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Victorian Railways X class (diesel)
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Railways
X class mainline diesel electric locomotive
s were built by Clyde Engineering
(now EDI Rail
) from 1966, with a further two orders being placed in 1970 and 1975. They saw similar use to the S class
, working though to Sydney
from 1982 on express passenger trains such as the Spirit of Progress
.
The original order of 6 locomotives were fitted with EMD 16-567E
engines with a power output of 1350 kW (1840 HP), but for the second and third orders of 8 and 10 locomotives it was increased to 1650 kW (2240 HP) by the specification of updated EMD 16-645E
engines. Two X class locos were built to replace locomotives S314 and S316, which were destroyed in the Southern Aurora crash
on 7 February 1969.
In 2004 Freight Australia
rebuilt 6 locomotives, fitting them with refurbished engines from G class locomotives, enlarged radiators, and a modified cab. These locomotives have subsequently been reclassed and renumbered as the XR class
. Today the X class are in service with freight operator Pacific National
, with two others in service with QRNational though their purchase of the CRT Group
.
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
X class mainline diesel electric locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s were built by Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
(now EDI Rail
EDi Rail
Downer Rail is a rail company based in Australia. Formed by a merger of Walkers and Clyde Engineering, it is currently a division of Downer EDi...
) from 1966, with a further two orders being placed in 1970 and 1975. They saw similar use to the S class
Victorian Railways S class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways S class mainline diesel electric locomotive were built from 1957 by Clyde Engineering for the Victorian Railways of Australia...
, working though to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
from 1982 on express passenger trains such as the Spirit of Progress
Spirit of Progress
The Spirit of Progress was the premier express train passenger service on the Victorian Railways in Australia, running from Melbourne to the Victorian border, and later through to Sydney.-Route:...
.
The original order of 6 locomotives were fitted with EMD 16-567E
EMD 567
The EMD 567 is a line of diesel engines built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. This engine, which succeeded Winton's 201-A, was used in EMD's locomotives from 1938 until its replacement in 1966 by the EMD 645. It has a bore of , a stroke of and a displacement of 567 in³ per cylinder...
engines with a power output of 1350 kW (1840 HP), but for the second and third orders of 8 and 10 locomotives it was increased to 1650 kW (2240 HP) by the specification of updated EMD 16-645E
EMD 645
The EMD 645 family of diesel engines was designed and manufactured by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. Intended primarily for locomotive, marine and stationary engine use, one 16-cylinder version powered the 33-19 "Titan" prototype haul truck designed by GM's Terex...
engines. Two X class locos were built to replace locomotives S314 and S316, which were destroyed in the Southern Aurora crash
Violet Town railway disaster
The Violet Town rail accident, also known as the Southern Aurora disaster, was a railway accident that occurred on 7 February 1969 near the McDiarmids Road crossing, approximately 1 km south of Violet Town, Victoria, Australia.-Overview:...
on 7 February 1969.
In 2004 Freight Australia
Freight Australia
Freight Australia was a railway company in Australia. Initially known as Freight Victoria, it operated rail freight services and controlled non-urban rail track in the state of Victoria, later expanding into freight haulage in other states. Freight Australia was taken over by Pacific National in...
rebuilt 6 locomotives, fitting them with refurbished engines from G class locomotives, enlarged radiators, and a modified cab. These locomotives have subsequently been reclassed and renumbered as the XR class
Freight Australia XR class
The XR class diesel electric locomotives are a mainline hood unit design built by Freight Australia at their South Dynon workshops.The first members of the XR class were rebuilt from first and second series X class locomotives, being provided with more powerful rebuilt engines cascaded from the G...
. Today the X class are in service with freight operator Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
, with two others in service with QRNational though their purchase of the CRT Group
CRT Group
CRT Group is an intermodal transport company in Australia. Begun as Colin Rees Transport , a taxi truck company in suburban Sydney in the 1950s, it became known as the CRT Group in 1981, and by the time of its acquisition by QR Limited was in the top 10 logistics companies in Australia with a...
.
Locomotives
| Locomotive | Entered service | Current Status | Current owner |
| First Order | |||
| X31 | 15 August 1966 | In Service | Seymour Railway Heritage Centre |
| X32 | 8 September, 1966 | Rebuilt as XR555 | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X33 | 24 September, 1966 | Rebuilt as XR553 | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X34 | 5 October, 1966 | Rebuilt as XR554 | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X35 | 4 November, 1966 | Rebuilt as XR551 | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X36 | 15 November, 1966 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| Second Order | |||
| X37 | 9 April 1970 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X38 | 8 May, 1970 | Rebuilt as XR550 | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X39 | 28 May, 1970 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X40 | 26 June, 1970 | Rebuilt as XR552 | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X41 | 9 July, 1970 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X42 | 7 August, 1970 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X43 | 20 August, 1970 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X44 | 11 September, 1970 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| Third Order | |||
| X45 | 11 November 1975 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X46 | 4 December, 1975 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X47 | 24 December, 1975 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X48 | 24 January 1976 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X49 | 18 February, 1976 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X50 | 12 March, 1976 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X51 | 1 April, 1976 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X52 | 22 April, 1976 | In Service | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk |
| X53 | 19 May, 1976 | In Service | QRNational |
| X54 | 10 June, 1976 | In Service | QRNational |