Victorian Railways T class
The T class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways between 1955 and 1968.
History
In July 1954 the Victorian Railways placed an order with Clyde Engineering for 25 diesel electric Electro-Motive Diesel G8 locomotives to partially dieselise country branch lines.In June 1959 the first of an additional ten entered service. Although mechanically similar to the first batch they differed by having a cab raised above the hood line. A further ten entered service from December 1961.
In September 1965 the first of an order for 32 was delivered. These differed by having a lower nose. A final order for 19 was delivered from April 1967. The last five were built with an extra of ballast weight for improved adhesion and low speed controls for use as shunting locomotives in Melbourne. These were reclassified as the H class shortly after being delivered.
In July 1969 an additional flat top unit was purchased second hand from Australian Portland Cement who had ordered it for use at its narrow gauge Fyansford Cement Works Railway, Geelong in 1956. Although outwardly similar to the original T class units it was fitted with dynamic brakes, and became a regular on the steeply graded Cudgewa line.
Although ordered as branch line locomotives, as branch lines began to close they were often used on main line services.
In 1984/85 Martin & King, Somerton rebuilt 13 flat tops as P class locomotives. This involved a new cab and carbody, replacing the EMD 8-567C engine with an EMD 8-645E, replacement of the main generator and traction motors, and provision of a separate head end power generator.
Many were withdrawn in the late 1980s with the arrival of the G class locomotives. In October 1992 six low nose locomotives were sold to Australian National with five entering service as the CK class as shunters and bankers in Adelaide. All were included in the sale of Australian National to Australian Southern Railroad in November 1997. One was resold to SCT Logistics with the remaining four operating on the narrow gauge Eyre Peninsula Railway as at January 2014.
Others were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, El Zorro, Great Northern Rail Services, SCT Logistics, Southern Shorthaul Railroad, and West Coast Railway. A number of T class have been preserved.
Those remaining with V/Line Freight were included in the sale to Freight Australia and in 2000 some stored examples were reactivated and fitted with standard gauge bogies to haul grain services in southern New South Wales. These passed with the Freight Australia business to Pacific National in August 2004.
Subtypes
The class can be divided into three main styles by appearance:- Flat tops: T320-T346. Based on Electro-Motive Diesel G8 locomotive design, this order had a low cab and roof.
- High cabs: T347-T356 and T357-T366. They differed from the flat tops by having a high cab but were mechanically similar. The 3rd order had an altered radiator design.
- Low nose: T367-T386, T387-T396, T397-T406 and T407 to T417. The fourth order introduced a new low nose that provided greater driver visibility, and a more modern generator. The sixth order introduced the newer EMD 645E engine, replacing the older EMD 567 used before.
- * The H class diesel electric locomotive were part of the seventh T class order but renumbered shortly after delivery.
- T413: Built in 1956 for the narrow gauge Fyansford Cement Works Railway, Geelong as D1, it was sold to Victorian Railways, renumbered T413 and had its footplates replaced with similar ones to those already on their pre-existing Ts.
- T414: Built in November 1956 as DE02 for BHP, was used at their Iron Knob and Whyalla Steelworks. Was not included in Morrison-Knudsen rebuild program like the rest of the class. In 2006 it was sold to SCT Logistics and rebuilt with a cab similar to those on the fourth and fifth generation Ts, and renumbered T414.
