Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Chris Nuthall, Ian Green, Brian Atkins, Brad White, Joshua Watson and Adam Rudnicki
Page Last Updated: 14/5/21
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Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Number Built: 18 Operational: 6 Stored: 4 Scrapped: 6 Preserved: 5 Model: A7/A16C Loco Length: 18.72 Meters Weight: 116 tonnes Engine: EMD 16-567C Generator: EMD D12/D22 Traction Motors: EMD D27/D37/D47 Horsepower: 1810 Max Speed: 130 km/h |
Liveries worn by S Classes |
In 1951, Commonwealth Railways introduced their GM class locomotives which had proved to be huge success in modernising their railways in South Australia. These Clyde build locomotives were followed by the Victorian Railways B class, which were a similar but double ended design. These locomotives had served the VR well since their introduction, however with increased levels of freight being transported by rail, the diesel fleet was proving insufficient. In 1956, tenders were laid for 10 new locomotives which was awarded to Clyde Engineering once again.
S300-44209-T333-GM36 with El Zorro grain #2CM5 near McIntyre Loop. (19/9/11)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
S317-S312 with #9383 SSR grain to Murchison East at Nagambie. (14/11/19)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
The new locomotives were to be mechanically similar to the B class, but single ended making them more similar to the GM class design. This design choice was made partially as B class running together would create underutilisation of centre cabs. An EMD 16-567C was the chosen engine and they were about 15% more powerful than the previous B class.
The first of the class was completed at Clyde’s Granville facility in August 1957, numbered S300. After testing in NSW, it was forwarded to Victoria for delivery and further testing. It was also converted to broad gauge. A basic hostlers end is provided for shunting movements which is a feature not used in the GM class. Further S class were delivered through 1957 to 1958 with a total of 10 being produced in the first batch.
When in service, they could be found on a wide range of trains, despite being intended for freight service. ‘Overland’ and ‘Spirit of Progress’ are examples of passenger workings, as well as the freight operations they were intended for.
In 1959, VR approached Clyde for a further 8 locomotives to ensure sufficient motive power for the then new standard gauge line between Melbourne and Sydney. This second batch would have various improvements which upped power output slightly to 1,800hp. S310 was the first to be complete and delivered by the end of 1960. The new units would see work on broad gauge until the standard gauge line was complete. The final two units being S316 and S317 were delivered on the SG however as it had been completed by then. All of this second batch were on SG by 1962. In 1966, 10 S class were all working on the SG.
On BG, the Ss were kept busy with passenger, goods and even royal trains. Unfortunately in 1969, S314 working a goods train and S316 with the ‘Southern Aurora’ collided head on, resulting in both locomotives being scrapped. X class locomotives were introduced in 1966, being practically the same mechanically wise to the S class. Both classes could be seen working with each other often.
At the start of the 1970s, the S class were still really busy locos, however more of the fleet had been converted back to BG. When the C class were introduced in 1977, much of their freight work was taken from them in favour of the 3000hp locos on both western and north-east workings.
The first of the class was completed at Clyde’s Granville facility in August 1957, numbered S300. After testing in NSW, it was forwarded to Victoria for delivery and further testing. It was also converted to broad gauge. A basic hostlers end is provided for shunting movements which is a feature not used in the GM class. Further S class were delivered through 1957 to 1958 with a total of 10 being produced in the first batch.
When in service, they could be found on a wide range of trains, despite being intended for freight service. ‘Overland’ and ‘Spirit of Progress’ are examples of passenger workings, as well as the freight operations they were intended for.
In 1959, VR approached Clyde for a further 8 locomotives to ensure sufficient motive power for the then new standard gauge line between Melbourne and Sydney. This second batch would have various improvements which upped power output slightly to 1,800hp. S310 was the first to be complete and delivered by the end of 1960. The new units would see work on broad gauge until the standard gauge line was complete. The final two units being S316 and S317 were delivered on the SG however as it had been completed by then. All of this second batch were on SG by 1962. In 1966, 10 S class were all working on the SG.
On BG, the Ss were kept busy with passenger, goods and even royal trains. Unfortunately in 1969, S314 working a goods train and S316 with the ‘Southern Aurora’ collided head on, resulting in both locomotives being scrapped. X class locomotives were introduced in 1966, being practically the same mechanically wise to the S class. Both classes could be seen working with each other often.
At the start of the 1970s, the S class were still really busy locos, however more of the fleet had been converted back to BG. When the C class were introduced in 1977, much of their freight work was taken from them in favour of the 3000hp locos on both western and north-east workings.
