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Victorian Railways V Class
Type and origin Power type Diesel hydraulic Builder Newport Workshops
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-0 Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Length 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) Loco weight 22.00 t (21.65 long tons; 24.25 short tons) Prime mover FORDSON MAJOR
Performance figures Maximum speed 16 km/h (9.9 mph) Power output 30 kW (40 hp)
Career Number in class 1 Numbers V56 First run 1959

The Victorian Railways V class was a single locomotive class that consisted of only V56. It was built as the shunter for the Jolimont Workshops to move the suburban sets through the washdocks. It had a top speed of 16 km/h although it was limited to 1 km/h when shunting through the washdock. Other moves were made at 3 - 5 km/h. The speed limit of 16 km/h did not pose a problem in operation.

The locomotive features a 40 hp Fordson tractor engine which drove four hydraulic motors. It was the smallest locomotive owned by the VR and later the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Buffers and autocouplers were fitted to allow it to couple up to screw coupled stock (Swing Door trains or Tait trains) or Knuckle coupled stock (Harris trains, Hitachi trains). For coupling to the Comeng trains, a conversion coupler was required. This attached to the Comeng 'multi function' coupler and converted it to a temporary knuckle coupling.

The locomotive was originally painted in a bright red with a black under frame, before receiving the Victorian railways blue and yellow paint scheme. In the early 80s it would repainted into Metropolitan Transit Authority green and gold livery which it currently remains in.

Locomotives

Preservation

V56 was retired by the early 1980s with the closure of Jolimont Workshops. during the late 1990s, V 56 was used at the Steamrail Depot, Newport for small shunting moves. Currently V56 is on static display at Newport Railway Museum.

References

1. AUSTRALIAN FLEETBOOKS NO. 1 V/LINE LOCOMOTIVES. Railmac Publications. 1992. ISBN 9780949817761.
2. ^ "VICSIG V class". Retrieved 13 May 2012.
3. ^ "Peter J. Vincent: V class". Retrieved 13 May 2012.
4. "V - Washdock Shunter". pjv101.net. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
5. "Vicrailways – V class". Retrieved 13 May 2012.
6. ^ "Victorian Railways". www.victorianrailways.net. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
7. "Diesel – Newport Railway Museum". Retrieved 8 October 2024.
8. "Diesel – Newport Railway Museum". Retrieved 8 October 2024.
9. "Museum Collection – Newport Railway Museum". Retrieved 6 February 2022.

• Victorian Railways diesel locomotives
• Diesel–hydraulic locomotives of Australia
• Broad gauge locomotives in Australia
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1959
• Shunting locomotives