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.
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.
These locomotives were introduced to service in 1952/53.
They are basically an EMD F3 unit but with a cab each end and C-C trucks.
The loco numbers were B 60 - B 85.
They ran mainline trains of all types.
Many of them ran to over 1,000,000 miles in service.
In the mid 1980's, eleven units were rebuilt to 2300hp and reclassed _A__ with the same numbers retained.
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.
Following West Coast's ceasing operations in 2004, most of the B class was sold to CFCLA to be refurbished and returned to service
VR's first mainline diesel, the B class were seen all over the state and in every type of service, only the lightest branchlines could not handle them. For most of their lives they were utilised to the max. resulting in very high mileages being run in a very short space of time. (By December 1954 they were averaging 2,630 miles per week)
Until the late 70's they were the only locos used on Bendigo passenger trains. They ran in "jet" service (Adelaide interstate freights) until the late 70's and were also common power on The Overland. They never ran on the Standard Gauge except for a few weeks in 1975 when B 60 was put on the SG to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Harold Clapp. In many ways they were VR's best known and best loved diesel loco. Even now a few are still in service for new operators.
All of the B's were built at Clyde's Granville N.S.W. plant
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B61 In SSR Livery.jpg |
B61 in WCR livery.jpg |
B65 in WCR freight Livery.jpg |
B72 in Undercoat.JPG.jpg |
B72 un painted.jpg |
B75 in VR Livery.jpg |
B76 in CFCLA Livery.JPG.jpg |
B76 in WCR livery.jpg |
B80 in Murrylander Livery with WCR on the side.jpg |
B80 in Murrylander Livery.jpg |
B83 In VR Livery.jpg |
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