X Class
By Alex Thorn
QUBE operated X31 and B74 transfer loaded Apex quarry wagons into the Brooklyn siding. 10/12/20
Photo By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Alex Thorn
In the mid-1960's, the Victorian Railways were faced with a major locomotive shortage with predicted increases in freight traffic on the standard gauge line to Sydney. The broad gauge system was also under pressure as locomotives were converted over to SG and off of BG. As a result, VR contacted Clyde Engineering in 1965 hoping to order additional S class locomotives, however a newer and much more versatile design had been created by Clyde, with similar mechanical specifications to the S class. This design would become the X class locomotive, with 6 units being ordered by VR. The new locomotives were bi-directional unlike the S class locomotives, and were of a hood design. They included an EMD 16-567E engine and became the 1st series X class.
The locomotives were to be constructed in Granville, NSW with X31 being the first of the class being complete in August 1966. After testing in NSW, it was delivered to VR via standard gauge. Upon arrival, it was transferred to broad gauge, however it would later see use on SG along with other X class members that were being delivered. By the end of 1966, all 6 units were delivered being used on both SG and BG workings.
In 1967, X33 was extensively damaged after a head on collision with S317 in Broadford. It was however rebuilt and returned to service.
A further 8 X class were ordered, but these units were to have a more powerful EMD 16-645E engine. Asides having a larger radiator for the engine, they were visually identical to the previous X class. By September 1970, the 8 units numbered X37 to X44 were in service with VR. The locomotives remained primarily on the western BG line and SG line towards Sydney. They could be seen on both freight and passenger services, including The Overland.
In 1974, VR placed another order with Clyde for 10 further X class units. These locomotives would have various adjustments made, predominantly to improve crew comfort. The 3rd series X as they would become, would have more visual differences too, with a reshaped nose and cab windows for better visibility. The control stand was also moved to the standard left hand side, meaning the locomotive could only operate short end first in normal operation. The same engine was used in the 3rd series carrying over from the 2nd. This batch would also become the first locomotives ever built at Clyde’s Rosewater facility in SA. They were numbered X45 to X54, with the last entering service during 1976.
The X class found themselves operating all around Victoria on just about every mainline with either freight or passenger services during the 1970s and into the 80s. Vicrail, which had been renamed from Victorian Railways, had upgraded 1st series X classes to have the same engine as other later series.
In the 1980s after V/line had been introduced into the rail scene, X class would still find themselves on passenger services including interstate to Adelaide and into NSW. This was even despite the introduction of newer and more powerful N and A class locomotives. However, when G class freight units were introduced, X class were almost completely obsolete on SG, with most of the class being placed on BG. Various improvements were being made to the class X class including the addition of air-conditioning as well as repaints into the V/line orange and grey livery.
As the 1990s began, the class were still being assigned plenty of work on both passenger and freight workings, however passenger services were on a decline for the class with N, A, P and Sprinter units all in service by this time. Grain and other freight services were their main source of work. X35 became the first of the class to be withdrawn after a failure. When V/line was split onto separate freight and passenger businesses, some of the units received ‘V/line Freight’ signage. The Xs were often hired and used by National Rail after they won the Long Island contract in the latter half of the 90s.
In the late 1990s, X49 received a cab rebuild to allow for driver only operation. X47 would also receive this upgrade. The upgrade included the lowering of the nose and larger windows for better visibility. In 1999, Freight Victoria took over operations from V/line Freight, and rebuilt X47 would be the first to get the green and yellow paint job. As FV grew as a business, contracts were won in NSW, allowing X class to operate on services interstate. The Freight Victoria name was subsequently renamed Freight Australia.
Freight Australia decided that upgrading the aging X class locomotives to have similar power to G class would benefit operations, and X38 would be the first to take part in the rebuild program. The rebuilds would commence in 2001. SRHC had acquired X35 after its failure and after negotiations to swap for X31 after its withdrawal, was also rebuilt. X32, X33, X34 and X40 would also end up as rebuilds which would later become the XR class.
