Victorian Railways G class (diesel)

V/Line G class
Two Pacific National liveried G class locomotives in Melbourne in February 2007
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering Rosewater Somerton Serial number 84-1239 to 84-1243 85-1229 to 85-1235 86/1236 to 86-1238 88-1256 to 88-1265 89-1266 89-1270 to 89-1276 Model Original: Electro-Motive Diesel JT26C-2SS Rebuilt: Electro-Motive Diesel JT36C-2SS Build date 1984-1989 Total produced 33
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Bogies Trimount type High Adhesion Length 19.82 m (65 ft 0 in) Loco weight 127 tonnes (125 long tons; 140 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 9,600 L (2,100 imp gal; 2,500 US gal) Prime mover Original: Electro-Motive Diesel 16-645E3B Rebuilt: Electro-Motive Diesel 16-645F3B Generator Electro-Motive Diesel AR16A-D18 (G511-G515) Electro-Motive Diesel AR16A-CA5 (G516-G543) Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D77 (G511-G525) Electro-Motive Diesel D87 (G526-G543)
Performance figures Power output Original: 2,460 kW (3,300 hp) Rebuilt: 2,830 kW (3,800 hp) Tractive effort Starting: 337 kN (76,000 lbf) Continuous: 311 kN (70,000 lbf) at 18 km/h (11 mph)
Career Operators V/Line Number in class 33 Numbers G511-G543 First run 16 October 1984 Current owner Aurizon CFCL Australia Freightliner Pacific National Southern Shorthaul Railroad Qube Logistics Watco Australia Disposition 31 in service, 2 scrapped

The G Class are a class of diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater and Somerton for V/Line between 1984 and 1989.

By the early 1980s the first generation diesels purchased by the Victorian Railways were nearly 30 years old, with an average fleet age of 20 years. In addition 70% of the fleet was of 1,000 horsepower or less, a consequence of the historically large number of branch lines in the state.

Rationalisation of the rail freight task had also been carried out, with small freight consignments being consolidated to 'freight centres' from 1976. Moves had also been made towards the operation of block trains carrying a single commodity, rather than trains carrying a wider variety of freight. Grain became the major commodity carried by rail in Victoria, with the consulting arm of Canadian National commissioned by VicRail in 1983 to find ways of improving efficiency. Recommendations carried out included increasing train sizes to 50 bogie wagons and closing a number of branch lines.

At the same time Australian National had placed an order with Clyde Engineering, Rosewater for 10 BL class locomotives, with an option for a further five. VicRail's chairman Alan Reiher, stepped in and negotiated for the five to be completed for the newly formed V/Line. The new diesels had a much higher axle load than the smaller T and Y class diesels used on branch lines, with these lines either being upgraded to carry heavier trains or closed. These were all delivered in late 1984.

A second order was placed for ten further units that were more tailored to V/Line's requirements. The first five were built with standard gauge bogies being delivered via Sydney. Over the next few years members of the second batch would frequently swap gauges as needs dictated. In July 1986 through running without changing locomotives at Albury began with G class locomotives operating through to Sydney. Two further contracts for eleven and seven broad gauge units had brought the fleet up to 33 by November 1989. The first 15 were built at Clyde Engineering's, Rosewater factory with the balance built at Somerton.