Status table
Locomotive | Entered service | Withdrawn | Scrapped | Livery | Current status | Name | Owner | Gauge | Notes |
T320 | Tuesday, 2 August 1955 | May 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Victrack Heritage | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Allocated to ARHS, sub-allocated to SRHC | ||
T321 | Monday, 22 August 1955 | May 1986 | February 1990 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T322 | Monday, 12 September 1955 | May 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Sold | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Bob White Electrix | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Sold as stationary generator | ||
T323 | Monday, 26 September 1955 | May 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Sold | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Bob White Electrix | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Sold as stationary generator | ||
T324 | Monday, 28 November 1955 | May 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Sold | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Bob White Electrix | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Sold as stationary generator | ||
T325 | Monday, 19 December 1955 | May 1986 | May 1989 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T326 | Monday, 28 May 1956 | May 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt as P23 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T327 | Monday, 28 May 1956 | December 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt as P17 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T328 | Monday, 18 June 1956 | September 1985 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P22 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T329 | Monday, 18 June 1956 | June 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P12 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T330 | Monday, 2 July 1956 | August 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P14 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T331 | Monday, 2 July 1956 | March 1985 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P19 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T332 | Sunday, 22 July 1956 | November 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P16 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T333 | Sunday, 22 July 1956 | July 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Victorian Goldfields Railway | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T334 | Sunday, 19 August 1956 | December 1989 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Mornington Railway Preservation Society | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Was Ozride pink locomotive | ||
T335 | Sunday, 19 August 1956 | May 1989 | 1989 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T336 | Wednesday, 9 May 1956 | May 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P11 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T337 | Sunday, 23 September 1956 | May 1985 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P20 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T338 | Sunday, 23 September 1956 | June 1985 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P21 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T339 | Sunday, 7 October 1956 | February 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P18 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T340 | Tuesday, 30 October 1956 | July 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P13 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T341 | Sunday, 4 November 1956 | May 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Out of Traffic - Overhaul | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T342 | Sunday, 11 November 1956 | September 1989 | VR Blue and Gold | Under restoration | VR, VicRail, V/Line, APM Maryvale, GSRS t/as Victorian Railways | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T343 | Sunday, 9 December 1956 | May 1986 | VR Blue and Gold | Sold | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Bob White Electrix | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Sold as stationary generator | ||
T344 | Sunday, 9 December 1956 | October 1984 | VR Blue and Gold | Rebuilt - P15 | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T345 | Sunday, 23 December 1956 | SCT Red, White and Black | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail, SCT | 1,435 mm standard gauge | Laverton SCT Shunter | |||
T346 | Sunday, 23 December 1956 | May 1986 | May 1989 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T347 | Monday, 22 June 1959 | March 1988 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T348 | Wednesday, 15 July 1959 | June 1988 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Engine upgraded to EMD 8-645E, mid-1980s | |
T349 | Monday, 3 August 1959 | August 1988 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T350 | Monday, 24 August 1959 | May 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T351 | Monday, 14 September 1959 | September 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T352 | Tuesday, 29 September 1959 | June 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T353 | Monday, 19 October 1959 | May 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T354 | Monday, 9 November 1959 | October 1988 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T355 | Monday, 30 November 1959 | June 1988 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T356 | Monday, 14 December 1959 | December 1988 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Victrack Heritage | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Allocated to Steamrail Victoria | ||
T357 | Thursday, 14 December 1961 | December 1988 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Victrack Heritage | 1,435 mm standard gauge | Allocated to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre | ||
