X class d/e locomotives


X class diesel electric locomotives
X class diesel electric locomotives			MODEL: G16C/G26C

ABOVE: X 31 at Sth Dynon loco, Sept 19 1981.

There were three distinct series of X's. X's 31 to 36 and 37 to 44 were built at Clyde's Granville N.S.W. plant X 45 to 54 were built at Clyde's Rosewater S.A. plant All X's were included in the sale of VR (PTC) to Freight Victoria.

Until 1983 all of the X's wore the VR blue and gold paint scheme, after this time the X's were painted in several different schemes as outlined below.

1st Series X class

DIAGRAM

G16C
Road #	Serial #	In service	KM at Jan. 1998	Disposition	Color schemes	Notes
X 31	66 - 484	16/8/1966	4,976,047	to F.V. to SRHC	vrb - vlo(7/1988) - fag - vrb	preserved
X 32	66 - 485	8/9/1966	4,788,021	to F.V.	vrb - vlo(12/1983) r/b to 3000HP by FA (XR 555)
X 33	66 - 486	24/9/1966	4,331,309	to F.V.	vrb - vlo(7/1986) - fag r/b to 3000HP by FA (XR 553)
X 34	66 - 487	6/10/1966	5,184,287	to F.V.	vrb - vlo(2/1986) r/b to 3000HP by FA (XR 554)
X 35	66 - 488	4/11/1966	3,702,300	to F.V.	vrb - vlo(10/1984) r/b to 3000HP by FA (XR 551)
X 36	66 - 489	15/11/1966	4,136,911	to F.V.	vrb - vlo(12/1987) - fag	scrapped 2015

ABOVE: X 32 at Long Island junction, July 1988.

ABOVE: X 33 at Sth Dynon loco 1978.

ABOVE: X 34 at Sth Dynon loco, Aug 1984

ABOVE: X 35 at Sth Dynon loco, Oct 14 1984

BELOW, X 36 at West Footscray, 1978

The first series of X class were basically an S class in a completely redesigned carbody. They had a single set of controls that were set up for the long end to lead, in fact the long end was the No. 1 end. To run short end leading the driver had the brake valves and speedo behind him which could make driving them uncomfortable.

Over the years most if not all X's were put on the standard gauge for various lengths of time. On broad gauge they were common sights on interstate "Jets" and did a lot of long distance passenger working. They were common on all of the named trains, Aurora, Spirit, Daylight, Overland and the Vinelander. About the only mainlines they didn't run over much were the Gippsland line and until the late 70's, the Bendigo line. (The B class were pretty much the sole passenger power on the Bendigo line until the late 70's)

X 31 spent practically all of its first 20 years on the SG. The main reason for this was that as delivered Clyde had botched the design of the opening for the staff exchanger and they could not get it to work, not until it finally came off the SG in the mid 80's did Newport fix the problem. This info came from viewing official departmental correspondence, NOT from "word of mouth"

X 33 was involved in a very serious head on collision near Broadford loop on Jan. 5 1967. It was so badly damaged it had to be returned to Clyde for rebuilding.

X 35 had a rather sad career as it was involved in a frame bending level crossing smash at Glenorchy in 1971 in which it hit a loaded gravel truck at high speed and then fell off a bridge that was close to the level crossing. It was repaired but its bent frame meant that aligning the engine to the generator was an almost impossible task according to a shop foreman at Sth. Dynon. Years later it was involved in a fairly serious side swipe.

ABOVE: X 35 lies in the floodplain of the Wimmera river near Glenorchy after hitting a gravel truck whilst running the afternoon Dimboola to Spencer Street pass. 1971

ABOVE: Roof view of X 32 showing original position of the exhausts.

ABOVE: X 36 at Ballarat loco depot, Sep 1984

2nd Series X class

DIAGRAM

G26C
Road #	Serial #	In service	Withdrawn	Service life	Disposition	Color schemes	Notes
X 37	70 - 700	8/4/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 38	70 - 701	8/5/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag	r/b to 3000HP by FA (XR 550)
X 39	70 - 702	28/5/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag	scrapped May 2019
X 40	70 - 703	26/6/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag	r/b to 3000HP by FA (XR 552)
X 41	70 - 704	17/7/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag	scrapped Apr 2019
X 42	70 - 705	7/8/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo	scrapped Apr 2019
X 43	70 - 706	21/8/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag	scrapped June 2019
X 44	70 - 707	11/9/1970	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo	scrapped June 2019

ABOVE: X 37 as delivered from Clyde at Sth Dynon. 1970

ABOVE: X 39 at Sth Dynon loco, 1978.

