications
title = Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives
publisher = Kitchner Press
year = 1992
isbn = 0 949817 76 7 ]
powertype = Diesel-Electric
builder = Clyde Engineering
Rosewater and Somerton
length = 19.82m
buildmodel = Original: EMD JT26C-2SS
Rebuilt: EMD JT36C-2SS
weight = 127.00 tonnes
whytetype = Co-Co
enginetype = Original: EMD 16-645E3B Rebuilt: EMD 16-645F3B
topspeed = 114 km/h
poweroutput = 2237 kW (3000 HP) (original)
roadnumber = G511-G515 (original BL class order) G516 - G525 G526 - G536 G537 - G543
builddate=
totalproduction=33
gauge=Standard (1435 mm, 4' 8.5")
G511 - G523, G526, G528 - G534
Broad (1600 mm, 5' 3")
G524, G525, G527
bogies=Trimount-type High Adhesion
length=19.82 m
generator=EMD AR16A-D18
(G511 - G515)
EMD AR16A-CA5
(G516 - G543)
tractionmotors=EMD D77
(G511 - G525)
EMD D87
(G526 - G543)
poweroutput=Original: 2,460 kW (3,300 hp)
Rebuilt: 2,830 kW (3,800 hp)
tractiveeffort=Starting: 337 kN
Continuous: 311 kN at 18 km/h
railroad=1984 -
railroadclass=G
numinclass=33
roadnumber=G511 through G543
deliverydate=1984
firstrundate=16 October 1984
lastrundate=
retiredate=
preservedunits=
restoredate=
scrapdate=2
G517 and G518 written-off after Ararat Collision, 26 November 1999
currentowner=Pacific National (G519, G520, G522 - G531, G536 - G543)
SCT (G511 - G515, G521, G532, G533, G535)
QRNational (G516, G534)
disposition=

The V/Line G class mainline diesel electric locomotives built by Clyde Engineering from 1984, the last entering service in December 1989.cite book
author = Railmac Publications
title = Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives
publisher = Kitchner Press
year = 1992
isbn = 0 949817 76 7 ] They were newest and most powerful locomotives in the Victorian broad gauge freight fleet until the XR class entered service, and can be considered a more technically advanced version of the C class. The class can be grouped into 4 subgroups, locos in the initial subgroup derived from the BL class locomotives, with later subgroups having minor detail changes.

Major advances introduced with the class included cab air conditioning, "Trimount" type high adhesion bogies, and "Super Series" wheel creep control to enable heavier loads to be hauled. On delivery to V/Line the class enabled the retirement of many lower power locomotives, such as the B and S classes. They initially saw use on the mainlines, due to their heavier axle loading. Duties included intercapital freights, grain haulage, and Melbourne to Sydney passenger work.

Today track upgrading and branch line closures has seen the class usable on the majority of the Victorian network. Recent years have seen the class fitted with on line refuelling, and working from Melbourne to Perth on the Specialised Container Transport (SCT) service. After the sale of V/Line Freight, the new private owner Freight Australia rebuilt a number of G class locomotives with higher power engines, cascading engines to the X class.

Two G class locos were accident damaged and were replaced with the V class locomotive V544. Another 2 members were transferred to Colin Rees Transport (now a part of QRNational) when Freight Australia was sold to Pacific National,cite journal
author = Peter Attenborough
year = 2006
month = February
title = Colin Rees Transport
journal = Australian Model Railway Magazine
volume = 22
number = 7
issue = 256
pages = 36–38 ] as are 9 locomotives now with Specialised Container Transport due to an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decision on the same sale. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/02/1088488141852.html?from=storylhs Sydney Morning Herald: 'ACCC won't oppose Freight Australia takeover' - July 2, 2004] ] The majority of the Pacific National owned fleet is on SG (like the rest) whist only 3 are on BG.

Gallery

References

* [http://locopage.railpage.org.au/vline/g.html Locopage: G class information]

External links

* [http://www.railpage.org.au/articles/G517.html Going Loco: Track Test of V/Line loco G517]