H Class
By Alex Thorn
PN BL32 hauls H1 from North Geelong to Dynon as 0202 at Bunbury Street. 28/3/19
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
During the 1960s, the Victorian Railways began planning out the construction of a hump system in Melbourne Yard to help improve the efficiency of shunting with the larger amounts of goods being transported by rail. The idea of a hump yard involves a ‘hump’ of railway line which would have goods wagons pushed up and released down the other side into destined sidings to form trains, using gravity.
In 1968, VR contacted Clyde Engineering to modify the 5 last T class units for designated hump yard work. These modifications included a heavier frame which added 12 tons to each loco, and low speed controls which would better suit yard work of this type. The first unit which was initially numbered T413 was completed at Clyde’s Granville factory by the end of 1968, later being tested in NSW and delivered to Melbourne as previous T class had been. However, once in Melbourne the unit was given a new classification of H1 and was placed on broad gauge bogies. The letter ‘H’ stands for ‘Hump’ and is to help identification of the modified locos be made easier. Other than the specification differences, they are quite visually and mechanically similar to the 3rd series T class locos.
The units continued to be delivered and renumbered, however this was before the hump yard was completed. They would enter regular service on passenger and goods services, but would not be allowed on branch lines due to their heavier weight. By 1970, the new hump facility was complete, allowing the fleet of 5 units (H1 to H5) to enter the service they were designed for. Units would usually operate in two pairs, leaving the 5th unit out into mainline service. Work was constant throughout the 1970s.
In the 1980s hump work continued, however Vicrail decided that new and more advanced methods of shunting would help improve efficiency. This was as a result of a decline in goods being transported by rail, which didn’t require the same amount of trains to be marshalled. By the end of 1987, the hump yard was closed making the H class obsolete from their intended work.
As the 1980s continued, the H class were kept busy with grain and other freight work being provided with the fleet also been repainted into the new V/line orange and grey livery. Into the 1990s, they were still popular on freight and select passenger workings, particularly commuter trains. Driver-only modifications were made to the fleet in 1993 for shunting purposes, and in 1995, H1 and H3 were converted to standard gauge for the new western SG route. H3 would see itself based at Portland for a period of time too. H2 would join the other two units on SG in 1997.
From 1999, Freight Victoria, later called Freight Australia had taken over operations from V/line Freight. Work was still steady for the fleet, with H1 even visiting Adelaide for SCT shunting use. Units were also receiving a fresh coat of FA green and yellow colour scheme. By 2002, work was on a decline for the Hs and 4 units were stored for a short period. They would continue to see BG work from 2003 on grain, infrastructure and the occasional goods train. This would continue under Pacific National ownership from 2004, however H1 would be the only unit to receive PN livery. The locos would eventually be stored in North Geelong while H1 continued to see use on freight services.
Today, H2, H3 and H5 have been sold from PN to Ettamogah Rail Hub. H3 and H5 continue to be used by heritage operator 707 Operations under Ettamogah ownership. H1 was stored in North Dynon and stripped before being sent to SRHC also now under ERH ownership for further storage in April 2022. H4 was scrapped in North Geelong in January 2020.
In 1968, VR contacted Clyde Engineering to modify the 5 last T class units for designated hump yard work. These modifications included a heavier frame which added 12 tons to each loco, and low speed controls which would better suit yard work of this type. The first unit which was initially numbered T413 was completed at Clyde’s Granville factory by the end of 1968, later being tested in NSW and delivered to Melbourne as previous T class had been. However, once in Melbourne the unit was given a new classification of H1 and was placed on broad gauge bogies. The letter ‘H’ stands for ‘Hump’ and is to help identification of the modified locos be made easier. Other than the specification differences, they are quite visually and mechanically similar to the 3rd series T class locos.
The units continued to be delivered and renumbered, however this was before the hump yard was completed. They would enter regular service on passenger and goods services, but would not be allowed on branch lines due to their heavier weight. By 1970, the new hump facility was complete, allowing the fleet of 5 units (H1 to H5) to enter the service they were designed for. Units would usually operate in two pairs, leaving the 5th unit out into mainline service. Work was constant throughout the 1970s.
In the 1980s hump work continued, however Vicrail decided that new and more advanced methods of shunting would help improve efficiency. This was as a result of a decline in goods being transported by rail, which didn’t require the same amount of trains to be marshalled. By the end of 1987, the hump yard was closed making the H class obsolete from their intended work.
As the 1980s continued, the H class were kept busy with grain and other freight work being provided with the fleet also been repainted into the new V/line orange and grey livery. Into the 1990s, they were still popular on freight and select passenger workings, particularly commuter trains. Driver-only modifications were made to the fleet in 1993 for shunting purposes, and in 1995, H1 and H3 were converted to standard gauge for the new western SG route. H3 would see itself based at Portland for a period of time too. H2 would join the other two units on SG in 1997.
From 1999, Freight Victoria, later called Freight Australia had taken over operations from V/line Freight. Work was still steady for the fleet, with H1 even visiting Adelaide for SCT shunting use. Units were also receiving a fresh coat of FA green and yellow colour scheme. By 2002, work was on a decline for the Hs and 4 units were stored for a short period. They would continue to see BG work from 2003 on grain, infrastructure and the occasional goods train. This would continue under Pacific National ownership from 2004, however H1 would be the only unit to receive PN livery. The locos would eventually be stored in North Geelong while H1 continued to see use on freight services.
Today, H2, H3 and H5 have been sold from PN to Ettamogah Rail Hub. H3 and H5 continue to be used by heritage operator 707 Operations under Ettamogah ownership. H1 was stored in North Dynon and stripped before being sent to SRHC also now under ERH ownership for further storage in April 2022. H4 was scrapped in North Geelong in January 2020.
Loco |
In Service |
Owner |
Livery |
Status |
H1 |
12/68 |
ERH/SRHC |
PN |
Stored |
H2 |
1/69 |
ERH |
FA/PN |
Stored |
H3 |
2/69 |
ERH/707 Operations |
FA/PN |
In Service |
H4 |
2/69 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Scrapped |
H5 |
3/69 |
ERH/707 Operations |
FA/PN |
In Service |
707 Operations H5 and T413 lead the Somerville Sojourn near Baxter. 30/3/19
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Credits:
Power to the Rails - John Scott
Vicsig
Updated: 13/10/22
Power to the Rails - John Scott
Vicsig
Updated: 13/10/22