Victorian Railways E class (electric)
Original steeplecab locomotive 1101
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Electric |
| Builder | VR Newport and Jolimont Workshops |
| Build date | 1923–1929 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| UIC class | Bo'Bo' |
| Gauge | 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) |
| Length | 36 ft 4 1⁄2 in (11,090 mm) (steeplecab) 39 ft 2 1⁄2 in (11,950 mm) (boxcab) |
| Loco weight | 50 long tons (50.8 t; 56.0 short tons) (steeplecab) 55 long tons (55.9 t; 61.6 short tons) (boxcab) |
| Electric system(s) | 1.5 kV DC Catenary |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Traction motors | 4x General Electric Type 237A |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
| Power output | 620 hp (460 kW) |
| Tractive effort |
Starting: 24,400 lbf (109 kN) Continuous: 14,160 lbf (63.0 kN) |
The Victorian Railways E class was a class of electric locomotive that ran on the Victorian Railways from 1923 until 1984. Introduced shortly after the electrification of the suburban rail system in Melbourne, Australia, and based on the same electrical and traction equipment as Melbourne's early suburban electric multiple unit fleet, they provided power for suburban goods services and shunting for six decades.
With the rapid expansion of Melbourne's suburban electrification scheme, becoming by 1924 the largest in the world at 346 miles (557 km), the Victorian Railways decided to utilise the advantages of electric traction for suburban goods services, which until then had been hauled by steam locomotives such as the Y class 0-6-0, E class 2-4-2T and later Dde class 4-6-2T.
In 1923 it introduced two electric locomotives of 620 hp (460 kW), built at VR's Newport and Jolimont Workshops with the same General Electric traction motors and related electrical equipment that had been installed in Melbourne's Tait and Swing Door electric suburban train sets.
The first two locomotives were built with a steeplecab-style appearance. Despite their appearance and unlike other steeplecab locomotives, they also included a large amount of the electrical equipment including the dynamotor in the driver's cab. The exposure of the driver to this electrical equipment led to them being nicknamed "electric chairs" among drivers.
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