V/Line N class

The N Class are a diesel locomotive operated by V/Line from 1985. They have formed the core of Victoria's passenger fleet since introduction, and are seen throughout the state. The N Class members are numbered N451 to N475 with all in service, and all but one have been named after rural cities in Victoria. A cab at each end gives the locomotive its distinctive shape, leading to the moniker for the class, "Dog Bones".

History

The Victorian Railways had been stuck in a 'time warp' through the 1970s, and by the start of the 1980s passenger numbers had fallen to around 3 million per year, due to ageing rolling stock, stagnant timetables, and competition from other forms of transport. The Lonie Report of 1980 recommended cuts to the network, with the general public responding by calling for the State Government to maintain a viable rail network. The government response in February 1981 was the 'New Deal' for Country Passengers, a $115 million commitment to recast country rail passenger services in Victoria.^[2]

As part of the 'New Deal' all B class locomotives were to be re-built into the A class for use on passenger services, with ten additional new locomotives (the N class) ordered by the Cain Labour Government who took power in 1982. Tenders closed in 1983 for the first 10 units, with Clyde Engineering awarded the contract due to price and superior technology.^[3] By mid-1985 the rising cost of the A class conversions saw the project abandoned at 11 locomotives,^[4] and the N class order was increased to 25 using the parts intended for the A class conversions.^[5]

The class saw use on main lines all over the state, with the exception of the Gippsland line beyond Traralgon, a restriction that was later lifted. The class also saw regular use on the Melbourne to Adelaide The Overland service, which was Broad Gauge at the time, but not on the Standard Gauge locomotive-hauled Melbourne to Sydney intercapital services.^[3] As well as being operated by V/Line, the class were hired to Warrnambool line operator West Coast Railway from 1993 until their own locomotives were available in 1995,^[6] and to Shepparton line operator Hoys Roadlines between 1993 and 2004 instead of purchasing their own locomotives.^[7]

In preparation for privatisation a division was made between V/Line Freight and V/Line Passenger operations in 1995 and was formalised by July 1997,^[8] with the N class allocated to the passenger operator and included in the sale to National Express Group in 1999.^[9] Before this time the class had also been employed on freight services with a maximum speed of 90 km/h.^[3] The head end power was often used to power refrigerated shipping containers.

During the Regional Fast Rail project, a number of shutdowns were carried out to normal passenger services, with the N class being used to haul ballast trains on the Geelong line in 2003/2004,^[10] as well as being hired to operator Freight Australia in January 2004 for hauling log and grain services.^[11] Since 2007 class members have also been hired to heritage operator Seymour Railway Heritage Centre for use on its trains, as the provision of TPWS equipment permits running at full line speed over the Regional Fast Rail network.^[12][13]

Today with the large number of VLocity diesel multiple units in V/Line service, the N class play a lesser role, their main use being peak time commuter services and InterCity services beyond the Regional Fast Rail network. The class are authorised to operate at 115 km/h, but some units have been upgraded with D77/78 traction motors and have a maximum speed of 130 km/h.^[14]

Features

The N class feature a frame and body locally designed, but with imported General Motors-EMD technology in the prime mover, generator and control unit, along with locally produced components such as the bogie frames by Bradford Kendall. The class was the first in the world to use the EMD D43 traction motor, similar to but smaller than that used in the G and C classes. Head end power is provided by a separate engine unit in a special compartment located at the number 1 end of the locomotive behind the electrical cabinet. The 240 kW generator provides 415V 3-phase AC power for train lighting, air conditioning and other carriage requirements.^[3] The XPT and UK's Intercity 125 both supply 415V 3-phase AC also.

Fitted with 6800 litre fuel tanks the class were capable of running from Melbourne to Adelaide without refuelling^[1] and were used on The Overland before the track was converted to standard gauge in 1995. Electrical and electronic components are modular to minimise delays after failures, and a reactive muffler system reduces the exhaust noise level. While most of them have only been used on broad gauge, three of them have been converted to standard gauge by moving the wheels inward on the axles and repositioning the braking equipment. ^[3]

The narrow carbody provides for a catwalk along each side between the cabs, with fold back body panels for maintenance access. The cab is similar to that of the contemporary G class, with an anti-climber beam to prevent upward movement should a collision occur. Twin high impact windscreens are provided, with dual blade wipers. Each cab has room for a two person crew, as well as an instructor if required. Air conditioning is provided, as well as an air-operated retention toilet at one end accessible from the catwalk.The locos were initially provided with automatic staff exchange equipment, but were removed by the 1990s when the use of Electric Staff ended. The space remains in the cab side today.^[3]

Livery

The N class originally appeared in the V/Line orange and grey livery, and were progressively named after cities in Victoria, except for N453 which is named after the City of Albury in New South Wales. On March 3, 1987 locomotive N470 was returned to the Somerton factory for a ceremony, where brass plaques were affixed at both ends under the builder's plates, reading "N470 completing one million horsepower of diesel-electric locomotives built in Australia by Clyde Engineering Co".^[15]

The class members were repainted into a red and blue livery from 1995, with the V/Line logo on the side being altered after the privatisation of V/Line in 1999.^[5] As of 2008, most N Class members have received white stripes along the cab-fronts, and cowcatchers painted yellow to increase visibility at level crossings in a program started in 2007.

In May 2008 locomotive N468 was repainted into the new V/Line livery of red with grey, white and yellow details. As of September 2008, N460 has also been painted into a variant of the new livery, with extra yellow being applied to the cab in place of the grey. The livery on N468 was modified to match N460 in late 2008. N461 had this livery applied to it in December 2008 as did N466 in February 2009. Three of the repainted locos have been converted to standard gauge for use following the upgrading of the Melbourne-Albury/Wodonga line.

Locomotives

References

• http://www.series567railvideo.com.au/ - The Victorian N Class
• Vicsig - V/Line Passenger Fleet
• Vicrailways - N class