Victorian Railways B Class (diesel)
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The B class are a class of diesel locomotives built by
Clyde Engineering Clyde Engineering was an Australian manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, and other industrial products. It was founded in September 1898 by a syndicate of Sydney businessmen buying the Granville factory of timber merchants Huds ...
, Granville for the
Victorian Railways The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...
in 1952–1953. Ordered and operated by the
Victorian Railways The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...
, they initiated the
dieselisation Dieselisation (US: dieselization) is the process of equipping vehicles with a diesel engine or diesel engines. It can involve replacing an internal combustion engine powered by petrol (US: gasoline) fuel with an engine powered by diesel fuel, ...
of the system and saw use on both passenger and freight services, with many remaining in service today, both in preserved and revenue service. Some were rebuilt as the
V/Line A class The A class are a class of diesel locomotives rebuilt from Victorian Railways B class locomotives by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater in South Australia for V/Line in 1984–1985. History The class were rebuilt from B class locomotives origi ...
, while others have been scrapped.


History

The B class were the first mainline diesel locomotives ever built for the
Victorian Railways The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...
. The design was based on the successful
Electro-Motive Diesel Electro-Motive Diesel (abbreviated EMD) is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD has been owned by Progress Rail since 2010. Electro-Motive ...
F-unit locomotives with the distinctive
bulldog nose "Bulldog nose" is the nickname given, due to their appearance, to several cab-unit diesel-electric locomotives manufactured by GM-EMD and its licensees from 1939 to 1970. The term originated with EMD F-units, as well as later E-unit models such ...
. They were unusual in having a streamlined drivers cab at each end.


Inception

After
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the
Victorian Railways The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...
was severely run down from years of Depression-era under-investment and wartime over-utilisation. Chief Mechanical Engineer Ahlston traveled the world studying railway rehabilitation. Britain leaned towards steam locomotives, while France was moving towards main line electrification. The United States was more divided, with General Motors'
Electro-Motive Division Electro-Motive Diesel (abbreviated EMD) is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD has been owned by Progress Rail since 2010. Electro-Motiv ...
at
La Grange, Illinois La Grange ( ; often spelled LaGrange) is a village (United States)#Illinois, village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. The population was 16,321 at the 2020 census. History The area around La Grange was first s ...
turning out modern E and F-units diesels. However the EMD units
axle load The axle load of a wheeled vehicle is the total weight bearing on the roadway for all wheels connected to a given axle. Axle load is an important design consideration in the engineering of roadways and railways, as both are designed to tolerate a m ...
was too heavy for the Victorian tracks, and the
Commonwealth Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government or simply as the federal government, is the national executive government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The executive consists of the prime ...
would not allow the use of foreign currency to purchase United States diesels. As a result, the £80 million '' Operation Phoenix'' featured steam locomotives and electrification of the Gippsland line, either locally built or imported from the United Kingdom. To achieve a lighter axle load, a six axles / six motor Co-Co wheel arrangement was required. By 1949, the then-head of
Electro-Motive Diesel Electro-Motive Diesel (abbreviated EMD) is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD has been owned by Progress Rail since 2010. Electro-Motive ...
Dick Dilworth was convinced that lighter axle load locomotives would be popular in Australia and other foreign countries. Frank Shea of
Clyde Engineering Clyde Engineering was an Australian manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, and other industrial products. It was founded in September 1898 by a syndicate of Sydney businessmen buying the Granville factory of timber merchants Huds ...
had also negotiated with EMD to build the new locomotive locally, in order to overcome the foreign exchange restrictions. The order for what would become the B Class was placed in 1951 and the first of the class was delivered on 14 July 1952.