S302-XR559-A81 lead #9083 mixed freight out of Tottenham Yard. (6/10/06)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
S311 arrives into Spencer Street with the up Warrambool passenger train. (4/4/00)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
Further work loss came in the 1980s, when the new A, N and P class were introduced on passenger services. The S class quickly found themselves as secondary to newer and more powerful locos. Regardless of this, overhauls and repaints into V/line orange and grey occurred to a large portion of the fleet. They began working to places they had never visited before such as Mildura and Swan Hill. As G class locomotives were introduced, freight work was quickly falling from the Ss, and S305 was the first to be withdrawn from service. S304 would follow some time later. Further units were placed in storage at Melbourne Yard during the late 1980s, but many still found plenty of work. Long Island steel, grain trains, freights to SA and the occasional passenger service would all see S class rostered.
The 1990s proved an interesting decade for the class. SRHC had taken ownership of S303 for restoration. S308 was sent to Ballarat North Workshops where it was renumbered SD308 and was used for servicing training in Melbourne Yard. It was then placed on display at ARHS North Williamstown where it can be seen today. In 1997, Steamrail had preserved S313, painting it in a Santa Fe style livery. Various units were scrapped during the 90s, however when Freight Victoria took over V/line Freight operations in 1999, S301, S306, S307 and S310 were returned to service. S301 and SRHC’s S303 were repainted into FV colours for freight work in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
S317 would be passed on to SRHC after years of storage, but was sold on to Great Northern Rail, painting it and its GM counterparts in their very vibrant red livery in 2002. GNR ceased operations soon after however, with the locomotive being passed on to SSR, being painted into their yellow and black livery. From here, it was converted to SG for NSW operations primarily.
Another notable event for the class was in 1993, when West Coast Railway began operating passenger services to Warrnambool. The new company used hired rolling-stock from V/line, until purchasing their own consisting of S300, S302, S311 and S312 as well as some B and T class which were all previously stored. S312 became a source of spare parts after it was found to be in a poor state. Once the other units were in service in 1995, they were wearing a fresh coat of WCR blue, white and yellow livery. The S and B class proved to be reliable on this service and could also be seen on heritage services around the state. S302 was stored in 2002 with a poor body condition, but in 2004, the entire WCR S class fleet were taken out of service as it was discovered that cracks in the frame and body of every one had appeared. Deemed too expensive to repair, WCR announced that it wouldn’t operate further Warrnambool services and the line went back to V/line operation. CFCLA purchased the whole fleet asides S302 which went, interestingly, to V/line.
The 1990s proved an interesting decade for the class. SRHC had taken ownership of S303 for restoration. S308 was sent to Ballarat North Workshops where it was renumbered SD308 and was used for servicing training in Melbourne Yard. It was then placed on display at ARHS North Williamstown where it can be seen today. In 1997, Steamrail had preserved S313, painting it in a Santa Fe style livery. Various units were scrapped during the 90s, however when Freight Victoria took over V/line Freight operations in 1999, S301, S306, S307 and S310 were returned to service. S301 and SRHC’s S303 were repainted into FV colours for freight work in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
S317 would be passed on to SRHC after years of storage, but was sold on to Great Northern Rail, painting it and its GM counterparts in their very vibrant red livery in 2002. GNR ceased operations soon after however, with the locomotive being passed on to SSR, being painted into their yellow and black livery. From here, it was converted to SG for NSW operations primarily.
Another notable event for the class was in 1993, when West Coast Railway began operating passenger services to Warrnambool. The new company used hired rolling-stock from V/line, until purchasing their own consisting of S300, S302, S311 and S312 as well as some B and T class which were all previously stored. S312 became a source of spare parts after it was found to be in a poor state. Once the other units were in service in 1995, they were wearing a fresh coat of WCR blue, white and yellow livery. The S and B class proved to be reliable on this service and could also be seen on heritage services around the state. S302 was stored in 2002 with a poor body condition, but in 2004, the entire WCR S class fleet were taken out of service as it was discovered that cracks in the frame and body of every one had appeared. Deemed too expensive to repair, WCR announced that it wouldn’t operate further Warrnambool services and the line went back to V/line operation. CFCLA purchased the whole fleet asides S302 which went, interestingly, to V/line.
S313 in a fresh Victorian Railways livery at South Dynon. (10/5/11)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
S301 leads a Links tour charter to Kyneton at Middle Footscray. (5/12/09)
Photo By: Ian Green |
The Freight Australia locomotives experienced the same fate, as their locos also had cracking discovered. Steamrail’s S313 was repainted for a film in an American style livery. SRHC repainted S303 into its original VR livery. S302 was refurbished and repainted into V/line ‘blood and bone’ livery for passenger work, continuing on the Warrnambool line from 2004. In January 2006, it was withdrawn after various mechanical issues. El Zorro would purchase the loco, operating it on infrastructure and later grain trains around the state. It would also be hired to other freight operators. Eventually, it was converted to SG and repainted into El Zorro’s orange and grey livery.
