B83 (John Cleverdon)

A78 (Michael Jones)

B65 (Michael Donahoo)

CFCLA - B class - No photo available

B65 (Len Weigh)

Type	Diesel-Electric
Introduced	1952
Number in class	26
Manufacturer	Clyde Engineering, Granville (B class) Clyde Engineering, Rosewater (A class)
Gauge	Broad, Standard
Axles	Co-Co
Length	18.7 m (B class) 18.542 m (A class)
Mass	114 t (B class) 118 t (A class)
Engine	EMD 16-567BC (B class) EMD 12-645E3B (A class)
Generator (B class) Alternator (A class)	EMD D12 (B class) EMD AR10-A4-D18 (A class)
Traction motors	EMD D27 (B class) EMD D57/D78 (A class)
Power	1200 kW / 1600 HP (B class) 1850 kW / 2480 HP (A class)
Tractive effort	267 / 178 kN (B class) 294 / 212 kN (A class)
Speed	133 / 18 km/h (B class) 133 / 24 km/h (A class)

The B class were the first mainline diesel-electric locomotives in Victoria, and were initially used on the main passenger and freight services, before moving out to other areas. They remained in service right up into the late 80's and early 90's. In the mid-80's, half the class were rebuilt as the A class, and more recently, others were sold to the West Coast Railway.

A class:
Note: A85 was regeared at one stage to give a top speed of 160 km/h, with a tractive effort of 294/162 kN.
The A class were initially used for "Intercity" passenger services within Victoria. In this service, they operated at speeds up towards 125 km/h. Later, they were also used for freight services. Despite their 40-45 year age, they remain in service.
A66 was the only V/Line loco to be painted in a special livery for the Bicentenary in 1988, and later appeared in another livery promoting Melbourne's unsuccessful bid for the 1996 Olympic Games.
All of Freight Australia's A class (except A79) have now been fitted with the "Q-Trac" control system, intended to boost tractive effort. A85 was also temporarily placed on standard gauge recently as part of publicity for V544; it has now returned to broad gauge.

West Coast Railway:
The B class are the second of West Coast's classes to be put into service, and are now the oldest commercially operating locos in Victoria (if you exclude the A's). In 2002, B61 celebrated it's 50th birthday.
B80 has undergone restoration, including a 'Murraylander'  livery, similar to Union Pacific's (and been converted to standard gauge). This loco has already been loaned to other operators to help with motive power shortages.
Thier aging underframes saw them requiring inspections, and thus also saw the end of their time with West Coast. As a result, most went on to CFCLA.

CFCLA:
Following West Coast's ceasing operations in 2004, most of the B class was sold to CFCLA to be refurbished and returned to service.

Southern Shorthaul Railroad:
Two of the B class were in turn sold on from CFCLA to SSR for operations in NSW. One of these locos - B65 - has been repainted in livery for Auscision Models.

Preserved locomotives:
 

B63	Steamrail Victoria
B67	(Cab only) Hobbies Plus, Stratford
B68	(Cab only) Glassby's Restaurant, Northbridge, Perth
B72	Steamrail Victoria
B74	Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
B75	Yarra Valley Tourist Railway
B83	ARHS-North Williamstown Museum

Named locomotives:
 

B60	Harold W Clapp
B74	J A Hearsch
A60	Sir Harold Clapp
A71	Dick Reynolds
A73	Bob Skilton
A77	Ian Stewart
A85	Hayden Bunton

Harold Clapp was the Chairman of Commissioners in the 1920's and 30's, and oversaw many improvements to the railway system. He was talented at his job, and is the type of person that the railways could really do with these days.
John Hearsch was a former V/Line general manager, and former head of QR rail freight.
A60's name continued on from B60.
The other four are the VFL/AFL triple Brownlow Medal winners.
 

Loco	Serial #	In Service	Comments
B60	ML2-1 (B60) 84-1184 (A60)	7/1952	Withdrawn 1983 Rebuilt as A60, In service 9-1984
B61	ML2-2	8/1952	Withdrawn 1993 Sold to West Coast Railway, In service 12-1994 Sold to CFCLA 8-2004; In service 1-2006 & converted to standard gauge Sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad; In service 3-2006
B62	ML2-3 (B62) 84-1183 (A62)	9/1952	Withdrawn 1983 Rebuilt as A62, In service 7-1984
B63	ML2-4	10/1952	Withdrawn 1988 Preserved
B64	ML2-5	10/1952	Withdrawn 1992 Sold to West Coast Railway, used as spares
B65	ML2-6	11/1952	Withdrawn 1992 Sold to West Coast Railway, In service 7-2001 Sold to CFCLA 8-2004 (never entered service) & converted to standard gauge Sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad; In service 11-2007
B66	ML2-7 (B66) 84-1186 (A66)	12/1952	Withdrawn 1984 Rebuilt as A66, In service 4-1985
B67	ML2-8	12/1952	Withdrawn 1987 Scrapped 1988/Cab Preserved
B68	ML2-9	2/1953	Withdrawn 1987 Scrapped 1989/Cab Preserved
B69	ML2-10	2/1953	Withdrawn 1988 Scrapped 1992
B70	ML2-11 (B70) 84-1187 (A70)	3/1953	Withdrawn 1984 Rebuilt as A70, In service 5-1985
B71	ML2-12 (B71) 83-1180 (A71)	4/1953	Withdrawqn 1982 Rebuilt as A71, In service 5-1984
B72	ML2-13	5/1953	Withdrawn 1986 Preserved
B73	ML2-14 (B73) 83-1179 (A73)	5/1953	Withdrawn 1981 Rebuilt as A73, In service 5-1984 Withdrawn 2008
B74	ML2-15	6/1953	Withdrawn 1988 Preserved - operational
B75	ML2-16	7/1953	Withdrawn 1992 Sold to West Coast Railway, used as spares Sold to Great Northern (never entered service), then to Westbrook Rail (never entered service) Preserved
B76	ML2-17	7/1953	Withdrawn 1992 Sold to West Coast Railway, In service 3-1997 Sold to CFCLA 8-2004; In service 2006 & converted to standard gauge
B77	ML2-18 (B77) 83-1181 (A77)	8/1953	Withdrawn 1982 Rebuilt as A77, In service 5-1984
B78	ML2-19 (B78) 84-1185 (A78)	9/1953	Withdrawn 1984 Rebuilt as A78, In service 1-1985
B79	ML2-20 (B79) 84-1188 (A79)	9/1953	Withdrawn 1984 Rebuilt as A79, In service 6-1985 Withdrawn 2008
B80	ML2-21	10/1953	Withdrawn 1992 Sold to West Coast Railway, In service ? Sold to CFCLA 8-2004 for refurbishment and return to service
B81	ML2-22 (B81) 85-1189 (A81)	11/1953	Withdrawn 1984 Rebuilt as A81, In service 8-1985
B82	ML2-23	11/1953	Withdrawn 1988 Scrapped 1996
B83	ML2-24	12/1953	Withdrawn 1988 Preserved
B84	ML2-25	1/1954	Withdrawn 1988 Scrapped 1992
B85	ML2-26 (B85) 84-1182 (A85)	2/1954	Withdrawn 1983 Rebuilt as A85, In service 6-1984

 

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