In 2004, Pacific National took over FA operations and continued to use the remaining X class that had not been rebuilt. As part of the takeover, X53 and X54 were passed on to QR National. These two units would be used on intermodal services to Brisbane and were later repainted into the corporate yellow, black and maroon livery. The only X class to receive a full Pacific National livery would be X41, X50 and later X48. In 2009, PN retired class leader X31 and passed it on to SRHC for preservation. It has been repainted back into VR livery and has been used on El Zorro and later Qube services. It remains in regular service for both freight and heritage purposes today.
As for the remainder of the class, PN upgraded the units installing toilets at the rear of the long end on each loco. A number of units were transferred to NSW for SG grain traffic during 2008, while BG units remained in Victoria for container and grain services. As BG freight dwindled and PN lost contracts to other operators, the X class were fast becoming obsolete. In 2015, X45, X46 and X52 were sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub however remain stored in NSW. X47 and X51 went to SCT Logistics for use as shunters and have seen work in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. X37 was obtained by SRHC and is awaiting restoration. Withdrawn PN units X39, X41, X42, X43 and X44 were scrapped between 2018 and 2019. QR National, later Aurizon unit X53 has also been scrapped while X54 was stored before being passed on to East Coast Heritage Rail based in NSW for preservation. The last PN units in service were X48 and X50 which saw use on Long Island steel trains, before both were converted to SG and used on freight services to Mildura as well as grain workings. Both units have been in and out of storage over the past few years.
The locomotives were to be constructed in Granville, NSW with X31 being the first of the class being complete in August 1966. After testing in NSW, it was delivered to VR via standard gauge. Upon arrival, it was transferred to broad gauge, however it would later see use on SG along with other X class members that were being delivered. By the end of 1966, all 6 units were delivered being used on both SG and BG workings.
In 1967, X33 was extensively damaged after a head on collision with S317 in Broadford. It was however rebuilt and returned to service.
A further 8 X class were ordered, but these units were to have a more powerful EMD 16-645E engine. Asides having a larger radiator for the engine, they were visually identical to the previous X class. By September 1970, the 8 units numbered X37 to X44 were in service with VR. The locomotives remained primarily on the western BG line and SG line towards Sydney. They could be seen on both freight and passenger services, including The Overland.
In 1974, VR placed another order with Clyde for 10 further X class units. These locomotives would have various adjustments made, predominantly to improve crew comfort. The 3rd series X as they would become, would have more visual differences too, with a reshaped nose and cab windows for better visibility. The control stand was also moved to the standard left hand side, meaning the locomotive could only operate short end first in normal operation. The same engine was used in the 3rd series carrying over from the 2nd. This batch would also become the first locomotives ever built at Clyde’s Rosewater facility in SA. They were numbered X45 to X54, with the last entering service during 1976.
The X class found themselves operating all around Victoria on just about every mainline with either freight or passenger services during the 1970s and into the 80s. Vicrail, which had been renamed from Victorian Railways, had upgraded 1st series X classes to have the same engine as other later series.
In the 1980s after V/line had been introduced into the rail scene, X class would still find themselves on passenger services including interstate to Adelaide and into NSW. This was even despite the introduction of newer and more powerful N and A class locomotives. However, when G class freight units were introduced, X class were almost completely obsolete on SG, with most of the class being placed on BG. Various improvements were being made to the class X class including the addition of air-conditioning as well as repaints into the V/line orange and grey livery.
As the 1990s began, the class were still being assigned plenty of work on both passenger and freight workings, however passenger services were on a decline for the class with N, A, P and Sprinter units all in service by this time. Grain and other freight services were their main source of work. X35 became the first of the class to be withdrawn after a failure. When V/line was split onto separate freight and passenger businesses, some of the units received ‘V/line Freight’ signage. The Xs were often hired and used by National Rail after they won the Long Island contract in the latter half of the 90s.