T358 | Friday, 22 December 1961 | March 1989 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T359 | Thursday, 8 February 1962 | March 1989 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T360 | Friday, 23 February 1962 | November 1989 | 1993 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Rebuilt with low-nose cab following incident at Portland | |
T361 | Thursday, 8 March 1962 | March 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T362 | Monday, 19 March 1962 | August 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T363 | Monday, 2 April 1962 | SSR Yellow and Black | In service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, West Coast Railway, Southern Shorthaul Railroad | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T364 | Tuesday, 24 April 1962 | June 1989 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Victrack Heritage | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Allocated to Steamrail Victoria | ||
T365 | Monday, 7 May 1962 | November 1988 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T366 | Monday, 21 May 1962 | May 1988 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T367 | Monday, 10 February 1964 | September 1989 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Preserved - Static | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Victrack Heritage | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Allocated to ARHS museum, North Williamstown | ||
T368 | Wednesday, 26 February 1964 | July 1992 | Unknown | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T369 | Thursday, 12 March 1964 | CFCLA Silver and Blue | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, West Coast Railway, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T370 | Wednesday, 25 March 1964 | Unknown | Unknown | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T371 | Monday, 13 April 1964 | PN Blue and Yellow | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,435 mm standard gauge | ||||
T372 | Thursday, 14 May 1964 | September 1989 | Unknown | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T373 | Thursday, 28 May 1964 | CFCLA Silver and Blue | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail Services, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T374 | Tuesday, 9 June 1964 | January 2015 | 2015 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Scrapped at North Geelong | |
T375 | Wednesday, 24 June 1964 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Preserved - Static | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Privately Owned | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Displayed at either Echuca or Torumbarry | ||
T376 | Thursday, 9 July 1964 | CFCLA Silver and Blue | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail Services, Southern Shorthaul Railroad, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T377 | Thursday, 30 July 1964 | CFCLA Silver and Blue | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail Services, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T378 | Tuesday, 11 August 1964 | June 1990 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Seymour Railway Heritage Centre | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Engine upgraded to EMD 8-645E, mid-1980s | ||
T379 | Tuesday, 25 August 1964 | PN Blue and Yellow | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,435 mm standard gauge | ||||
T380 | Wednesday, 9 September 1964 | November 1990 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T381 | Wednesday, 23 September 1964 | SSR Yellow and Black | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail Services, Southern Shorthaul Railroad | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T382 | Saturday, 3 October 1964 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved-operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail Services, Seymour Railway Heritage Centre | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T383 | Thursday, 15 October 1964 | Cootes Green and Yellow | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Great Northern Rail Services, Rail Technical Services, Greentrains Pty Ltd | 1,435 mm standard gauge | ||||
T384 | Thursday, 29 October 1964 | July 1992 | Unknown | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T385 | Saturday, 14 November 1964 | SSR Yellow and Black | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, West Coast Railway, Southern Shorthaul Railroad | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T386 | Thursday, 26 November 1964 | SSR Yellow and Black | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, El Zorro, Southern Shorthaul Railroad | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Officially scrapped 1996, parts sold to Ray Evans, rebuilt for El Zorro | |||
T387 | Saturday, 4 September 1965 | CFCLA Silver and Blue | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Yorke Peninsula Railway, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, 707 Operations | 1,435 mm standard gauge | Ex Yorke Peninsula Tourist Railway. Sold to 707 Operations for future standard gauge tours. | |||
T388 | Saturday, 25 September 1965 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN, Seymour Rail Heritage | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T389 | Saturday, 9 October 1965 | August 1989 | Unknown | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T390 | Tuesday, 26 October 1965 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,435 mm standard gauge | ||||
T391 | Friday, 5 November 1965 | September 1989 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T392 | Tuesday, 16 November 1965 | PN Blue and Yellow | In Service | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Converted from standard gauge to broad gauge in June 2019 | |||
T393 | Thursday, 25 November 1965 | June 1992 | July 1996 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T394 | Saturday, 4 December 1965 | June 1989 | July 1996 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T395 | Tuesday, 14 December 1965 | February 1992 | Steamrail Blue and Gold | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Steamrail Victoria | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Has full length hand rails | ||
