S303 (Nick Lapthorne)
S302 (Peter Willsher)
317 (Cassandra Cook/Great Northern)
Locomotive numbers: S300-317
| Model Number: | A7 (original) A16C (later) |
| Type | Diesel-Electric |
| Introduced | 1957 |
| Number in class | 18 |
| Manufacturer | Clyde Engineering, Granville |
| Gauge | Broad, Standard |
| Axles | Co-Co |
| Length | 18.72 m |
| Mass | 116 t |
| Engine | EMD 16-567C |
| Generator | EMD D12 (S300-309) EMD D22 (S310-317) |
| Traction motors | EMD D27/D37/D47 |
| Power | 1350 kW / 1800 HP |
| Tractive effort | 285 / 239 kN |
| Speed | 133 / 15 km/h |
The S class were used on a variety of services, including the main
interstate passenger services, as well as Victorian and interstate
freight services. Since then, they have seen use on more general
freight services. Several of the class survived into the 1990s, but
most have now been retired, while some have been sold to the West Coast
Railway , and one to Great Northern Railway. S308 was
renumbered SD308 and modified for training purposes.
Despite their age, three of the class remained in service until in 2004
the
same underframe problems as seen by West Coast's locos saw them out of
service.
However, one has now returned to V/Line Passenger, although it is now
withdrawn.
West Coast Railway:
The S class were the first locos to be used on West Coast's
passenger
services, until in 2004 underframe problems saw them out of service and
sold on; with two going to CFCLA, and one to VLP.
Great
Northern:
Originally coming with broad gauge bogies, these were swapped for
standard gauge bogies.
It was with Great Northern until December 2003 before going on to SSR.
Southern
Shorthaul Railroad:
This is the only loco that SSR owns.
CFCLA:
The two S class wil be refurbished and returned to service by CFCLA,
and be leased to SSR.
Preserved locomotives:
| S303 | Seymour Railway Heritage Centre |
| S308 | ARHS-North Williamstown Museum |
| S313 | Steamrail Victoria |
Named locomotives:
| S300 | Matthew Flinders | S301 | Sir Thomas Mitchell |
| S302 | Edward Henty | S303 | C J Latrobe |
| S304 | George Bass | S305 | Hamilton Hume |
| S306 | John Batman | S307 | John Pascoe Fawkner |
| S308 | Sir Redmond Barry | S309 | William Lonsdale |
| S310 | George Higinbotham | S311 | Sir Ferdinand von Mueller |
| S312 | Peter Lalor | S313 | Alfred Deakin |
| S314 | Sir John 'O Shannassy | S315 | Sir Charles Gavan Duffy |
| S316 | Sir Andrew Clark | S317 | Sir John Monash |
The S class were named after prominent Victorians and others
associated with Victoria - thankfully, we won't have to put up with one
being named "Jeff Kennett" or "Steve Bracks" ...
| Loco | Serial # | In Service | Comments |
| S300 | 57-164 | 8/1957 | Sold to West Coast Railway, in service 12-1994 Sold to CFCLA 2004 |
| S301 | 57-165 | 9/1957 | |
| S302 | 57-166 | 9/1957 | Sold to West Coast Railway, in service 12-1994 Returned to V/Line Passenger 2004 |
| S303 | 57-167 | 9/1957 | Preserved - operational; Lease to Freight Australia |
| S304 | 57-168 | 10/1957 | Scrapped |
| S305 | 57-169 | 11/1957 | Scrapped |
| S306 | 57-170 | 11/1957 | |
| S307 | 57-171 | 12/1957 | |
| S308 | 58-179 | 1/1958 | Preserved |
| S309 | 58-182 | 2/1958 | Scrapped |
| S310 | 60-227 | 11/1960 | |
| S311 | 60-228 | 12/1960 | Sold to West Coast Railway, in service 12-1994 Sold to CFCLA 2004 |
| S312 | 61-229 | 1/1961 | Sold to West Coast Railway Now Privately Owned with Rail Power |
| S313 | 61-230 | 2/1961 | Preserved - operational |
| S314 | 61-231 | 4/1961 | Scrapped (Southern Aurora crash) |
| S315 | 61-238 | 10/1961 | Scrapped |
| S316 | 61-239 | 11/1961 | Scrapped (Southern Aurora crash) |
| S317 | 61-240 | 12/1961 | Sold to Great Northern, in service 2-2003 Sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad, in service 12-2003 |
Introduction
© Copyright John Cleverdon