B Class
By Alex Thorn
QUBE B74 and B76 crawl towards South Kensington with 9572 cement. 20/5/20
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
In the 1940s, the Victorian Railways was operating a fleet of run down steam locomotives that had past their economical lifetimes. New R and J class steam locomotives were constructed to help replace the aging fleet however after the war, America and the UK were developing newer technologies including the diesel engine. As VR had become very interested in this development, they went ahead to place an order of 12 diesel-electric units with builder Clyde Engineering in 1948. This order was later extended to 18, however funding would be lost soon after. By 1950 and with a new government, the order was back in action when funding was available again.
The design that VR requested was that of the American F7. However, it would be modified for Australian conditions and designed to have two cabs rather than one. With an EMD 16-567B engine producing 1,500hp, the ML2 model as it would become was the most powerful locomotive for Australia at the time. 26 units would eventually be the total order, all constructed at Clyde’s Granville factory in NSW. They would receive the classification of the B class numbered B60 to B85 and were painted in the stylish VR blue and gold livery.
In July 1952, B60 underwent trial runs in NSW before being sent to Victoria via Bandiana for bogie exchange to broad gauge. Once in Melbourne, B60 was named ‘Harold W. Clapp’ after a VR Commissioner and would enter service hauling both goods and passenger services including the Overland. As more units were delivered, they replaced steam power on most of the express passenger services such as the Spirit of Progress, replacing the iconic S class steam locomotives. Other classes such as the A2 and X classes were also being withdrawn as B classes entered service. By the March 1954, all 26 were in operation with VR.
As the 1950s continued, various modifications to the frame and bogies were made to improve their reliability and service. In the 1960s, they were utilised steadily on a wide range of passenger services and goods trains alongside the new S class diesels. This continued in the 1970s too, however all had remained on BG except B60 which had a stint on SG during 1975. This was despite the standard gauge north-east route opening more than a decade previous. As the new X class diesels were introduced, the Bs had to share their passenger work around, some being placed into goods traffic more regularly. By the late 1970s, each unit had travelled up to 4 million kilometres which had taken its toll on the 25 year old B class, although they still dominated the passenger sector.
As the 1980s began, a drastic change to the Victorian rail scene and the B class units was to come. VR had been rebranded to Vicrail and they wanted to modernise their fleet with new rollingstock and locomotives. In 1981, B64 and B80 were repainted into the bright orange and silver “Teacup” livery to work with the new N set passenger carriages. The Bs struggled with these heavier sets, meaning that they would be largely displaced by more powerful locos. In the same year, Vicrail announced that it would upgrade all of the B class units into more powerful A class (see A Class), although only 11 would have their rebuilds complete when the new N class units would take over production and proved to be more successful. There were now only 15 B class in service with the rest being A class. As V/line had taken over operations from Vicrail, some units would be repainted into their new orange and grey scheme. Of note, B84 was painted in an all-over orange trial livery in 1983 for V/line, however this was short-lived.
From 1986, withdrawals of the class began as the much more powerful N and G class locomotives took over much of their work. The units that were still in service were used on secondary goods and short distance passenger services. S class units were being withdrawn along with other first generation classes while a small number of Bs soldiered on in service.
As the years went on, the B class withdrawals continued with a few surviving in preservation. B83 for instance was placed on static display at the ARHS museum at North Williamstown. B63 and B72 were donated to Steamrail and B74 to SRHC. Out of these units, only B74 was returned to operation in 1995 with B72 continuing to be restored to this day. B74 received a fresh coat of VR livery and would also lead the final BG Overland service before continuing on countless other heritage trips. B67, B68, B69, B82 and B84 were not so fortunate, all being scrapped. One of B67’s cabs however was removed and sold to a private buyer. By 1993, the final B class units in active service for V/line were finally withdrawn.
In 1993, new private rail operator West Coast Railway obtained 6 of the stored B class units from V/line, wishing to return them to service for the Warrnambool passenger service. In 1995, the first of these units was returned to service, with B61 being repainted into their distinctive blue yellow and white livery. B76 and B80 would follow in later years. B65 would follow too in 2001, wearing a more basic livery, mainly used as a hire unit to freight operators. WCR also owned B80 which was being restored for a new ‘Murraylander’ tourist train between Adelaide and Tailem Bend on SG. It returned to service in 2000 wearing a yellow, red and grey livery, however the train it was destined to run never happened. The unit was leased from WCR to ATN for grain operation who would also hire SRHC B74 which was also on SG by this time. They would often operate within NSW and into Victoria.
During 2004, WCR operations would come to an abrupt end when it was found that the B and S class units they operated were not up to the safety standards and required fixing. Instead of doing this, the fleet was withdrawn and the Warrnambool service would return to V/line operation.