T396 | Thursday, 23 December 1965 | January 2015 | 2015 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Scrapped at North Geelong | |
T397 | Saturday, 3 December 1966 | June 1992 | Unknown | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T398 | Thursday, 15 December 1966 | June 1989 | March 1992 | VR Blue and Gold | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T399 | Saturday, 1 April 1967 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN, Seymour Rail Heritage Centre | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T400 | Thursday, 13 April 1967 | 2019 | June 2019 | PN Blue and Yellow | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Scrapped at South Dynon in June 2019. | |
T401 | Friday, 28 April 1967 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Rebuilt - CK1 | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Australian National, Genesee and Wyoming Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T402 | Saturday, 20 May 1967 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN, Seymour Rail Heritage Centre | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||||
T403 | Friday, 2 June 1967 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Sold - 1992 | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Australian National | 1,600 mm broad gauge | Sold to AN for spare parts for CK class locos rebuilds. | ||
T404 | Thursday, 22 June 1967 | SCT Red White and Black | In Service | Mick Smith | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Australian National, SCT | 1,435 mm standard gauge | Adelaide SCT Shunter | ||
T405 | Monday, 3 July 1967 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Rebuilt - CK3 | 1,600 mm broad gauge | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Australian National, Genesee and Wyoming Australia | |||
T406 | Thursday, 13 July 1967 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Rebuilt - CK4 | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Australian National, Genesee and Wyoming Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T407 | Wednesday, 27 September 1967 | July 1992 | V/Line Orange and grey | Rebuilt - CK5 | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Australian National, Genesee and Wyoming Australia | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T408 | Friday, 11 October 1968 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Stored | Pacific National - Rural and Bulk | 1,435 mm standard gauge | ||||
T409 | Sunday, 20 October 1968 | Freight Australia Green and Yellow with PN Logos | Stored | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight, FV/FA, PN | 1,435 mm standard gauge | ||||
T410 | Sunday, 3 November 1968 | July 1992 | July 1996 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line, V/Line Freight | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
T411 | Friday, 15 November 1968 | July 1992 | Mornington Railway Blue and Goldd | Preserved - Operational | VR, VicRail, V/Line, Mornington Railway Preservation Society | 1,600 mm broad gauge | |||
T412 | Monday, 25 November 1968 | September 1989 | March 1992 | V/Line Orange and Grey | Scrapped | VR, VicRail, V/Line | 1,600 mm broad gauge | ||
D1 / T413 | 1956 | December 1987 | VR Blue and Gold | Preserved | Steve Gibson | Australian Portland Cement, VR, VicRail, V/Line, T413 Preservation group/Plan R/707 operations inc | 1,600 mm broad gauge | The first heritage diesel in Victoria to be fitted with ICE radio. | |
DE02 / T414 | November 1956 | SCT Red, White and Black | In Service | Georgia McKinnon | 1,435 mm standard gauge | Adelaide SCT Shunter |
Model Railways
HO scale
Since 2005, various plastic, ready-to-run models of the T Class series of engines have been available.Flat-top engines
Bendigo Rail Models, selling through Auscision, released a model of the first series T Class locomotive in 2013. The first release was exclusively locomotives in the VR Blue livery, with variants for the periods 1955–1957, 1957-1970 and 1970–1980, and in both weathered and clean versions. All locomotives were fitted with full-depth valences; these effectively hid components which would later be made visible with the release of the P Class engines. In late 2015, a second run of the engines was produced, this time with mostly cutaway valance types and in many more schemes.Locomotive | T320-T346, 413 |
Bendigo Rail Models 1st Release | T320-327, 331–333, 335, 338, 340, 341, 346, 413 all VR |
Bendigo Rail Models 2nd Release | T321, 333, 342, 345, 413 VR, also 413 as preserved; 345 GNR, 342 APM Yellow, 334 OzRide, 342 El Zorro, 345 SCT. |
High and low-nose engines
Austrains released the first ready-to-run plastic model of the T Class diesel locomotive in late 2005, following the successful release of their X Class range of locomotives. The original price point was $239.00 per engine. The run was announced as just Series 2 and 3 locomotives in VR Blue, V/Line orange and CK locomotives in AN Green. Later announcements expanded the range to include some engines in Freight Australia green, H Class engines, and in 2007, a run of West Coast Railway locomotives. The latter of these were offered at $120.00 each, partially because of an error at the design stage where the low-nose type livery sketches had accidentally been applied to CK bodies with thin steps.In May 2007, Auscision released a series of T Class locomotives in CFCLA's blue and silver scheme, and SSR's yellow and black scheme. These were repainted Austrains models, produced at the same factory with the same tooling, but in the Auscision box with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming that each engine was one of the batch of 200 for that identity. At the time it was made clear that those two colour schemes will not be released again by any manufacturer. The engines retailed for $249.00 each.
At some point between 2007 and 2009, Austrains re-ran the T Class model, with new numbers and upgrades including metal handrails. The new run included VR Blue, Freight Australia and Great Northern. It may also have included V/Line Orange units, but with the same numbers as the first run so it is difficult to be certain.
