The H class were added onto the last T class order. Changes made from a standard T class included extra weight added to the frame and the fitting of "manual power control" which allowed low speeds to be set very precisely. Their purpose was to push rakes of wagons up to the summit of the Melbourne hump. They were also fitted with hump cab signals and a special, very accurate speedometer.
The H's rarely strayed far from Melbourne and their hump duties, technically there was always one spare as the hump was operated with 2 H's coupled together. Because of their high axle load ( 20.3 tonnes, heavier than an S or X) they were quite restricted as to the lines they could operate over. By the time that the hump closed in the early 1990's most Victorian tracks had been upgraded for G class operation so the H's operated system wide.
The H's were delivered as T 413 - T417 but were quickly reclassified and renumbered to H 1 - H 5. T 413 and T 414 were delivered with T class number plates, T 415 - T417 were delivered only with T class illuminated number boards
All of the H's were built at Clyde's Granville N.S.W. plant
For pushing operations on the new hump yard, five new engines were ordered.
They were identical to late series T class locomotives of 1000hp but had some differences:
Continuous low speed control
Ballasted to 80 tons
The engines were delivered 1968/1969 as T 413 - 417. Prior to service the locomotives were given a new class - "H".
The units were not "ballasted" as such by external additional weight. The loco frames were made of heavier beams similar in thickness to VR "X" loco frames.
As well as hump duries they occasionally strayed into freight and passenger work depending upon loco shortages.
The class was numbered 1 to 5.
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H1 in FA livery.jpg |
H1_in_Pacific_National_Livery.jpg |
H2 in FA livery.jpg |
H3 in FA livery.jpg |
H4 in FA Livery with PN Logo.jpg |
H4 in FA livery.jpg |
H5 in FA livery.jpg |
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