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| B60 is turned, while C504, Y152 and T401 rest on the turntable roads. |
Introduced in 1952 as the VR's first mainline diesel, the B class were utilised in all types of service across the state. The flexibility of the double ended design, saw the B class run very high mileages with most having run between 5 and 5.5 million kilometres by the early 80's.
By 1983 nine B class (B64, B68, B69, B74, B80, B81, B82, B83, B84) had been painted in the VicRail orange and silver scheme to match the new N cars (often referred to as the teacup or pudding bowl scheme). During 1983 three B class were withdrawn (B60 in Feb 83, B85 in Mar, B62 in Oct) stripped of parts and sent west to join B71, B73 and B77 at the Clyde plant at Rosewater for rebuilding into A class. In August, B84 was painted an all over orange scheme for the official launch of V/Line. In December 1983 the first to be rebuilt as an A class (A73) was delivered to V/Line.
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| B81 and B72 are refueled at the fuel point. |
During 1983 Ballarat and Horsham passenger trains were almost exclusive hauled by B class. The B's shared duties with X class hauling the Vinelander and were regularly rostered on freight trains on both the Serviceton and Mildura lines. Observations recorded in Newsrail from 27th May 1983 show typical workings of B class through Ballarat. On this day 6 B class were observed B66, B72, B65 and B83 on Ballarat pass, B61 on a Horsham pass, and B80 on the Vinelander.
My fleet includes 7 B class (B60, B61, B65, B68 (tea-cup), B69 (tea-cup), B72 and B81 (tea-cup)) all except B68 are kit-bashed from Lima S class (prior to the release of the Lima model of the B class).
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| T388, B65, B61 and B69 rest around the turntable at Ballarat East Locomotive Depot. |
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