| V/Line A Class | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A66 in current V/Line livery | |
| Power type | Diesel Electric |
| Builder | Clyde Engineering, Rosewater |
| Gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) |
| Length | 18.54 m |
| Locomotive weight | 118.00 t |
| Engine type | EMD 12-645E3B |
| Generator | EMD AR10-A4-D18 Replaced with CA5 |
| Traction motors | EMD D57/D78 |
| Top speed | 133 km/h |
| Power output | 1846 kW (2510 hp) |
| Number in class | 11 |
The A class are a group of 11 bulldog nosed diesel electric locomotive rebuilt from B class locomotives for V/Line between 1982 and 1984. They are now divided up between passenger operator V/Line and freight operator Pacific National.
Contents |
History [edit]
The class were rebuilt from B class locomotives originally constructed in the 1950s, as part of the New Deal reforms of passenger rail operations in Victoria. The rebuild contract was let in January 1983 to Clyde Engineering in Rosewater, South Australia with the first locomotive entering service in May 1984, but the project was abandoned in mid 1985 after rising costs due to structural fatigue, with the 11th rebuild delivered in August 1985.[1] It was decided to instead built more of the N class locomotives, mechanically similar to the A class. The major difference was the addition of head end power generators, as it was believed this was a more efficient way of supplying power for air-conditioning and lighting than power vans or individual generator sets under carriages.[1]
Four locomotives were named after Australian rules football players in September 1984,[2] while A60 was named after former railway commissioner Harold Clapp. In 1986 A85 was regeared for 160 km/h operation to test of a H type carriage set fitted with high speed bogies,[3] but was returned to the standard 134 km/h gearing soon after.[2]
Vline has now withdrawn the A Class from all passenger service usage due to their age and because of their requirement of a two man crew, compared to the one man crew of the newer N Class locomotive.
Livery [edit]
The class were delivered in the V/Line orange and tangerine scheme, except for A66 which was painted in a green and gold livery to celebrate the Australian Bicentenary in 1988, later appearing in a second special livery to advertise the Melbourne bid for the 1996 Olympic Games.[2] Today the class appears in either the 1995 red and blue or 2008 red and yellow V/Line Passenger liveries, or the green and yellow Freight Australia livery with Pacific National logos.[4]
Locomotives [edit]
| Locomotive | Pre-conversion | Named | Entered service | Owner |
| A60 | B60 | Sir Harold Clapp | 7 September 1984 | V/Line Passenger |
| A62 | B62 | 17 July 1984 | V/Line Passenger | |
| A66 | B66 | 22 March 1985 | V/Line Passenger | |
| A70 | B70 | 10 May 1985 | V/Line Passenger | |
| A71 | B71 | Dick Reynolds | 20 March 1984 | Pacific National |
| A73 | B73 | Bob Skilton | 20 March 1984 | Pacific National |
| A77 | B77 | Ian Stewart | 17 May 1984 | Pacific National |
| A78 | B78 | 21 December 1984 | Pacific National | |
| A79 | B79 | 22 June 1985 | Pacific National | |
| A81 | B81 | 15 August 1985 | Pacific National | |
| A85 | B85 | Haydn Bunton | 5 June 1984 | Pacific National |
-
A62 on the Stony Point line
-
Freight Australia liveried A85 with Pacific National decals
-
Plaque dedicating A62 to the Victorian railway men and women who helped develop the State of Victoria
-
V/Line owned locomotive A70 at Flinders Street Station
References [edit]
- ^ a b Scott Martin & Chris Banger (October 2006). "'New Deal' for County Passengers - 25 years on". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)). Unknown parameter
|=ignored (help) - ^ a b c Railmac Publications (1992). Australian Fleetbooks: V/Line locomotives. Kitchner Press. ISBN 0-949817-76-7.
- ^ "News". Newsrail (Australian Railway Heritage Society): 24–27. September 1986.
- ^ A Class Vicsig.net
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia.