Powerline's variant of the T Class was an entirely new model - the first for the then-new management of the company, with no parts recycled from previous models. A new mechanism was developed in India to make use of the 5 pole skew wound, twin flywheel system, and as has since become standard, the unit was fitted with all-wheel drive and all-wheel electrical pickup. RP-25 110 wheels were made standard. The units were also fitted with DCC decoders and NEM "dunny seat" couplers as standard, although Kadee metal couplers are included in every box. Each unit was also fitted with separately-applied detail parts like handrails, brake hoses and grilles, giving a much higher level of detail than previous models. The first run was to include initial releases of the VR and V/Line liveries on both body types, and high nose West Coast Railway and low nose Freight Australia schemes. An offer was made to customers, that if they paid $50 upfront, they would receive their model for $198.00. As of 2015, the recommended retail price $295.00. The engines were due to be released in 2004, but production line delays caused the announcement to be pushed back to October 2004, and the final release to early 2007. Because of the parallel development and release schedules between Austrains and Powerline, the company adopted the marketing slogan, "DO NOT BUY ANY OTHER T CLASS UNTIL YOU SEE OUR T CLASS". The final product is slightly smaller in all dimensions than the Austrains units, and Powerline has claimed that all dimensions bar some valence and handrail measurements are within 0.5mm. To cover for variants, some engines were released with decals to alter pilot stripes. Valence units were also released separately, to allow purchasers to modify or replace those provided.
A second Powerline production run was hinted at in early 2006 and announced in mid 2007 with new models in new schemes. The second run also included a different electronics system because of reported reliability issues with the DCC chip in the first run. The new chip was marketed as having increased memory capacity. Advanced orders were being accepted from mid-2008, with a down-payment of $75.00 and a total purchase price of $220.00. Delivery took place in October 2009.
SDS Models 1st Release of the retooled Austrains T class due to be released in 2020 with the T2 series new tooling and T-3, T-4, T-5 and H class in both VR and V/line with others coming later on. with a prepaid price of $245 for DC and $365 for DCC Sound
To date, no models of T347-T356 have been released in ready-to-run plastic, though it is possible to mix/match parts between the BRM model and the High-Nose model to achieve a workable result. Additionally, locomotive T414 ex DE02 has never been released, but may be achievable by mixing BRM and Low-Nose components.
Locomotive | T357-T366 | T367-T396 | T397-T412 | H1-H5 | CK1-CK5 |
Auscision | T363 SSR | T377 CFCLA, T381 SSR, T387 CFCLA | |||
Austrains 1st Release | T357 VR, T362 V/Line, T363 WCR, T364 V/Line, T365 VR | T377 VR, T368 V/Line, T369 WCR, T385 VR, T387 V/Line, T379 FA, T385 WCR, T392 FA* | |||
Austrains 2nd Release | T358 VR, T359 VR | T375 VR, T374 FA, 377 GNR, T378 FA, 381 GNR | T408 VR | H2 VR, H4 V/Line, H5 FA | CK2 AN, CK5 AN |
Powerline 1st Release | T357 VR, T359 VR, T363 WCR, T364 V/Line, T366 V/Line | T367 VR, T375 V/Line, T388 FA, T393 V/Line, T395 VR | T400 FA | ||
Powerline 2nd Release | T358 VR, T360 VR | T369 WCR, 373 GNR, T385 WCR, T386 V/Line, T387 YPR | T403 VR | H1 FA, H2 V/Line, H3 VR | |
Powerline 3rd Release | T370 VR, T371 VR, T381 VR, T383 VR | ||||
SDS Models 1st Release | T358 VR, T360 VR, T365 VR, T357 VR, T361 VR, T362 VR, T366 VR, T359 VR, T362 V/line, T363 V/line | T368 VR, T 384 VR, T360 VR, T391 VR, T371 VR, T379 VR, T370 V/line, T396 V/line | T403 VR, T410 VR, T411 VR, T405 VR, T 407 VR, T402 V/line, T409 Vline | H2 VR, H5 VR | CKs in the next run |
- T392 marked on order page as T393, corrected by 3 January 2005.