T class 320-346 & 413. Model G8B

ABOVE: T 337 at Sth Dynon loco, 1984. The yellow painted handrails were an early 80s addition.

The T's were VR's most numerous diesel loco class and arrived on the system over a 13 year period (1955 to 1968). Purchased as VR's primary branchline loco, the T's could be found literally all over the system. VR officials would later admit that they purchased too many T's as the branches were starting to close just as the last T's were being delivered. In my opinion the last 2 orders (20 locos) should never have placed and the money used on X class instead. Apart from holding down their branchline assignments they were also found in mainline service usually behind a bigger loco, they also could be found running shorter distance passenger trains (Seymour, Ballarat, Kyneton, Werribee/Geelong etc. ) as well as most branchline passenger trains, (Daylesford, Cobram, Bairnsdale, Yarram, Swan Hill, Queenscliff etc.) 

All of the T's were built at Clyde's Granville N.S.W. plant.

ABOVE & BELOW: As built photos of T 320, note the short end handrails which were modified very early in their lives.

 

ABOVE & BELOW: T 320 at Port Melbourne in "as built" condition August 20 1955, (the month it was delivered). The photo above clearly shows the drivers controls on what would become the firemans side.

 

ABOVE: T 320 at Sth Dynon loco, 1979.

ABOVE: T 322 at Sth Dynon loco Aug 23 1983.

ABOVE: T 322 at Sth Dynon loco, Oct 10 1981. BELOW: T 322 on its delivery run in NSW, the loco was on standard gauge and its Broad Gauge bogies were on the flat wagon behind the loco.

 

ABOVE: T 327 at Sunshine, Feb.1978. BELOW at Sth Dynon Sep 1983

 

ABOVE: T 328 at Sth Dynon, 1978

ABOVE: End views of T 328 at Ararat, Dec. 1979

ABOVE: T 330 at Sth Dynon loco, Oct 10 1981. T 330 was converted into P 14.

ABOVE: T 331 circa 1980, photo courtesy Barry Cooper

ABOVE: For many years T 333 carried this unique cowcatcher, photo at Newport 1978. BELOW: This photo of T 333 was taken Aug 1983 after a repaint and the unique cowcatcher has been replaced.

 

ABOVE: T 334 at Sth Dynon loco, 1982.

ABOVE: T 337 at Sth Dynon loco, Sep 19 1981.

ABOVE: T 339 at Sth Dynon, 1979

ABOVE: T 341 at Ararat loco depot, Dec. 1979

ABOVE: T 342 at Sth Dynon towards the end of its career showing the chopped valance, photo 1988

ABOVE: T 343 at Sth Dynon, July 1964, note the stovepipe exhaust, photo courtesy PROV. 

ABOVE: T 343 at Sth Dynon 1978.

The first T's were quite distinctive with their flat roofline. This was a standard EMD export design and were basically "off the shelf" The bogie mounted sandboxes were also distinctive. The flat roofline made for a very cramped cab and only the shortest crewmember did not have to duck their head when inside. They were however the best riding of all of the T class due, presumably, to their lower centre of gravity and longer wheelbase. Of all the T's the first series were the least likely to wheelslip when lugging at low speeds. T's 320 to 333 were delivered with their controls on what became the firemans side. The controls were relocated in early 1966. 

T 320 and 321, as delivered the yellow stripe along the side was much narrower as can be seen in the photos of T 320. Exhausts changed over the years as well. In the early 80's several T's had their skirt above the fuel tank area removed for maintenence ease as shown on T 342, T's known to have chopped skirts include 321, 333, 342, 343, 345. Several got yellow handrails and 321 and 345 got distinctive aluminium side cab windows. In 1986 T 345 was electrically modified for hump working along with T 413. T 320 - T 325 kept their fabricated bogies for their entire lives which made them different from the rest of the 1st series T's. 

In 1984 13 first series T's were sent to Clyde for a complete rebuild, after rebuilding they became the P class numbered P 11 to P 23.

