45th anniversary of the introduction of the C Class

 45 years ago today on the 14th May 1977, Victoria's first turbocharged diesel, the C class officially entered service. 

C501 and C507 haul a late running 9103 Melbourne - Adelaide Express Goods past Y170 shunting a flour wagon at the Garden City Flour Mill.

With the EMD 16-645-E3 prime mover producing 3000hp, the C class revolutionise the haulage of heavy interstate goods. 10 were built by Clyde Engineering at their Rosewater plant in South Australia during 1977–1978. The C class were restricted to a top speed of 80km/h and were the VR's first diesels to be fitted with train radios. 

The first four were placed on the North East standard gauge line to haul services from Melbourne to Albury while the remaining six were use on the broad gauge to haul services on the Serviceton line. In 1979 through running of C class into South Australia commenced.

C501 is turned on the turntable at Ballarat East Locomotive Depot.

The fireman on C507 is about to take the staff from the signalman at Ballarat C Signal Box 

In 1982 the 4 C class on standard gauge were converted to broad gauge to operate with the other C's on the western line.

During 1983 the C hauled the majority of interstate goods trains (either solo or in multiple with other classes) and were involved in through running into South Australia. In July cracks were detected in the underframes of the C class, which saw a number sidelined until repairs could be made. Both C501 and C502 were repainted during 1983, the only C's to be repainted in blue and gold.

Upgrading of the Portland line saw C's employed in moving block grain trains to the port for 1983/84 harvest.

Recently repainted C501 departs Ballarat on the 8142 pass to Melbourne.

I have five C class on the roster C501, C503 (V/line), C504, C505 and C507. All are Austrains models (except for C504 which is an Austrain's body on an Athearn mechanism and C505 which is a kitbashed Athearn body on an Atlas mechanism (built back in 1983!).

C504, Y151 and T401 rest around the turntable at Ballarat  East Locomotive Depot. C504 received its yellow handrails when it was on the Standard gauge.