Into service

The 26 members of the class operated on broad gauge lines throughout Victoria, working the majority of the important passenger trains, as well as fast freights. Many timetables were accelerated, and steam locomotives began to be 'euthanized' in large numbers. The visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1954 saw her ride behind B60 on a
special train An excursion train is a chartered train run for a special event or purpose. Examples are trains to major sporting event, trains run for railfans or tourists, and special trains operated by the railway company for employees and prominent custom ...
. While costing £80 per horsepower compared to £60 for steam, the new locomotives ran 130,000 miles per year, compared to 35,000 and 60,000 miles per year for main line steam locomotives. The Chief Engineers Office found that one B class did the work of three steam locomotives. Their success led to further
dieselisation Dieselisation (US: dieselization) is the process of equipping vehicles with a diesel engine or diesel engines. It can involve replacing an internal combustion engine powered by petrol (US: gasoline) fuel with an engine powered by diesel fuel, ...
, with the delivery of the T class branch line units from 1955, and the single ended S class mainline units from 1957.


Demise, reactivation and preservation

As part of the 1980s
New Deal The New Deal was a series of wide-reaching economic, social, and political reforms enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1938, in response to the Great Depression in the United States, Great Depressi ...
plan to reinvigorate country passenger services, it was decided to rebuild the B class with new traction equipment as the A class. The rebuild contract was let in January 1983 to
Clyde Engineering Clyde Engineering was an Australian manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, and other industrial products. It was founded in September 1898 by a syndicate of Sydney businessmen buying the Granville factory of timber merchants Huds ...
,
Rosewater Rose water, or rosewater, is a flavoured water created by steeping rose petals in water. It is typically made as a by-product during the distillation of rose petals to create rose oil for perfumes. Rose water is widely utilized to flavour cul ...
, with the first unit entering service in May 1984. The project was abandoned in mid 1985 after rising costs due to structural fatigue, with the eleventh and final rebuild delivered in August 1985. At the same time newer high power locomotives had been delivered, including the N class passenger units and the more numerous
G class G class or Class G may refer to: Railways * NZR G class (1928), a type of steam locomotive used in New Zealand * Tasmanian Government Railways G class, a class of 0-4-2T steam locomotive used in Australia * V/Line G class, a class of diesel-ele ...
freight locomotives. The remaining B class units were gradually decommissioned by
V/Line V/Line is a statutory authority that operates Regional rail, regional passenger rail and Intercity bus service, coach services in the Australian state of Victoria (state), Victoria. It provides passenger train services on five Commuter rail, ...
from 1982 with some scrapped. Six were purchased by West Coast Railway in the early 1990s for use on their Melbourne to Warrnambool passenger service. While running with West Coast Railway, units B61 and B76 had dual marker lights and ditch lights fitted at the No.1 end. They also received shunter's steps at each end, in late 2001 or early 2002. B65 was painted in the simplified West Coast Railway "freight" livery, and did not receive any of these upgrades. In May 2004, the Victorian Department of Infrastructure issued an alert on stress cracks on the underframes of the B class locomotives, including the units owned by West Coast Railway. Following West Coast Railway's demise in August 2004, these were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia and refurbished with B61 and B65 later being resold to
Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad is an Australian rail freight services operator in New South Wales and Victoria (Australia), Victoria. The company also provides workshop services, such as rolling stock manufacturing and wagon and locomotive mainte ...
. This saw some converted to standard gauge and their sphere of operation increased to include
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
.
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
have B74 preserved in operating condition and is the only preserved locomotive in operation.B Class
Vicsig
In 2014, B75 was recommissioned for
Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad is an Australian rail freight services operator in New South Wales and Victoria (Australia), Victoria. The company also provides workshop services, such as rolling stock manufacturing and wagon and locomotive mainte ...
, with the unit having been stored at
Seymour Seymour may refer to: Places Australia *Seymour, Victoria, a township ** Seymour railway station * Electoral district of Seymour, a former electoral district in Victoria * Rural City of Seymour, a former local government area in Victoria * Se ...
under multiple previous owners. She wore the CRL colours of red, yellow, silver and black. SSR purchased the remaining CFCLA (now RailFirst Asset Management) units, B76 and B80, in 2022, and returned them to service. As of May 2024, SSR operates B61 and B75 on standard gauge, with B61 under major engine repairs. B76 and B80 are operational in Victoria on the broad gauge, and B65 is currently stored at North Bendigo workshops following a major engine failure. In February 2024, B72, which is under the custody of Steamrail, moved under its own power for the first time since its withdrawal in 1986. On 7 March, it was unveiled in full VicRail teacup scheme (its No. 1 end had previously been painted in teacup, with the No. 2 end being painted in V/Line orange, for the 2020 open day).