As for the other former WCR locos, S300 and S311 were returned to service by CFCLA by 2007. S312 was purchased by a private buyer and by 2010, was returned to service by Railpower in their all-over black livery. It was hired to operators such as El Zorro on standard gauge.
Today, various S class remain in service. S301, S306 and S307 came under Pacific National ownership, with the latter 2 being repainted into a full PN livery. They were often used as bankers in the Adelaide Hills but later both were withdrawn. S306 was passed to 707 Operations in 2019, while S307 is stored in Adelaide. CFCLA hired S300 and S311 to a number of operators on BG then SG, before being stored. S311 has since been reactivated by SSR and is used on grain services while S300 is stored under private ownership pending preservation. S302 and S312 have both joined S317 under SSR ownership with all 3 being utilised on their BG grain services beginning in 2017. S312 had seen a period of storage in NSW, before being reactivated for BG operations. In preservation, SRHC’s S303 and Steamrail’s S313 both still operate, both now wearing VR livery. They are occasionally hired to Qube for freight operation, with S303 being transferred to SG in 2021. S310 is stored pending preservation by SRHC at Seymour.
As for the other former WCR locos, S300 and S311 were returned to service by CFCLA by 2007. S312 was purchased by a private buyer and by 2010, was returned to service by Railpower in their all-over black livery. It was hired to operators such as El Zorro on standard gauge.
Today, various S class remain in service. S301, S306 and S307 came under Pacific National ownership, with the latter 2 being repainted into a full PN livery. They were often used as bankers in the Adelaide Hills but later both were withdrawn. S306 was passed to 707 Operations in 2019, while S307 is stored in Adelaide. CFCLA hired S300 and S311 to a number of operators on BG then SG, before being stored. S311 has since been reactivated by SSR and is used on grain services while S300 is stored under private ownership pending preservation. S302 and S312 have both joined S317 under SSR ownership with all 3 being utilised on their BG grain services beginning in 2017. S312 had seen a period of storage in NSW, before being reactivated for BG operations. In preservation, SRHC’s S303 and Steamrail’s S313 both still operate, both now wearing VR livery. They are occasionally hired to Qube for freight operation, with S303 being transferred to SG in 2021. S310 is stored pending preservation by SRHC at Seymour.
S317-S302-P18-B75 with #9083 SSR grain near Malmsbury. (8/12/19)
Photo By: Adam Rudnicki |
S307 and S306 sit near eachother and the Newport Workshops. (21/6/10)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
Locomotive Status
Click on underlined Road No. for more photos
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
CFCLA |
Private |
18 Aug 1957 - Present |
Stored |
|
Freight Australia |
Pacific National |
1 Sep 1957 - Present |
Stored |
|
El Zorro w/ SSR logos |
SSR |
15 Sep 1957 - Present |
Operational |
|
Victorian Railways |
VicTrack Heritage |
29 Sep 1957 - Present |
Preserved - Operational |
|
Victorian Railways |
V/line |
13 Oct 1957 - Apr 1988 |
Scrapped |
|
Victorian Railways |
V/line |
3 Nov 1957 - May 1987 |
Scrapped |
|
PN Yellow and Blue |
707 Operations |
27 Nov 1957 - Present |
Preserved - Operational |
|
PN Yellow and Blue |
Pacific National |
8 Dec 1957 - Present |
Stored |
|
V/line Orange and Grey |
VicTrack Heritage |
21 Jan 1958 - Jul 1988 |
Preserved - Static |
|
V/line Orange and Grey |
V/line |
23 Feb 1958 - Jul 1988 |
Scrapped |
|
V/line Orange and Grey |
SRHC |
26 Nov 1960 - Present |
Preserved - Stored |
|
CFCLA w/ SSR logos |
SSR |
6 Dec 1960 - Present |
Operational |
|
Rail Power w/ SSR logos |
SSR |
29 Jan 1961 - Present |
Operational |
|
Victorian Railways |
VicTrack Heritage |
27 Feb 1961 - Present |
Preserved - Operational |
|
S314 |
Victorian Railways |
Victorian Railways |
24 Apr 1961 - Feb 1969 |
Scrapped |
V/line Orange and Grey |
V/line |
16 Oct 1961 - Sep 1988 |
Scrapped |
|
S316 |
Victorian Railways |
Victorian Railways |
9 Nov 1961 - Feb 1969 |
Scrapped |
SSR Black and Sliver |
SSR |
4 Dec 1961 - Present |
Operational |
All information sourced from Power to the Rails by John Scott, Vicsig and Wikipedia