The 10 C class were the last locos delivered in VR's classic blue and gold color scheme, they were also VR's first turbocharged locos. Mechanically they were an SD40 (not SD40-2) When introduced their weight meant that they were very restricted as to the lines they could run over. C 501 - 504 were put on the SG running between Melbourne and Albury,C 505 - 510 were kept on BG and ran Melbourne to Serviceton interstate express freights. On 3/8/1979 C 505 and C 506 operated a freight all the way from Melbourne to Adelaide thus ushering in through working of locos between Victoria and South Australia. Upon the formation of National Rail all of the C class were transfered to National Rail (1995) where they ran for a little while before they were removed from traffic due to the arrival of the NR class locos. 2 C's (505 & 508) were later re-issued to traffic as NR shunters in Melbourne

Over the years the C's underwent many external and internal changes including:

• extra handrail near turbo on firemans side
• radio equipped stickers and aerials
• widened coupler pocket
• Brakepipe and Main reservoir pipe bifuricated
• Fixed jumper cables
• Full width handrails on short end
• Airconditioned
• Long end wipers
• Staff exchanger removal
• Harmon fuel saver devices fitted

Click on the color schemes for a photo.