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.

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.

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.