S CLass
By: Alex Thorn
S313 stabled with an SSR works train in Somerton Yard. 10/6/22
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
In 1951, the Commonwealth Railways introduced their GM class locomotives which had proved to be huge success in modernising their railways in South Australia. These Clyde build locomotives were followed by the Victorian Railways B class, which were a similar but double ended design. These locomotives had served the VR well since their introduction, however with increased levels of freight being transported by rail, the diesel fleet was proving insufficient. In 1956, tenders were made for 10 new locomotives which was ultimately awarded to Clyde Engineering once again.
The new locomotives were to be mechanically similar to the B class, but single ended making them more similar to the GM class design. This design choice was made partially as B class running together would create an underutilisation of the centre cabs. An EMD 16-567C was the chosen engine and they were about 15% more powerful than the previous B class.
The first of the class was completed at Clyde’s Granville facility in August 1957, numbered S300. After testing in NSW, it was forwarded to Victoria for delivery and further testing and conversion to broad gauge. A basic hostlers end is provided for shunting movements which is a feature not used in the GM class. The 10 members of the first bath of S class were deliered from 1957 through to 1958.
When in service, they could be found on a wide range of trains, despite being intended for freight service. The Overland and The Spirit of Progress are examples of passenger workings they could be found on as well as the freight operations they were intended for.
In 1959, VR approached Clyde for a further 8 locomotives to ensure sufficient motive power for the then new standard gauge line between Melbourne and Sydney. This second batch would have various improvements which upped power output slightly to 1,800hp. S310 was the first to be complete and delivered by the end of 1960. The new units would see work on broad gauge until the standard gauge line was complete in April 1962. The final two units being S316 and S317 were delivered entirely on the SG route as it had been completed by then. The whole of this second batch were on SG by 1962 and by 1966, 10 S class were working on the SG.
On BG, the Ss were kept busy with passenger, goods and even royal trains. Unfortunately in 1962, S314 working a goods train and S316 with The Southern Aurora collided head on, resulting in both locomotives being written off and scrapped. X class locomotives were introduced in 1966, being practically the same mechanically wise to the S class. Both classes could be seen working with each other often.
At the start of the 1970s, the S class were still really busy locos, however more of the fleet had be converted back to BG. When the C class were introduced in 1977, much of their freight work was taken from them in favour of the 3000hp locos on both western and north-east workings.
Further work loss came in the 1980s, when the new A, N and P class were introduced on passenger services. The S class quickly found themselves as secondary power to newer and more powerful locos. Regardless of this, overhauls and repaints into V/line orange and grey occurred to a large portion of the fleet. They began working to places they had never visited before such as Mildura and Swan Hill. As G class locomotives were introduced, freight work was quickly falling from the Ss resulting in S305 being the first to be withdrawn from service. S304 would follow some time later. Further units were placed in storage at Melbourne Yard during the late 1980s, but many still found plenty of work. Long Island steel, grain trains, freights to SA and the occasional passenger service would all see S class rostered.
The 1990s proved an interesting decade for the class. SRHC had taken ownership of S303 for restoration. S308 was sent to Ballarat North Workshops where it was renumbered SD308 and was used for servicing training in Melbourne Yard. It was then placed on display at ARHS North Williamstown where it can be seen today. In 1997, Steamrail had preserved S313, painting it in a Santa Fe style livery. Various units were scrapped during the 90s, however when Freight Victoria took over V/line Freight operations in 1999, S301, S306, S307 and S310 were returned to service. S301 and SRHC’s S303 were repainted into FV/FA colours for freight work in late 1990s and early 2000s.
S317 would be passed on to SRHC after years of storage, but was sold on to Great Northern Rail who repainted it and its GM counterparts in their vibrant red and maroon livery in 2002. GNR ceased operations soon after however with the locomotive being passed on to SSR, in turn being painted into their yellow and black livery. From here, it was converted to SG for NSW operations primarily.
Another notable event for the class was in 1993, when West Coast Railway began operating passenger services to Warrnambool. The new company used hired rolling-stock from V/line, until purchasing their own consisting of S300, S302, S311 and S312 as well as some B and T class which were all previously stored. S312 became a source of spare parts after it was found to be in a poor state. Once the other units were in service in 1995, they were wearing a fresh coat of WCR blue, white and yellow livery. The S and B class proved to be reliable on this service and could also be seen on heritage services around the state. S302 was stored in 2002 with a poor body condition, but in 2004, the entire WCR S class fleet were taken out of service as it was discovered that cracks in the frame and body of every unit had appeared. Deemed too expensive to repair, WCR announced that it wouldn’t operate further Warrnambool services and the line went back to V/line operation. CFCLA purchased the whole fleet asides S302 which went, interestingly, to V/line.