In the late 1990s, X49 received a cab rebuild to allow for driver only operation. X47 would also receive this upgrade. The upgrade included the lowering of the nose and larger windows for better visibility. In 1999, Freight Victoria took over operations from V/line Freight, and rebuilt X47 would be the first to get the green and yellow paint job. As FV grew as a business, contracts were won in NSW, allowing X class to operate on services interstate. The Freight Victoria name was subsequently renamed Freight Australia.
Freight Australia decided that upgrading the aging X class locomotives to have similar power to G class would benefit operations, and X38 would be the first to take part in the rebuild program. The rebuilds would commence in 2001. SRHC had acquired X35 after its failure and after negotiations to swap for X31 after its withdrawal, was also rebuilt. X32, X33, X34 and X40 would also end up as rebuilds which would later become the XR class.
In 2004, Pacific National took over FA operations and continued to use the remaining X class that had not been rebuilt. As part of the takeover, X53 and X54 were passed on to QR National. These two units would be used on intermodal services to Brisbane and were later repainted into the corporate yellow, black and maroon livery. The only X class to receive a full Pacific National livery would be X41, X50 and later X48. In 2009, PN retired class leader X31 and passed it on to SRHC for preservation. It has been repainted back into VR livery and has been used on El Zorro and later Qube services. It remains in regular service for both freight and heritage purposes today.
As for the remainder of the class, PN upgraded the units installing toilets at the rear of the long end on each loco. A number of units were transferred to NSW for SG grain traffic during 2008, while BG units remained in Victoria for container and grain services. As BG freight dwindled and PN lost contracts to other operators, the X class were fast becoming obsolete. In 2015, X45, X46 and X52 were sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub however remain stored in NSW. X47 and X51 went to SCT Logistics for use as shunters and have seen work in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. X37 was obtained by SRHC and is awaiting restoration. Withdrawn PN units X39, X41, X42, X43 and X44 were scrapped between 2018 and 2019. QR National, later Aurizon unit X53 has also been scrapped while X54 was stored before being passed on to East Coast Heritage Rail based in NSW for preservation. The last PN units in service were X48 and X50 which saw use on Long Island steel trains, before both were converted to SG and used on freight services to Mildura as well as grain workings. Both units have been in and out of storage over the past few years.
Data Table
Loco |
In Service |
Owner |
Livery |
Status |
X31 |
08/66 |
SRHC |
VR |
Preserved/In Service |
X32 |
09/66 |
PN |
FA |
Rebuilt as XR555 |
X33 |
09/66 |
PN |
FA |
Rebuilt as XR553 |
X34 |
10/66 |
PN |
FA |
Rebuilt as XR554 |
X35 |
11/66 |
PN |
FA |
Rebuilt as XR551 |
X36 |
11/66 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Scrapped |
X37 |
04/70 |
SRHC |
FA/PN |
Stored |
X38 |
05/70 |
PN |
FA |
Rebuilt as XR550 |
X39 |
05/70 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Scrapped |
X40 |
06/70 |
PN |
FA |
Rebuilt as XR552 |
X41 |
07/70 |
PN |
PN |
Scrapped |
X42 |
08/70 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Scrapped |
X43 |
08/70 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Scrapped |
X44 |
09/70 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Scrapped |
X45 |
11/75 |
PN |
FA |
Stored |
X46 |
12/75 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Stored |
X47 |
12/75 |
SCT |
SCT |
In Service |
X48 |
01/76 |
PN |
PN |
In Service |
X49 |
02/76 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Stored |
X50 |
03/76 |
PN |
PN |
Stored |
X51 |
04/76 |
SCT |
SCT |
In Service |
X52 |
04/76 |
PN |
FA/PN |
Stored |
X53 |
05/76 |
Aurizon |
QRN/Aurizon |
Scrapped |
X54 |
06/76 |
ECHR |
QRN/Aurizon |
Preserved/In Service |
Credit:
Power to the Rails - John Scott
Wikipedia
Vicsig
Updated: 12/10/22
Power to the Rails - John Scott
Wikipedia
Vicsig
Updated: 12/10/22