VIC C Class Locomotives
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Hotbox Content Victorian Railways C Class Locomotives
The C class locomotives were purchased by Victorian Railways for heavy freight haulage and are a variant of the WAGR L class, featuring safety cabs. The first four were used on the North East line (Melbourne to Albury), while the remaining six operated on the broad gauge Serviceton line. After infrastructure upgrades, they also ran on the Ballarat-Geelong line and from Melbourne to Adelaide starting in 1982.
On 3 August 1979, C505 and C506 successfully completed a trial through-run to Adelaide, eliminating the need for border locomotive changes. This led to regular through-running starting on 12 November. In September 1988, two C class locomotives were transferred to the standard gauge to operate to Sydney.
When the Melbourne-Adelaide railway underwent gauge conversion, all broad gauge units were converted to standard gauge and used on the Melbourne-Parkes route until the line reopened in July 1995. In June 1995, the units were transferred to National Rail, and by 1997, most were in storage before being moved to Adelaide.
In August 1999, two were repainted in National Rail livery for Melbourne shunting. C501 went to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, while the other nine were sold to Allco Rail, later leased to Pacific National and Silverton Rail as Cs class. Following Allco's collapse, three went to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, and six to Greentrains in 2008, all returning to their original identities.
In April 2016, six Greentrains units were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad, stored at South Dynon, and later moved to Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park. As of February 2024, all ten C class locomotives are operational, with C502-C510 owned by SSR as of January 2025.
The C class locomotives were purchased by Victorian Railways for heavy freight haulage and are a variant of the WAGR L class, featuring safety cabs. The first four were used on the North East line (Melbourne to Albury), while the remaining six operated on the broad gauge Serviceton line. After infrastructure upgrades, they also ran on the Ballarat-Geelong line and from Melbourne to Adelaide starting in 1982.
On 3 August 1979, C505 and C506 successfully completed a trial through-run to Adelaide, eliminating the need for border locomotive changes. This led to regular through-running starting on 12 November. In September 1988, two C class locomotives were transferred to the standard gauge to operate to Sydney.
When the Melbourne-Adelaide railway underwent gauge conversion, all broad gauge units were converted to standard gauge and used on the Melbourne-Parkes route until the line reopened in July 1995. In June 1995, the units were transferred to National Rail, and by 1997, most were in storage before being moved to Adelaide.
In August 1999, two were repainted in National Rail livery for Melbourne shunting. C501 went to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, while the other nine were sold to Allco Rail, later leased to Pacific National and Silverton Rail as Cs class. Following Allco's collapse, three went to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, and six to Greentrains in 2008, all returning to their original identities.
In April 2016, six Greentrains units were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad, stored at South Dynon, and later moved to Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park. As of February 2024, all ten C class locomotives are operational, with C502-C510 owned by SSR as of January 2025.
