S class diesel electric locomotives
MODEL: A16C
VR was very pleased with all aspects of their B class so when it came time to order new locos they returned to Clyde for the S class which differed from the B class in having only one cab (a small "hostlers" cab was provided at the flat end for short distance, slow speed use) and a more modern engine (567C) The S class actually consist of two orders, the second order was placed in anticipation of the soon to be opened Melbourne to Albury standard gauge line. This second group (310 - 317) spent much of their early life on SG.

In broad gauge service their usefullness was limited in comparison to the B class on account of having only one cab. They racked up many miles in interstate "Jet" service and on "The Overland" where they usually ran "back to back"

In standard gauge service they usually ran solo. From the opening of the SG (1962) until the arrival of the X class (1966) they were the only mainline loco class on that track. In 1969 the horrific head on collision of a down goods and the up "Southern Aurora" at Violet Town resulted in S 314 and S 316 being destroyed beyond recognition. They were the first diesel locos on VR to be scrapped.

Until they were painted V/Line orange the S class changed very little over the years, the only major change was the removal of the valance around the fuel tanks.

All of the S's were built at Clyde's Granville N.S.W. plant

diagram

All S's were named

All nameplates removed Early 1988

Road # Name:
S 300 Matthew Flinders
S 301 Sir Thomas Mitchell
S 302 Edward Henty
S 303 C. J. La Trobe
S 304 George Bass
S 305 Hamilton Hume
S 306 John Batman
S 307 John Pascoe Fawkner
S 308 Sir Redmond Barry
S 309 William Lonsdale
S 310 George Higinbotam
S 311 Sir Ferdinand Von Mueller
S 312 Peter Lalor
S 313 Alfred Deakin
S 314 Sir John O'Shannassy
S 315 Sir Charles Gavan Duffy
S 316 Sir Andrew Clarke
S 317 Sir John Monash

Until Oct. 1983 all of the S's wore the VR blue and gold paint scheme, after this time most S's were painted in several different schemes as outlined below.

Click on the color schemes for a photo.
vrb VR blue and gold
vlo V/Line orange and grey
wcb West Coast Railway blue
fag Freight Australia Green
gnm Great Northern Maroon
cfc Chicago Freight Car
pn Pacific National

Road # Serial #
In service
 Withdrawn Service life Disposition Color schemes Notes
S 300 57 - 164
21/08/1957
 09/1993 to W.C.R vrb - vlo - wcb - cfc
S 301 57 - 165
04/09/1957
 in service FA to F.V. vrb - vlo - fag
S 302 57 - 166
18/09/1957
 09/1993 to W.C.R vrb - vlo - wcb
S 303 57 - 167
30/09/1957
 28/6/1988 to S.R.H.C. vrb - fag
S 304 57 - 168
15/10/1957
 16/2/1988 scrapped 3/1992 vrb - vic - vlo
S 305 57 - 169
04/11/1957
 2/12/1985 scrapped 2/1991 vrb
S 306 57 - 170
25/11/1957
 in service FA to F.V. vrb - vlo
S 307 57 - 171
10/12/1957
 in service FA to F.V. vrb - vlo
S 308 57 - 179
20/01/1958
 25/7/1988 to ARHS museum vrb - vlo
S 309 58 - 182
24/02/1958
 19/7/1988 scrapped 1996 vrb - vlo
2nd order
S 310 60 - 227
25/11/1960
 in service FA to F.V. vrb - vlo
S 311 60 - 228
16/11/1960
 16/09/1993 to W.C.R. vrb - vlo - wcb
S 312 60 - 229
27/01/1961
 16/09/1993 to W.C.R. vrb - vlo
S 313 60 - 230
24/02/1961
 14/12/1994 to Steamrail, in service vrb - vlo - sr
S 314 61 - 231
20/04/1961
 07/02/1969 scrapped 7/2/1969 vrb
S 315 61 - 238
16/10/1961
 23/08/1988 scrapped 4/1992 vrb - vlo
S 316 61 - 239
10/11/1961
 07/02/1969 scrapped 7/2/1969 vrb
S 317 61 - 240
07/12/1961
 28/11/1994 to S.R.H.C. then GNR vrb - vlo - gnm

S 305 at Ballarat loco depot, Sept. 1984

S 309 at Ararat loco depot, Sept. 8 1985

S 317 in the V/Line paint scheme. Additional marker lights, nose door welded shut, rear view mirrors, 5 chime horn, duplicated air hoses and radio equipped stickers, dual windscreen wipers, were all "in service" modifications performed over the years.

S 310 at Albury, August 1984

S 312 at Sth Dynon loco, 1978

Freight Australia reluctantly painted S 301 in its corporate colours in Dec. 2003

S 300 at Spencer St in its "West Coast Railway" colour scheme.

Photo 2002 courtesy Greg Dixon

S 311 at Spencer Street, August 2003.

S 302 at Newport workshops just after its withdrawl from V/Line service, March 2006

S 300 in Chicago Freight Car paint scheme, Bendigo March 25 2007

S 307 at Newport, Nov. 20 2007

The drivers control station of an S class. The S's had a very well designed cab, their main problem being that they were very noisy but visibility was great and all controls were in easy reach.

The article below is from the March 1964 VR Newsletter

Hostlers end of S 303 at Sth Dynon, 1978.

The hostlers end cab was a rather spartan affair. It was only used for moving the loco around terminals and loco depots and to haul empty cars short distances. For example it would haul the empty cars from Albury back to Wodonga and the empty SOP and Aurora cars between Sth Dynon and Spencer St. The large boxes contained the loco batteries.

Aftermath of the Southern Aurora crash, Feb. 1969


ON June 17 1982, S 317 was the loco on an up standard gauge goods from Albury that ran into the back of the Spirit of Progress (which had broken down) at Barnawartha. Tragically the crew died and S 317 was extensively damaged as can be seen in the above photo taken at Sth Dynon loco depot. S 317 was rebuilt and continues in service to this day.
Photo courtesy Paul Johnstone

please email me with any corrections,comments or questions

page last modified1/28/08