As WCR had exited the rail scene, CFCLA agreed to purchase all of their units except for B64 and B75 which hadn’t been previously returned to service. B61, B65, B76 and B80 would all be overhauled and repainted at Bendigo Workshops for active service once more. B61 was the first, being repainted in SSR’s striking red and black livery for hire to the company from CFCLA. It was almost immediately converted to SG and transferred to NSW for operations there. B76 was repainted into CFCLA livery for hire to other freight operators such as Patricks for SG freight and later Metro for infrastructure use around Melbourne, B80 also returning to service in 2009. In 2007, B65 was completed in a unique Auscision Models livery and would eventually follow B61 on SG NSW operations by SSR.
SRHC unit B74 was also overhauled and was hired by El Zorro on Victorian BG services. After El Zorro ceased operations in 2013, it returned and has operated a number of heritage trains since. It is also sporadically hired to Qube for BG freight operations when extra power is required.
Today, the other surviving units are still carrying on, however B65 has been taken out of service due to mechanical problems, being stored at Bendigo Workshops pending its future. B61 was painted in a special ‘Streamliners’ livery in 2016 by SSR for the event showcasing various 'bulldog' locomotives in Goulburn that year. It too has been in periods of storage after mechanical issues. A derelict B64 is stored at Bendigo while other Steamrail owned B72 undergoes restoration. In 2011, B75 was sold to SSR, being returned to service in CRL livery in 2014 for BG operation. B80 continued in service with Qube under Railfirst (formerly CFCLA) ownership whilst B76 was stored.
In late 2022, both B76 and B80 were sold outright to SSR, receiving SSR signage shortly after their purchase. Both are used regularly on SSR BG grain trains around Victoria.
The design that VR requested was that of the American F7. However, it would be modified for Australian conditions and designed to have two cabs rather than one. With an EMD 16-567B engine producing 1,500hp, the ML2 model as it would become was the most powerful locomotive for Australia at the time. 26 units would eventually be the total order, all constructed at Clyde’s Granville factory in NSW. They would receive the classification of the B class numbered B60 to B85 and were painted in the stylish VR blue and gold livery.
In July 1952, B60 underwent trial runs in NSW before being sent to Victoria via Bandiana for bogie exchange to broad gauge. Once in Melbourne, B60 was named ‘Harold W. Clapp’ after a VR Commissioner and would enter service hauling both goods and passenger services including the Overland. As more units were delivered, they replaced steam power on most of the express passenger services such as the Spirit of Progress, replacing the iconic S class steam locomotives. Other classes such as the A2 and X classes were also being withdrawn as B classes entered service. By the March 1954, all 26 were in operation with VR.
As the 1950s continued, various modifications to the frame and bogies were made to improve their reliability and service. In the 1960s, they were utilised steadily on a wide range of passenger services and goods trains alongside the new S class diesels. This continued in the 1970s too, however all had remained on BG except B60 which had a stint on SG during 1975. This was despite the standard gauge north-east route opening more than a decade previous. As the new X class diesels were introduced, the Bs had to share their passenger work around, some being placed into goods traffic more regularly. By the late 1970s, each unit had travelled up to 4 million kilometres which had taken its toll on the 25 year old B class, although they still dominated the passenger sector.
As the 1980s began, a drastic change to the Victorian rail scene and the B class units was to come. VR had been rebranded to Vicrail and they wanted to modernise their fleet with new rollingstock and locomotives. In 1981, B64 and B80 were repainted into the bright orange and silver “Teacup” livery to work with the new N set passenger carriages. The Bs struggled with these heavier sets, meaning that they would be largely displaced by more powerful locos. In the same year, Vicrail announced that it would upgrade all of the B class units into more powerful A class (see A Class), although only 11 would have their rebuilds complete when the new N class units would take over production and proved to be more successful. There were now only 15 B class in service with the rest being A class. As V/line had taken over operations from Vicrail, some units would be repainted into their new orange and grey scheme. Of note, B84 was painted in an all-over orange trial livery in 1983 for V/line, however this was short-lived.
From 1986, withdrawals of the class began as the much more powerful N and G class locomotives took over much of their work. The units that were still in service were used on secondary goods and short distance passenger services. S class units were being withdrawn along with other first generation classes while a small number of Bs soldiered on in service.
As the years went on, the B class withdrawals continued with a few surviving in preservation. B83 for instance was placed on static display at the ARHS museum at North Williamstown. B63 and B72 were donated to Steamrail and B74 to SRHC. Out of these units, only B74 was returned to operation in 1995 with B72 continuing to be restored to this day. B74 received a fresh coat of VR livery and would also lead the final BG Overland service before continuing on countless other heritage trips. B67, B68, B69, B82 and B84 were not so fortunate, all being scrapped. One of B67’s cabs however was removed and sold to a private buyer. By 1993, the final B class units in active service for V/line were finally withdrawn.