ABOVE: X 41 at Bendigo, 1977

BELOW: X 44 at Sth Dynon loco Oct 10 1981.

The 2nd series of X class boasted a 645 engine, a much more modern engine than the 567's that were in the first series. Outwardly they were almost a carbon copy of the earlier X's, the main difference being larger radiators needed because of the newer engine.

Over the years it has been reported that X 37 and X 38 were built with parts from S 314 and S 316 that were destroyed in the Southern Aurora crash in 1969. It is time to set the record straight. The original order was for 6 X's but after the Aurora crash VR felt that they needed to replace the 2 wrecked S class. According to official VR correspondence X 37 and X 38 are shown as "rebuilds" this was because the budget for the original order of 6 X's had already been set aside. The money for the additional 2 X's presumeably coming from operating expenses. Correspondence with Clyde verifies that no parts were used from the S class and personal checking showed that the serial numbers on major components were consecutive for the whole class. So whilst it is true that X 37 and X 38 were "replacements" for the wrecked S class they were built as 100% new locomotives.

Recently Freight Australia has rebuilt X 38 with a 3000HP turbocharged engine, Dec 2001

ABOVE: X 44 at Sth Dynon loco depot, Jan. 1 1985

ABOVE: X 37 at Sth Dynon, June 2003

ABOVE: X 37 in Freight Victoria paint scheme, Sth Dynon, March 18 2007

ABOVE: X 41 in Pacific National paint scheme, Sth Dynon March 18 2007

ABOVE: Drivers control stand on X 37 when brand new.

3rd Series X class

DIAGRAM

G26C
Road #	Serial #	In service	Withdrawn	Service life	Disposition	Color schemes	Notes
X 45	75 - 792	12/11/1975	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 46	75 - 793	4/12/1975	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 47	75 - 794	24/12/1975	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fvg - fag	doo cab
X 48	75 - 795	25/1/1976	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 49	75 - 796	18/2/1976	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fvg - fag
X 50	75 - 797	11/3/1976	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 51	75 - 798	1/4/1976	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 52	75 - 799	29/4/1976	.	.	to F.V.	vrb - vlo - fag
X 53	75 - 800	19/5/1976	.	.	to F.V. to QRN	vrb - vlo - fag	Scrapped
X 54	75 - 801	14/6/1976	.	.	to F.V. to QRN	vrb - vlo

A "new X" under construction at Clyde's Rosewater SA plant.

ABOVE: X 45 at Mile End loco depot S.A. prior to its delivery run to Victoria. (photo courtesy Douglas Colquhoun)

ABOVE: X 53 at Sth Dynon loc, Jan 1 1985

ABOVE: X 47 just after delivery. (photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent)

ABOVE: X 48 at West Footscray, 1977.

The 3rd series of X's were instantly known as "new X's" by railfans and enginemen alike. They featured a much improved cab but they could only run short end leading, reducing their versatility. Mechanically they were almost identical to the 2nd series X's except they were fitted with a AR10 alternator. The "new X's" also ushered in the 26L brake to the Victorian Railways. They saw their main use on interstate jets and interstate passenger trains where their single direction cab was not a handicap. About half of the "new X's" lived on the standard gauge for extended periods of time. They were the first VR locos to be used in the through running agreement with NSW

ABOVE: Less than a month old, X 54 rests at Bendigo after sprinting an enthusiast's special from Melbourne, July 3 1976. (photo courtesy Warren Banfield)

ABOVE: X 54 at Sth Dynon loco, 1978

Almost half of the new X's sit around the standard gauge turntable at Sth Dynon. 1979.

BELOW: from a 1975 VR newsletter

ABOVE: In 2001, X 38 underwent a major rebuild. The main feature being the addition of a turbocharger to the 16 cylinder 645 engine which increased the horsepower from 2,000 to 3,000. The horsepower increase required an enlargement of the radiator. The cab was also heavily modified to allow for one man operation. The rebuild has been an outstanding success and more X's are to be modified. X 38 has since been re-classed and renumbered to XR 550 (photo courtesy Greg Dixon)

Following on from the succesful X to XR rebuild program, several more XR's have been built new by Freight Australia/Pacific National