Victorian Railways E class (electric)

Infobox Locomotive
name = Victorian Railways E class

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caption = Original steeplecab locomotive 1101
powertype = Electric - Overhead lines
data for = Victorian Railways E class
builder = VR Newport and Jolimont Workshops
builddate = 1923 - 1929
uicclass = Bo'Bo'
electricsystem = 1.5 kV DC
collectionmethod= Pantograph
tractionmotors = 4x General Electric Type 237A
poweroutput = convert|620|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=2
length = convert|36|ft|4+1/2|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=4 (steeplecab)
convert|39|ft|2+1/2|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=4 (box cab)
wheeldiameter =
weight = convert|50|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=3 (steeplecab)
convert|55|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=3 (box cab)
tractiveeffort = convert|24400|lbf|kN|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=3 (starting)
convert|14160|lbf|kN|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=3 (continuous)
topspeed = 65 km/h (40 mi/h)
gauge = 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

The Victorian Railways E class was a class of electric locomotive that ran on the Victorian Railways from 1923 until 1984. Introduced shortly after the electrification of Melbourne's suburban rail system and based on the same electrical and traction equipment as Melbourne's early suburban electric multiple unit fleet, they provided power for suburban goods services and shunting for six decades.

History

With the rapid expansion of Melbourne's suburban electrification scheme, becoming by 1924 the largest in the world at 346 miles (557 km), [cite web| url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/logos/vradtait.jpg|title=Electrification in Australia |accessdate=2007-04-26] the Victorian Railways decided to utilise the advantages of electric traction for suburban goods services, which until then had been hauled by steam locomotives such as the Y class 0-6-0, E class 2-4-2T and later Dde class 4-6-2T.

In 1923 it introduced two electric locomotives of 620 hp (460 kW), built at VR's Newport and Jolimont Workshops with the same General Electric traction motors and related electrical equipment that had been installed in Melbourne's Tait and Swing Door electric suburban train sets.cite book| author=Oberg, Leon |date=2007 |title=Locomotives of Australia 1854-2007 |publisher=Rosenberg Publishing| page=pp. 181-182 |isbn=1877058548] cite web|url = http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=E&orgstate=V&type=Electric%20(1500V%20DC)| title = VICSIG - Locomotives - E Class Electric (1500V DC)| publisher=vicsig.net |accessdate=2007-05-26]

Production

The first two locomotives were built with a steeplecab-style appearance. Despite their appearance and unlike other steeplecab locomotives, they also included a large amount of the electrical equipment including the dynamotor in the driver's cab.cite book|author=Dee et al |title=Power Parade |publisher=VicRail Public Relations Division |location=Melbourne |year=1981 |isbn= 0-7241-3323-2] The exposure of the driver to this electrical equipment led to them being nicknamed "electric chairs" among drivers.cite web |title=Victorian Railways, Museum Victoria, Australia: Other Electric Locos |url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=502&gall=673 |accessdate=2008-09-08 |publisher=museum.vic.gov.au]

A further ten locomotives were built in 1928-29 with similar electrical equipment, but on a longer frame with enclosed cabs at each end.

Until the later introduction of the L class Co-Co electric locomotives in 1953, these locomotives were simply known as "electric locomotives", there being no others in the VR fleet. With the E class steam locomotives withdrawn by the 1950s, the twelve locomotives took the E class designation to differentiate them from the L class fleet.

Regular service

Upon introduction, the two steeple-cab locomotives proved the superiority of electric traction. They were able to operate together with multiple-unit train control, allowing a single crew to control both as an articulated locomotive with greater tractive effort than the Victorian Railways C class heavy goods locomotive, the most powerful locomotive on the VR at the time.cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854-2004 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing Ltd |date=2007 |isbn= 9780522851342 |page=p.216] Based on their success, suburban goods sidings were rapidly electrified and most suburban goods traffic utilised electric traction. With the electrification of the Gippsland line as far as Traralgon in the 1950s, the range of the E class locomotives was similarly extended and they could be found shunting or hauling services along the line.cite web|url=http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c557m.htm |title=E - 1500VDC Electric Locomotive| publisher=http://www.pjv101.net |accessdate=2008-09-07]

The E class locomotives were originally painted in a plain black livery, matching that of the VR steam locomotive fleet. During the 1960s they were painted in a variation of the blue and gold livery applied to the VR diesel fleet.

Demise

The first two steeplecab locomotives were scrapped in July 1955, deemed uneconomic to upgrade with new electrical and coupling equipment. By this time, the electric locomotive fleet had been substantially expanded with convert|2400|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=3 L class locomotives of a far more modern design.

The box cab E class locomotives continued in service. However, during the 1970s, Victorian Railways conducted detailed studies of goods traffic and found that handling costs made the transport of high rated, small freight items unprofitable. As a result of these studies, rail freight operations were rationalised around block trains carrying bulk freight such as gravel, rice or grain, and suburban goods sidings were closed in favour of road freight service.cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854-2004 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing Ltd |date=2007 |isbn= 9780522851342 |page=p.216] Furthermore, the use of block trains greatly reduced the need for shunting locomotives. These operational changes rendered the ageing E class suburban electric locomotives surplus, and by 1981 scrappings had commenced. The last was withdrawn from service in 1984.

Preservation

Four E class locomotives have survived into preservation. As of May 2007, their disposition is as follows:

*E 1102 is in static preservation at the Australian Railway Historical Society Williamstown Railway Museum, wearing its original black livery
*E 1106 and 1108 are currently stored out of service by Steamrail Victoria
*E 1109 is also in the custody of Steamrail Victoria, and is presently being restored to operating condition

References

External links

* [http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/e/e.html victorianrailways.net E class locomotive page] Details and further photographs of E class locomotives