L class electric locomotives

In the late 1940's a massive project was began to regrade and electrify the line from Melbourne to Traralgon. The impetus for this program was a major expansion of the Morwell coalfields and briquette plant. At this time the VR only had 12 small electric locos so an order was placed with English Electric for mainline electric locos with vastly higher horsepower than the existing E class. The original order was for 17 locos but the order was increased to 25 for the proposed Geelong electrification which of course never eventuated. The first L arrived from England in 1953 but the locos had to wait until the electrification was completed, in the meantime a few ran suburban goods service but most were stored. The L's performed very well on passenger services but due to their light weight were always plagued by wheelslip problems in heavy freight service resulting in their load limits being reduced several times over the years. 

All L's were equipped with automatic staff exchangers, they were removed in the late 1970s. 

All of the L's were built at in England and shipped to Melbourne 

 

ABOVE & BELOW: L 1150 is "as built" condition. Note the lack of illuminated number boards. photos coutesy PROV 

BELOW: L 1150 after almost 30 years of service at Sth Dynon loco 1980. 

 

ABOVE: L 1151 near North Melbourne. (Tony Tuchio photo)

 

ABOVE: L 1155 at Newport workshops, 1979.

ABOVE: L 1160 has just arrived back at Sth Dynon loco after being repainted into the V/Line scheme and prior to being finally fitted out for a return to service. July 1986.

ABOVE: Coming off the pit at Sth Dynon, L 1162 didn't get very far before it had a little entaglement with the overhead wire. July 1981

ABOVE: L 1163 at Sth Dynon loco, 1978. On briqutte trains 2 L's were the normal motive power. This end of 1163 looks like it has been in the middle of two L's thus the muck on the nose and windscreens.

ABOVE & BELOW: L 1163 spectacularly derailed near Darnum on Feb 5 1985. Here we see it being loaded onto a low loader for transport to Newport Workshops. (photos courtesy Noel Bamford)

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: The L's normally carried 2 pantographs but it was by no means unusual for just one "panto" to be installed. In winter instructions were issued for an L with two panto's to be in the lead and in frosty weather the lead loco would have both panto's raised, the front panto would knock the ice off the contact wire and the rear panto would thus be able to make good contact with the contact wire.

ABOVE: L 1171 on a up suburban goods at Heidleberg prior to it recieving its modifications. photo Jan 1967. photo courtesy Alan Eldridge Smith, (SLV)

ABOVE: In 1976, L1171 had its nose lowered, the number boards and marker lights were also re-positioned, no other L recieved this modification. A few years later L 1173 and a few others emerged from Newport with a few less drastic modifications, repositioned whistle and modified marker lights.

BELOW: Overhead view of modified L 1171 circa 1980 Photo courtesy Barry Cooper

 

ABOVE: L 1150 was the only L to be painted in the short lived "Teacup" paint scheme. It is seen here at Traralgon on Dec 31 1982. photo courtesy Peter Enlund   

ABOVE: Unknown L under construction.BELOW: Like most locos, construction commences with the frame upside down to enable easy attachment of parts Both photos courtesy PROV.

 

ABOVE: The drivers controls (PROV photo)

ABOVE: The photo and caption are from the October 1953 VR Newsletter

BELOW: The photo and article below are from the May 1953 VR Newsletter

BELOW: The article below is from the July 1953 VR Newsletter

 

 

 ABOVE: The classleader of the 25 strong electric L class on an up Warragul pass. at Oakleigh. Feb. 1978

ABOVE: L 1155 on a down empty briqutte train passes through caulfield, 1979.