V/Line P class

V/Line P class

Industry	Railway locomotives
Predecessor	Victorian Railways T class
Founded	1984
Headquarters	Somerton , Australia
Products	Diesel-electric locomotives

The P class diesel locomotives were conversions of Victorian Railways T class units, undertaken by Clyde Engineering at Somerton for V/Line during 1984–1985.

History

The P class emerged from a program to upgrade the initial series of Victorian Railways T class locomotives, aiming to enhance V/Line's passenger fleet in the early 1980s. This transformation involved fitting a redesigned cab and carbody, swapping the original EMD 8-567C engine for an EMD 8-645E model, improving the main generator and traction motors, and adding a head end power (HEP) generator to supply electricity for the then-new H type passenger cars. Thirteen locomotives were refurbished at Clyde Engineering's Somerton workshop.

At first, P class units mainly operated in push-pull configuration with H type carriages or ran solo on lighter train services. They also occasionally handled freight duties, utilizing the HEP system to power refrigerated container loads.

By September 2017, V/Line phased out all P class locomotives from regular passenger operations, replacing them with the contemporary VLocity diesel multiple units. In 2019, Southern Shorthaul Railroad (SSR) purchased five P class units from V/Line; these locomotives were initially adorned with SSR branding and gradually repainted into SSR’s distinctive yellow and black color scheme by late 2023.

Up until November 2024, V/Line kept three P class locomotives (P12, P13, and P15) as reserve and available-for-hire engines. Following this period, SSR acquired P12 and P15, while preservation organization 707 Operations took ownership of P13—signifying the conclusion of V/Line’s possession of this class. As of 2025, three P class locomotives remain stored at Ettamogah Rail Hub; two have been leased to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC), where they were restored to operation and repainted in the classic Victorian Railways blue and yellow livery. SRHC also secured P19 for preservation purposes. Furthermore, Pacific National donated P20 to 707 Operations in January 2024 for conservation.

Status table

Key:	In Service	Stored	Preserved	Converted	Under Overhaul	Scrapped

Locomotive	Pre-conversion	Entered service (T)	Re-entered service (P)	Owner(s)	Current livery	Current status	Gauge	Notes
P11	T336	9 May 1956	5 June 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)	V/Line Mk3	Active as North Bendigo shunter	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Operated final V/Line Sunbury passenger and Leongatha freight trains
P12	T329	18 June 1956	7 June 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2024)	V/Line Mk3	In operation	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Participated in 707 Operations charter with R707 & P15 on 26 November 2023
P13	T340	30 October 1956	10 July 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), 707 Operations (2024)	V/Line Mk2	Preserved status	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) standard gauge	Ownership transferred to 707 Operations November 2024
P14	T330	2 July 1956	1 August 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)	SSR Yellow and Black	Operational	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P15	T344	9 December 1956	22 October 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2024)	V/Line Mk3	Active service	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Ran charter for 707 Operations with R707 & P12 on 26 December 2023
P16	T332	22 July 1956	23 November 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)	SSR Yellow and Black	In service	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P17	T327	28 May 1956	19 December 1984	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)	SSR Yellow and Black	Operational	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
P18	T339	7 October 1956	15 February 1985	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Passenger (1995), Southern Shorthaul Railroad (2019)	SSR Yellow and Black	Active service	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge	Operated final V/Line Leongatha and Sunbury passenger trains
P19	T331	2 July 1956	26 March 1985	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), Pacific National (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015), Seymour Railway Heritage Centre(2025)	Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos	Stored	1,600 mm broad gauge	Acquired by SRHC for preservation February 2025
P20	T337	23 September 1956	29 May 1985	V/Line (Rebuilt), V/Line Freight (1995), FV/FA (1999/2000), Pacific National(2004), 707 Operations(2023)	V/Line Orange and Grey	Preserved – Operational	1,600 mm broad gauge	Fitted with revolving quartz halogen lights. Donated to 707 Operations in 2023; returned to service on 14 September 2024.
P21	T338	23 September 1956	27 June 1985	V/Line(Rebuilt), V/Line Freight(1995), FV/FA(1999/2000), Pacific National(2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub(2015)	Freight Australia Green and Yellow with Pacific National Logos	Stored	1,600 mm broad gauge
P22	T328	18 June 1956	11 September 1985	V/Line(Rebuilt), V/Line Freight(1995), FV/FA(1999/2000), Pacific National(2004), Seymour Rail Heritage Centre(2015), Ettamogah Rail Hub(2024)	VR Blue and Gold	Operational	1,435 mm standard gauge
P23	T326	28 May 1956	11 September 1985	V/Line(Rebuilt), V/Line Freight(1995), FV/FA(1999/2000), Pacific National(2004), Seymour Rail Heritage Centre(2015), Ettamogah Rail Hub(2024)	VR Blue and Gold	Operational	1,600 mm broad gauge