Welcome to the Victorian N Class Co-Co Diesel Electric Locomotive site.
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Specifications:
| Introduced | 1985 |
| Builder | Clyde Engineering. |
| Model | JT22HC-2 |
| Power | 1680kW (2500hp) |
| Max. speed | 115kph (71.5mph) |
| Length | 18.87m (61'11") |
| Road numbers | 451 - 475 |
| Gauge | 1600mm (5'3") |
| Engine | EMD 645E3B, EMD 645E3C |
| Weight | 123t (121 tons) |
| Total built | 25 |
| In service | 25 V/Line Passenger. |
Locomotive number and name:
| N451 | "City of Portland" | N464 | "City of Geelong" |
| N452 | "Rural City of Wodonga" | N465 | "City of Ballaarat" |
| N453 | "City of Albury" | N466 | "City of Warrnambool" |
| N454 | "City of Horsham" | N467 | "City of Stawell" |
| N455 | "City of Swan Hill" | N468 | "City of Bairnsdale" |
| N456 | "City of Colac" | N469 | "City of Morwell" |
| N457 | "City of Mildura" | N470 | "City of Wangaratta" |
| N458 | "City of Maryborough" | N471 | "City of Benalla" |
| N459 | "City of Echuca" | N472 | "City of Sale" |
| N460 | "City of Castlemaine" | N473 | "City of Warragul" |
| N461 | "City of Ararat" | N474 | "City of Traralgon" |
| N462 | "City of Shepparton" | N475 | "City of Moe" |
| N463 | "City of Bendigo" |
After the Victorian Government decided to abandon the program to rebuild the B class into the A class, Clyde Engineering received a contract to build twenty five new locomotives that would use the same basic engine/electrical package as the A class. These new locomotives, classified the N class were delivered between August 1985 and July 1987. The N class introduced a totally new design style to Australia. Called "Dog Bones" by many people, these locomotives featured a full width G-class style cab with a hood between the two cabs instead of the full width design of the G class.
When they entered service there were some minor problems with the computer and electrical systems but they were gradually corrected. There have also been other minor problems and the class has suffered from a high failure rate of the turbocharger clutch-drive. This is thought to be caused by the stop-start nature of their work. Despite these problems the class is a reliable passenger locomotive that has seen service on passenger trains in all areas of the state. The N class have also been used on freight trains occasionally. With the privatisation of V/Line, all the N class locomotives have been allotted to V/Line Passenger.