Fleet summary


Gallery

File:Steamrail's B72.jpg,
Steamrail Victoria Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the Rail transport in Victoria, railways in Victoria, Australia. The main depot of the group is at ...
's B72 undergoing long term Restoration at Newport work shops File:ARHS B83.jpg,
Australian Railway Historical Society Museum The Newport Railway Museum is located on Champion Road, Newport, Victoria, near the North Williamstown railway station, North Williamstown station. History The museum opened on 10 November 1962, after the Australian Railway Historical Society (A ...
's B83 cosmetically preserved at the North Williamstown museum File:SSR B61 with GM10.jpg,
Southern Shorthaul Railroad Southern Shorthaul Railroad is an Australian rail freight services operator in New South Wales and Victoria (Australia), Victoria. The company also provides workshop services, such as rolling stock manufacturing and wagon and locomotive mainte ...
's B61 in a unique "Streamliners 2016" livery to promote the event in
Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, approximately south-west of Sydney and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters patent by Queen Victor ...
File:B74 trailing B80 and a G.jpg, Double B's trailing a G exiting Bunbury Street tunnel File:B74 leading T357 and X31.jpg, B74 leading T357 and X31 on
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
's charter to Geelong celebrating B74's 65th anniversary on entering service File:B61 at South Dynon SG Turntable.jpg, B61 resting at the South Dynon Standard Gauge Turntable File:B74 leading X31 on a LXRA special.jpg, B74 leading X31 on a Level Crossing Removal Authority special shuttle charter between Caulfield and Dandenong stations File:B80 running light engine.jpg, B80 running Light Engine from Seymour to Dynon after dropping off
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
's S303 File:B80 on a Metro works train.jpg, B80 on a works train at Camberwell File:B80 on a Metro works train at Hawthorn.jpg, B80 on a works train at Hawthorn File:B74 leading S303 on a Royal Train trial.jpg, B74 leading S303 on a Royal Train trial at Castlemaine File:B80 on a Metro works.jpg, B80 on a works train at Flinders Street File:B75 with S317 at the Kensington Mill.jpg, B75 with S317 at the Kensington Mill File:B74 leading T378 on the Tocumwal Market Special at Numurkah.jpg, B74 leading T378 on the
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
Tocumwal Market Special at Numurkah File:B74 leading T378 on the Tocumwal Market Special at Strathmerton.jpg, B74 leading T378 on the
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
Tocumwal Market Special at Strathmerton File:B74 leading T378 on the Tocumwal Market Special.jpg, B74 leading T378 on the
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
Tocumwal Market Special File:B74 with T378 at Tocumwal.jpg, B74 with T378 at Tocumwal after running around from doing the
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
Tocumwal Market Tour File:B74 with T378 at Seymour Rail Heritage Centre.jpg, B74 hooked up with T378 at
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Seymour, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 as the Seymour ...
File:B72 freshly painted into the VicRail teacup livery.jpg, B72 with new paint job in the VicRail teacup livery
Steamrail Victoria Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the Rail transport in Victoria, railways in Victoria, Australia. The main depot of the group is at ...


References


Further reading

* {{VRLocos, state=collapsed Clyde Engineering locomotives Co-Co locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1952 B class Broad gauge locomotives in Australia Standard-gauge locomotives of Australia Diesel–electric locomotives of Australia Streamlined diesel locomotives Passenger locomotives Freight locomotives