E class electric locomotives
Melbourne's electrification had not been in service for long when it was decided to build 2 small electric locos (1100 & 1101) of a "steeple cab" design ABOVE, for suburban goods service. Five years later a further 10 electric locos (1102 - 1111) were constructed to a "box cab" design BELOW. These locos shared much mechanical and electrical equipment with Tait suburban trains. 1922 VR correspondence refers to the class a "E class" it appears that until 1955 they were simply known as "Electric Locos" with the introduction of the L class electrics they were classed as "E class" The later E's were commonly called "Black locos" or "Electric chairs" by Enginemen. Rail enthusiasts were fond of calling them "Butterboxes"
| Road # |
In service
|
Withdrawn | Disposition | Color schemes | Notes |
| 1100 |
7/1923
|
1954 | scrapped 1955 | Black | |
| 1101 |
8/1923
|
1954 | scrapped 1955 | Black | |
| E 1102 |
22/12/1928
|
03/1983 | preserved ARHS museum | Black - vrb | |
| E 1103 |
21/06/1929
|
3/6/1980 | scrapped | Black - vrb | |
| E 1104 |
14/07/1929
|
1/9/1980 | scrapped June 1981 | Black - vrb | |
| E 1105 |
31/07/1929
|
28/12/1980 | scrapped | Black - vrb | |
| E 1106 |
1929
|
to Steamrail, stored | Black - vrb | ||
| E 1107 |
10/09/1929
|
1981 | scrapped | Black - vrb | |
| E 1108 |
01/10/1929
|
Oct. 1981 | to Steamrail, stored | Black - vrb | |
| E 1109 |
1929
|
to Steamrail, under restoration | Black - vrb | ||
| E 1110 |
12/11/1929
|
July 1982 | scrapped | Black - vrb | |
| E 1111 |
10/12/1929
|
1981 | scrapped | Black - vrb |
Until 1965 the E's were painted black, in April 1965 approval was given to paint the remaining E's in blue and gold. No E's made it into V/Line orange.
Oct. 1955 VR newsletter states that the 2 steeple cabs are to be scrapped as their underframes are not suitable for conversion to auto couplers.
The E's were quite a significant loco in that they were the first locomotive VR ever built that wasn't a steam loco.
Feb 3 1955 application of letter "E"
Jan 12 1955 approval given to remove trip gear
April 12 1965 approval to be painted blue/gold
June 20 1967 E's to remain at Jolimont and mannned by ERD drivers until hump built
All of the E's were built by the Victorian Railways.
ABOVE & BELOW: 1101 at Flinders St yard, circa 1925, photo courtesy PROV
ABOVE: Electric loco 1100 on a down goods at Elsternwick. This photo was taken sometime between 1923 (electric locos 1100 and 1101 introduced) and July 1926 (2 position signals at Elsternwick abolished). Judging by the presence of the well dressed gentlemen on the loco I would guess this is some sort of test run so it could be safely assumed that 1100 is quite new.
Some notes from Des Jowett: The shot of the Dive Bomber 1100 at Elsternwick may be one of the test trains. On 6-8-24 a 586 ton train ran, and the next day a 34 vehicle train. They are written up in "The Argus" of 8-8-24. Interestingly they were apparently built for one man operation and were never ever provided with a seat for the Loco Assistant - only a portable stool. They were fitted with a GE C 90E Controller (the others had a C 90F) which had dead mans button similar to the reds and looked like a larger version of them. When I used to ride them on the Caulfield goods 1950-52, the buttons were still there but flat on top of the handle with no spring pressure. The Jolimont Branch meeting of 9-11-23 received news from the Dept that a second man would be provided and Fireman Rochester was acting as Loco Assistant. Read about it in The Footplate for Nov/Dec 1923 p287 The Electrical Engineering Branch Corres in 1923 at the P.R.O. re the tests in Flinders St yard call them E class, but this was soon knocked on the head and PJV has corres refs. to them to remaining unclassed. They were pretty noisy as the crew sat in with the contactors and dynamotor without any proper cab. In winter to keep warm they used to run them on a grid notch, rather than full series or series parallel, to use the grids as a radiator.
ABOVE 1103 approximately 10 years after being built, the electric headlights were an early addition, note the presence of the trip apparatus. official VR photo.
ABOVE: E 1104 at Flinders Street yard . Jan. 4 1977 Photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent
ABOVE: E 1105 at Jolimont, July 22 1967, photo courtesy Des Jowett.
ABOVE: E 1108 at Jolimont yard, July 22 1967. Photo courtesy Des Jowett.
BELOW: The following 5 photos show two Es under construction.1928 (PROV photos)
ABOVE & BELOW: show interior views of one of the steeplecabs Official VR photographs
BELOW: E 1104, still in black, on an up Frankston goods near Parkdale. July 24 1968. Photo courtesy Des Jowett.
ABOVE: E 1102 on the Warragul yard pilot, Jul 16 1963. Photo cortesy Des Jowett
BELOW: E 1102 "as preserved" at the Nth Williamstown railway museum.