In 1993, new private rail operator West Coast Railway obtained 6 of the stored B class units from V/line, wishing to return them to service for the Warrnambool passenger service. In 1995, the first of these units was returned to service, with B61 being repainted into their distinctive blue yellow and white livery. B76 and B80 would follow in later years. B65 would follow too in 2001, wearing a more basic livery, mainly used as a hire unit to freight operators. WCR also owned B80 which was being restored for a new ‘Murraylander’ tourist train between Adelaide and Tailem Bend on SG. It returned to service in 2000 wearing a yellow, red and grey livery, however the train it was destined to run never happened. The unit was leased from WCR to ATN for grain operation who would also hire SRHC B74 which was also on SG by this time. They would often operate within NSW and into Victoria.
During 2004, WCR operations would come to an abrupt end when it was found that the B and S class units they operated were not up to the safety standards and required fixing. Instead of doing this, the fleet was withdrawn and the Warrnambool service would return to V/line operation.
As WCR had exited the rail scene, CFCLA agreed to purchase all of their units except for B64 and B75 which hadn’t been previously returned to service. B61, B65, B76 and B80 would all be overhauled and repainted at Bendigo Workshops for active service once more. B61 was the first, being repainted in SSR’s striking red and black livery for hire to the company from CFCLA. It was almost immediately converted to SG and transferred to NSW for operations there. B76 was repainted into CFCLA livery for hire to other freight operators such as Patricks for SG freight and later Metro for infrastructure use around Melbourne, B80 also returning to service in 2009. In 2007, B65 was completed in a unique Auscision Models livery and would eventually follow B61 on SG NSW operations by SSR.
SRHC unit B74 was also overhauled and was hired by El Zorro on Victorian BG services. After El Zorro ceased operations in 2013, it returned and has operated a number of heritage trains since. It is also sporadically hired to Qube for BG freight operations when extra power is required.
Today, the other surviving units are still carrying on, however B65 has been taken out of service due to mechanical problems, being stored at Bendigo Workshops pending its future. B61 was painted in a special ‘Streamliners’ livery in 2016 by SSR for the event showcasing various 'bulldog' locomotives in Goulburn that year. It too has been in periods of storage after mechanical issues. A derelict B64 is stored at Bendigo while other Steamrail owned B72 undergoes restoration. In 2011, B75 was sold to SSR, being returned to service in CRL livery in 2014 for BG operation. B80 continued in service with Qube under Railfirst (formerly CFCLA) ownership whilst B76 was stored.
In late 2022, both B76 and B80 were sold outright to SSR, receiving SSR signage shortly after their purchase. Both are used regularly on SSR BG grain trains around Victoria.
Data Table
Loco |
In Service |
Owner |
Livery |
Status |
B60 |
07/52 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A60 |
B61 |
08/52 |
SSR |
Streamliners |
In Service |
B62 |
09/52 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A62 |
B63 |
10/52 |
Steamrail |
V/line |
Stored |
B64 |
10/52 |
Private Ownership |
V/line |
Stored |
B65 |
11/52 |
SSR |
Auscision |
Stored |
B66 |
12/52 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A66 |
B67 |
12/52 |
V/line |
VR |
Scrapped |
B68 |
02/53 |
V/line |
VicRail |
Scrapped |
B69 |
02/53 |
V/line |
V/line |
Scrapped |
B70 |
03/53 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A70 |
B71 |
04/53 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A71 |
B72 |
05/53 |
Steamrail |
Primer |
Stored |
B73 |
05/53 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A73 |
B74 |
06/53 |
SRHC |
VR |
Preserved In Service |
B75 |
07/53 |
SSR |
CRL |
In Service |
B76 |
07/53 |
SSR |
CFCLA/SSR |
In Service |
B77 |
08/53 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A77 |
B78 |
09/53 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A78 |
B79 |
09/52 |
V/line |
VR |
Rebuilt as A79 |
B80 |
20/53 |
SSR |
CFCLA/SSR |
In Service |
B81 |
11/53 |
V/line |
VicRail |
Rebuilt as A81 |
B82 |
11/53 |
V/line |
V/line |
Scrapped |
B83 |
12/53 |
ARHS |
VR |
Static Display |
B84 |
01/54 |
V/line |
V/line |
Scrapped |
B85 |
02/53 |
V/line |
VR |
Scrapped |
Credits:
Power to the Rails - John Scott
Wikipedia
Updated: 7/5/23
Power to the Rails - John Scott
Wikipedia
Updated: 7/5/23