Road # Serial #
In service
 Withdrawn Service life Disposition Color schemes Notes
T 320 55-63
3/8/1955
 5/1986 1,681,945 miles to SRHC vrb
T 321 55-65
23/8/1955
 5/1986 1,594,102 miles scrapped. vrb Beclawat windows, chopped valance. 1st T scrapped
T 322 55-67
12/9/1955
 5/1986 1,603,360 miles to Bob White Electrix vrb
T 323 55-68
26/9/1955
 5/1986 1,672,910 miles to Bob White Electrix vrb
T 324 55-73
30/11/1955
 6/1986 1,546,157 miles to Bob White Electrix vrb
T 325 55-75
11/12/1955
 5/1986 1,626,196 miles scrapped May 1989 * vrb Scrapped 5/1989
T 326 55-76
29/5/1956
 5/1984 1,494,756 miles conv. to P 23 vrb
T 327 55-78
29/5/1956
 12/1984 conv. to P 17 vrb
T 328 56-80
19/6/1956
 9/1985 1,456,909 miles conv. to P 22 vrb
T 329 56-82
19/6/1956
 6/1984 conv. to P 12 vrb
T 330 56-85
3/7/1956
 8/1984 conv. to P 14 vrb
T 331 56-98
3/7/1956
 3/1985 conv. to P 19 vrb
T 332 56-99
23/7/1956
 11/1984 conv. to P 16 vrb
T 333 56-102
23/7/1956
 7/1986 1,614,210 miles to C&MRPS Vic Goldfields Rwy. vrb
T 334 56-105
20/8/1956
 12/1989 1,644,874 miles to Mornington Pres. vrb - "ozride" vrb
T 335 56-106
20/8/1956
 8/1986 1,658,551 miles scrapped May 1989 * vrb Scrapped 5/1989
T 336 56-110
10/9/1956
 5/1984 conv. to P 11 vrb
T 337 56-112
24/9/1956
 5/1985 conv. to P 20 vrb
T 338 56-114
24/9/1956
 6/1985 conv. to P 21 vrb
T 339 56-115
8/10/1956
 2/1984 conv. to P 18 vrb
T 340 56-119
31/10/1956
 7/1984 conv. to P 13 vrb
T 341 56-120
5/11/1956
 5/1986 1,576,095 miles to Yarra Valley Rwy vrb
T 342 56-123
12/11/1956
 9/1989 1,629,992 miles to Steamrail vrb -apm yellow Chopped valance
T 343 56-126
10/12/1956
 6/1986 1,523,154 miles to Bob White Electrix vrb
T 344 56-127
10/12/1956
 10/1984 conv. to P 15 vrb
T 345 56-128
24/12/1956
 12/1987 1,592,865 miles   vrb Beclawat windows
T 346 56-129 24/12/1956 5/1986 1,580,786 miles sold to Steel & Alloy, scrapped May 1989 * vrb Scrapped 5/1989

 

ABOVE: Four "flat tops" around the turntable at Wodonga, Aug. 29 1983.

ABOVE: T 334 was painted in this scheme in 1986 for a film.

Purchased 2nd hand: T 413

T413 was purchased second hand from the Australian Portland Cement quarry which had a railway within its quarry. It was numbered D 1 by its original owner. Mechanically identical to the first T class order it was the only T fitted with dynamic brakes. From the time VR purchased it until the Cudgewa line closed, (late 70's) it was the main power on this branchline where its dynamic brake was put to good use.

ABOVE: T 413 in about 1985 at Sth Dynoon loco, clearly showing the cut away valance that enabled easier servicing.

ABOVE: D 1 as delivered to the VR after it being purchased from the Australian Portland Cement company. The loco was built alongside VRs first series T's and presumably to save money the Cement company had it painted in the same scheme as the VR Ts with the only change being the logo. official VR photo. BELOW: Undergoing modifications at Newport to enable it to operate on the VR, the cowcatcher, steps and coupler pocket had to be re-worked. photo courtesy David Langley.