The Freight Australia locomotives experienced the same fate, as their locos were also found to have cracking in their frames. Steamrail’s S313 was repainted for a film in an American style livery. SRHC repainted S303 into its original VR blue and yellow livery. S302 was refurbished and repainted into V/line ‘blood and bone’ livery for passenger work, continuing on the Warrnambool line from 2004. In January 2006, it was withdrawn after various mechanical issues. El Zorro would purchase the loco, operating it on infrastructure and later grain trains around the state. It would also be hired to other freight operators. Eventually, it was converted to SG and repainted into El Zorro’s orange and grey livery.
As for the other former WCR locos, S300 and S311 were returned to service by CFCLA by 2007. S312 was purchased by a private buyer and by 2010, was returned to service by Railpower in their all-over black livery. It was hired to operators such as El Zorro on standard gauge.
Today, various S class remain in service. S301, S306 and S307 came under Pacific National ownership, with the latter 2 being repainted into a full PN livery. They were often used as bankers in the Adelaide Hills but soon enough both were withdrawn. S306 was passed to 707 Operations in 2019, while S307 was stored in Port Augusta before being donated to SRHC and transferred to Seymour in April 2023. CFCLA hired S300 and S311 to a number of operators on BG then SG, S300 eventually being privately bought and based in Canberra with S311 finding itself with SSR. S302 and S312 have also both joined S317 under SSR ownership with all 3 being utilised on their BG grain services beginning in 2017. During 2022, S302 was placed in storage after a mechanical failure. S312 had seen a period of storage in NSW, before being reactivated for BG operations. In preservation, SRHC’s S303 and Steamrail’s S313 both still operate wearing VR livery with both seeing freight use hired to Qube. In December 2020, S303 was converted to SG and saw use briefly with SCT then SSR as well as undertaking SG tours with SRHC. S310 is stored pending preservation by SRHC at Seymour and S301 is in storage with Steamrail at Newport Workshops.
The new locomotives were to be mechanically similar to the B class, but single ended making them more similar to the GM class design. This design choice was made partially as B class running together would create an underutilisation of the centre cabs. An EMD 16-567C was the chosen engine and they were about 15% more powerful than the previous B class.
The first of the class was completed at Clyde’s Granville facility in August 1957, numbered S300. After testing in NSW, it was forwarded to Victoria for delivery and further testing and conversion to broad gauge. A basic hostlers end is provided for shunting movements which is a feature not used in the GM class. The 10 members of the first bath of S class were deliered from 1957 through to 1958.
When in service, they could be found on a wide range of trains, despite being intended for freight service. The Overland and The Spirit of Progress are examples of passenger workings they could be found on as well as the freight operations they were intended for.
In 1959, VR approached Clyde for a further 8 locomotives to ensure sufficient motive power for the then new standard gauge line between Melbourne and Sydney. This second batch would have various improvements which upped power output slightly to 1,800hp. S310 was the first to be complete and delivered by the end of 1960. The new units would see work on broad gauge until the standard gauge line was complete in April 1962. The final two units being S316 and S317 were delivered entirely on the SG route as it had been completed by then. The whole of this second batch were on SG by 1962 and by 1966, 10 S class were working on the SG.
On BG, the Ss were kept busy with passenger, goods and even royal trains. Unfortunately in 1962, S314 working a goods train and S316 with The Southern Aurora collided head on, resulting in both locomotives being written off and scrapped. X class locomotives were introduced in 1966, being practically the same mechanically wise to the S class. Both classes could be seen working with each other often.
At the start of the 1970s, the S class were still really busy locos, however more of the fleet had be converted back to BG. When the C class were introduced in 1977, much of their freight work was taken from them in favour of the 3000hp locos on both western and north-east workings.
Further work loss came in the 1980s, when the new A, N and P class were introduced on passenger services. The S class quickly found themselves as secondary power to newer and more powerful locos. Regardless of this, overhauls and repaints into V/line orange and grey occurred to a large portion of the fleet. They began working to places they had never visited before such as Mildura and Swan Hill. As G class locomotives were introduced, freight work was quickly falling from the Ss resulting in S305 being the first to be withdrawn from service. S304 would follow some time later. Further units were placed in storage at Melbourne Yard during the late 1980s, but many still found plenty of work. Long Island steel, grain trains, freights to SA and the occasional passenger service would all see S class rostered.
The 1990s proved an interesting decade for the class. SRHC had taken ownership of S303 for restoration. S308 was sent to Ballarat North Workshops where it was renumbered SD308 and was used for servicing training in Melbourne Yard. It was then placed on display at ARHS North Williamstown where it can be seen today. In 1997, Steamrail had preserved S313, painting it in a Santa Fe style livery. Various units were scrapped during the 90s, however when Freight Victoria took over V/line Freight operations in 1999, S301, S306, S307 and S310 were returned to service. S301 and SRHC’s S303 were repainted into FV/FA colours for freight work in late 1990s and early 2000s.
