Victorian Railways C class (diesel)
| Victorian Railways C Class | |
 | |
| C501 in VR livery at the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | Clyde Engineering (Rosewater, South Australia) |
| Configuration | Co-Co |
| Length | 20.73 m |
| 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 |
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 delivered under their own power at the head of interstate goods trains[2]. The locomotives are fitted with safety cabs and were the first turbocharged locomotives delivered to the VR, and the last delivered the 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.[3] 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.[4] C501 has since been restored to original condition by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre and leased back to Pacific National, and all Cs numbered locos have been rebuilt back to their original identities.
All C Class members are on the Standard Gauge as they are primary used on Intermodal coal trains.
Locomotives
| Locomotive | Named | Entered service | Owner | Operator | Livery | Status |
| C501 | George Brown | 14 May 1977 | Seymour Railway Heritage Centre | El Zorro | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational |
| C502 | 22 June, 1977 | Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | Pacific National | Blue and Yellow | In Service | |
| C503 | 19 July, 1977 | Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | Pacific National | Blue and Yellow | In Service | |
| C504 | 18 August, 1977 | Coote Industrial | Pacific National | Blue and Yellow | In Service | |
| C505 | 13 September, 1977 | Coote Industrial | Pacific National | Blue and Yellow | In Service | |
| C506 | 6 October, 1977 | Coote Industrial | Cootes Green & Yellow | Out of Traffic - Overhaul | ||
| C507 | 4 November, 1977 | Coote Industrial | Pacific National | Blue and Yellow | In Service | |
| C508 | 16 December, 1977 | Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | Southern and Silverton Rail | Blue and Yellow | In Service | |
| C509 | 10 March 1978 | Coote Industrial | Cootes Green and Yellow | In Service | ||
| C510 | 11 July, 1978 | Coote Industrial | Pacific National | Cootes Green & Yellow | In Service |
 Former C class locomotive owned by Silverton Rail and renumbered as the Cs class |  Coote Industrial owned C505 |
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References
- ^ a b Railmac Publications (1992). Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives. Kitchner Press. ISBN 0 949817 76 7.
- ^ Looking Back - The Delivery Run of C501 Rose, John Australian Railway History, December, 2007 pp460-467
- ^ Antony Fitzgerald (April 2000). "The Dash 9 in Australia: National Rail's NR class". Australian Model Railway Magazine: page 27.
- ^ victorianrailways.net: C class information