Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Ian Green, Joshua Watson, Thomas McIntosh and Chris Nuthall
Page Last Updated: 19/10/20
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Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Number Built: 25 Model: JT22HC-2 Loco Length: 20.03 Meters Weight: 123 tonnes Engine: EMD 12-645E3C Generator: EMD AR10-JJD-D18 (replaced with CA5) Traction Motors: EMD D43 (some converted to EMD D77) Horsepower: 2480 Max Speed: 120 km/h |
Three N class locos are stabled in Dandenong yard due to space restrictions. (11/05)
Photo By: Ian Green |
The contract for the new locomotives was quickly awarded to Clyde Engineering because of their unmatched price and quality. By the beginning of 1984, designs had been laid out for the new locomotive, and included double ended cabs, head end power among other things. Clyde, who were also working on VicRail’s, then V/line’s A class rebuilds were experiencing multiple issues in this project. V/line decided that work should be focused more on developing the brand new locomotives rather than the rebuilds. By 1985, the final design was finished and work began on what was to become the N class locomotives. The design which became known as the ‘dog-bone’, allowed for easier operation when running around a train at a terminus, easy maintenance as well as other benefits. The engine chosen was an EMD 12-645E3C.
N457 with #8625 down Albury pass at Kilmore East. (26/12/18)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
N462 on a light engine near South Dynon. (14/9/19)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Clyde’s new Somerton plant was used to build these locomotives. It had also been decided by V/line that the A class rebuilds would be cancelled completely. The contract was increases to 15 locomotives to compensate for this.
By August 1985, class leader N451 had been completed and in September, conducted a test run to Seymour from the Somerton plant. The locomotive performed well and was delivered to its owner later in the month. However noise issues in relation to the horn and its placement saw the locomotive banned by the union until the issue was rectified. Eventually, the issue was fixed and further locomotive deliveries took place. Driver training was also undertaken, before N453 became the first unit to enter service officially. They were first used only on Geelong line services however they later spread their wings and operated to Swan Hill, Ballarat and Bendigo. Later, they were permitted into Gippsland, Shepparton and Cobram lines.
By August 1985, class leader N451 had been completed and in September, conducted a test run to Seymour from the Somerton plant. The locomotive performed well and was delivered to its owner later in the month. However noise issues in relation to the horn and its placement saw the locomotive banned by the union until the issue was rectified. Eventually, the issue was fixed and further locomotive deliveries took place. Driver training was also undertaken, before N453 became the first unit to enter service officially. They were first used only on Geelong line services however they later spread their wings and operated to Swan Hill, Ballarat and Bendigo. Later, they were permitted into Gippsland, Shepparton and Cobram lines.
N465 with an RRL driver training run near Southern Cross. (7/10/13)
Photo By: Ian Green |
N468 with a charter train to Taralgon at Flinders Street. (9/8/08)
Photo By: Ian Green |
The N class had grown and were already replacing older locomotives such as B, S, X and T classes on many passenger services. They were also replacing the L class electrics from the Gippsland line which at this point were in the process of being withdrawn. In 1987, the last of the class being N475 had been in service, bringing the total number to 25.
Each N class was dedicated a name from a Victorian town, except N453 which was named ‘City of Albury’. All N class were operated on the broad gauge system and proved themselves very satisfactory with V/line with minimal fault. Soon enough, the Ns would find themselves working as far as Adelaide on the ‘Overland’ service. They could also be found working freight trains across Victoria.
Each N class was dedicated a name from a Victorian town, except N453 which was named ‘City of Albury’. All N class were operated on the broad gauge system and proved themselves very satisfactory with V/line with minimal fault. Soon enough, the Ns would find themselves working as far as Adelaide on the ‘Overland’ service. They could also be found working freight trains across Victoria.
N451 with a two car pass train at Sunbury. (28/12/90)
Photo By: Ian Green |
N471 with a pass train from Stony Point at Crib Point. (12/95)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Locomotives were made even more versatile in 1992 with the introduction of driver-only operation. They had been run on every V/line passenger service by the late 1990’s, including services to Dimboola and Stony Point. In 1995, the ‘blood and bone’ V/line Passenger livery was introduced and all were in this livery by the end of 2003.
Large changes were seen by the class during the 2000’s. Some locomotives were hired to Freight Australia to cover for a locomotive shortage meaning that they could continue to be seen on freight services. The Ns also lost a number of their services to V/locity railcars as part of the Fast Rail Project in 2005. Bendigo, Ballarat and Traralgon services were lost to the new trains. In 2008/9, another new V/line livery dubbed ‘cheeseburger’ was introduced to the class. The line to Albury had also underwent gauge conversion to standard gauge only, meaning a handful of Ns were chosen to be gauge converted to operate this service from 2011.
Not many changes were seen during the 2010’s, with more services being lost to new V/locity railcars. N class locomotives continue to haul long distance passenger services throughout Victoria. In 2017, the new PTV V/line livery was introduced to the fleet and locomotives continue to be overhauled and repainted into this livery. With more V/locity railcars expected to enter service in the 2020’s, the future for the N class and locomotive hauled passenger trains in general in Victoria remains to be seen.
Large changes were seen by the class during the 2000’s. Some locomotives were hired to Freight Australia to cover for a locomotive shortage meaning that they could continue to be seen on freight services. The Ns also lost a number of their services to V/locity railcars as part of the Fast Rail Project in 2005. Bendigo, Ballarat and Traralgon services were lost to the new trains. In 2008/9, another new V/line livery dubbed ‘cheeseburger’ was introduced to the class. The line to Albury had also underwent gauge conversion to standard gauge only, meaning a handful of Ns were chosen to be gauge converted to operate this service from 2011.
Not many changes were seen during the 2010’s, with more services being lost to new V/locity railcars. N class locomotives continue to haul long distance passenger services throughout Victoria. In 2017, the new PTV V/line livery was introduced to the fleet and locomotives continue to be overhauled and repainted into this livery. With more V/locity railcars expected to enter service in the 2020’s, the future for the N class and locomotive hauled passenger trains in general in Victoria remains to be seen.
N455 on an up Shepparton passenger train near Kilmore East. (11/6/20)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
N452 propels a defective Comeng out of Laverton. (3/6/19)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Locomotive Status
Click on underlined Road No. for more photos
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
20 Sep 1985 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
10 Oct 1985 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
1 Nov 1985 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
20 Nov 1985 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
19 Dec 1985 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
29 Jan 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
27 Feb 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
17 Mar 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
15 Apr 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
15 May 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
25 Jul 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
14 Aug 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
4 Sep 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
29 Sep 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
20 Oct 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
31 Oct 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
26 Nov 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
19 Dec 1986 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
29 Jan 1987 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
17 Feb 1987 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
28 Feb 1987 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
27 Mar 1987 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
28 Apr 1987 - Present |
Operational |
|
Cheeseburger |
V/line |
28 May 1987 - Present |
Operational |
|
V/line PTV Purple |
V/line |
6 Jul 1987 - Present |
Operational |
All information sourced from Australian Locomotive Guide (Peter Clark), Power To The Rails (John Scott) and Wikipedia