S317 would be passed on to SRHC after years of storage, but was sold on to Great Northern Rail who repainted it and its GM counterparts in their vibrant red and maroon livery in 2002. GNR ceased operations soon after however with the locomotive being passed on to SSR, in turn being painted into their yellow and black livery. From here, it was converted to SG for NSW operations primarily.
Another notable event for the class was in 1993, when West Coast Railway began operating passenger services to Warrnambool. The new company used hired rolling-stock from V/line, until purchasing their own consisting of S300, S302, S311 and S312 as well as some B and T class which were all previously stored. S312 became a source of spare parts after it was found to be in a poor state. Once the other units were in service in 1995, they were wearing a fresh coat of WCR blue, white and yellow livery. The S and B class proved to be reliable on this service and could also be seen on heritage services around the state. S302 was stored in 2002 with a poor body condition, but in 2004, the entire WCR S class fleet were taken out of service as it was discovered that cracks in the frame and body of every unit had appeared. Deemed too expensive to repair, WCR announced that it wouldn’t operate further Warrnambool services and the line went back to V/line operation. CFCLA purchased the whole fleet asides S302 which went, interestingly, to V/line.
The Freight Australia locomotives experienced the same fate, as their locos were also found to have cracking in their frames. Steamrail’s S313 was repainted for a film in an American style livery. SRHC repainted S303 into its original VR blue and yellow livery. S302 was refurbished and repainted into V/line ‘blood and bone’ livery for passenger work, continuing on the Warrnambool line from 2004. In January 2006, it was withdrawn after various mechanical issues. El Zorro would purchase the loco, operating it on infrastructure and later grain trains around the state. It would also be hired to other freight operators. Eventually, it was converted to SG and repainted into El Zorro’s orange and grey livery.
As for the other former WCR locos, S300 and S311 were returned to service by CFCLA by 2007. S312 was purchased by a private buyer and by 2010, was returned to service by Railpower in their all-over black livery. It was hired to operators such as El Zorro on standard gauge.
Today, various S class remain in service. S301, S306 and S307 came under Pacific National ownership, with the latter 2 being repainted into a full PN livery. They were often used as bankers in the Adelaide Hills but soon enough both were withdrawn. S306 was passed to 707 Operations in 2019, while S307 was stored in Port Augusta before being donated to SRHC and transferred to Seymour in April 2023. CFCLA hired S300 and S311 to a number of operators on BG then SG, S300 eventually being privately bought and based in Canberra with S311 finding itself with SSR. S302 and S312 have also both joined S317 under SSR ownership with all 3 being utilised on their BG grain services beginning in 2017. During 2022, S302 was placed in storage after a mechanical failure. S312 had seen a period of storage in NSW, before being reactivated for BG operations. In preservation, SRHC’s S303 and Steamrail’s S313 both still operate wearing VR livery with both seeing freight use hired to Qube. In December 2020, S303 was converted to SG and saw use briefly with SCT then SSR as well as undertaking SG tours with SRHC. S310 is stored pending preservation by SRHC at Seymour and S301 is in storage with Steamrail at Newport Workshops.
Data Table
Loco |
In Service |
Owner |
Livery |
Status |
S300 |
08/57 |
Private Ownership |
CFCLA |
Stored |
S301 |
09/57 |
Steamrail |
FA/PN |
Stored |
S302 |
09/57 |
SSR |
ELZ/SSR |
Stored |
S303 |
09/57 |
SRHC |
VR |
Preserved In Service |
S304 |
10/57 |
V/line |
VR |
Scrapped |
S305 |
11/57 |
V/line |
VR |
Scrapped |
S306 |
11/57 |
PN/707 Operations |
PN |
In Service |
S307 |
12/57 |
SRHC |
PN |
Stored |
S308 |
01/58 |
ARHS |
V/line |
Static Display |
S309 |
02/58 |
V/line |
V/line |
Scrapped |
S310 |
11/60 |
SRHC |
V/line |
Stored |
S311 |
11/61 |
SSR |
CFCLA/SSR |
In Service |
S312 |
01/61 |
SSR |
RP/SSR |
In Service |
S313 |
02/61 |
Steamrail |
VR |
Preserved In Service |
S314 |
04/61 |
VR |
VR |
Scrapped |
S315 |
10/61 |
V/line |
V/line |
Scrapped |
S316 |
11/61 |
VR |
VR |
Scrapped |
S317 |
12/61 |
SSR |
SSR |
In Service |
S311 at Goulburn Roundhouse. 1/10/22
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
SSR S317 trails 9198 grain to Kensington past South Kensington. 3/10/19
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Credits:
Power to the Rails -John Scott
Wikipedia
Vicsig
Updated: 7/5/23
Power to the Rails -John Scott
Wikipedia
Vicsig
Updated: 7/5/23