A project was commenced to rebuild the aging _B__ class locomotives. From 1983, eleven units were transferred to the Rosewater, South Australia plant of Clyde for rebuilding.
The units were heavily modified and fitted with 2300hp V12 turbo engines.
Their principal duty was for passenger trains though from the late 1980's the units were rostered for freights as required.
One unit was fitted with high speed gears capable of 160km/hr speed tests.
Unit numbers were: 60, 62, 66, 70, 71, 73, 77, 78, 79, 81, 85.
A 66 was painted in the Australian Bicentennial colours in 1988. In 1990 the unit was painted in Olympic Games colour scheme as part of the Melbourne Olympic Games bid for 1996.
Photos for 'A '
FileID Description................................................DK899 A + P + P + H - Down Maryvale on viaduct, Flinders Street, 5/11/2003, [oPJV]CZ755 A + P21 + XR554 - Down freight, Craigeburn, 2/11/2004, [oPJV]CR910 A + X + X + P + X - Down Maryvale passes A signalbox, Flinders Street, 10/9/2002, [oPJV]DB683 A - Down Geelong pass, distant view, Laverton, 1980s, [oPTC]DA353 A 60 - distant view, on H set with PCJ power car, Spencer Street, 12/2002, [oPJV]CW986 A 60 - Down Stony Point transfer/MTH car, Flinders Street, 4/11/2002, [oPJV]DB858 A 60 - in shadow, Spencer Street, 21/1/2003, [oPJV]BR427 A 60 - Up pass, Wallan, 11/1984, [oPJV]BE309 A 60 - Up Pass, Kilmore East, 1/10/1985, [oPJV]BD414 A 60 - Up Pass, Kilmore East, c1985, [oPJV]11765 A 60 - Vline/regal with PH/H set, Spencer Street, 5/2001, [oDAC]BY708 A 62 + MTH 104 Dn Stony Point transfer; 4D, CE, Spencer Street, 27/4/2001, [oPJV]BO127 A 62 + T 379 - Up GH wheat train, Dn SG L, Broadmeadows, 15/10/1984, [oPJV]CA743 A 62 - Dn Pass, Somerton, c1986, [oREW]CT544 A 62 - part view, VLP, with commemorative plate, Spencer Street, 20/9/2002, [oPJV]BD887 A 62 - s1e1, Vline, Geelong, 26/8/1984, [oPJV]BD888 A 62 - s1p, Vline, Geelong, 26/8/1984, [oPJV]BD883 A 62 - s2e1, Vline, Geelong, 26/8/1984, [oPJV]BP025 A 62 - Vline Pass, Spencer Street, 9/2000, [oPJV]BD886 A 62 - Vline, e1p, Geelong, 26/8/1984, [oPJV]BD885 A 62 - Vline, nose/side profile, Geelong, 26/8/1984, [oPJV]CT493 A 62 - VLP, trailing view with power van and H set, Spencer Street, 21/9/2002, [oPJV]AA487 A 66, Flinders Street, c1989, [oPJV]BA256 A 66 - at platform, loco depot, signal box, Traralgon, c11/1988, [oPJV]AA486 A 66 - Bi-Centennial colours, c1989, [oPJV]AA488 A 66 - Bicentennial, [oPJV]AA491 A 66 - Bicentennial colours, 1990, [oPJV]AA490 A 66 - Bicentennial colours, [oPJV]BA238 A 66 - Bicentennial colours, Dn Pass, Flinders Street, c11/1988, [oPJV]BA239 A 66 - Bicentennial, nose, Flinders Street, c11/1988, [oPJV]BA240 A 66 - Bicentennial, nose perp, Flinders Street, c11/1988, [oPJV]DD579 A 66 - Down FSH21 set with power van, Donnybrook, 3/3/2003, [oPJV]DD585 A 66 - down trailing/power van, set FSH21, Donnybrook, 3/3/2003, [oPJV]CQ202 A 66 - Melbourne for Olympics 1996, South Dynon, c1992, [oPEG]AA489 A 66 - nose, Bicentennial colours, c1989, [oPJV]CQ212 A 66 - Olympics for Melbourne 1996, #1 end, South Dynon, c1992, [oPEG]DK586 A 66 - Vline, s1e1, Flinders Street Yard, 5/8/1985, [oRXO]DY136 A 66 - VLP, Spencer Street, 30/11/2004, [oPJV]DK587 A 70 + X 35 - Vline, test run for A, down Pass, Bendigo, 23/5/1985, [oREW]DD669 A 70 - Down MTH car for Frankston, Flinders Street, 7/3/2003, [oPJV]DY157 A 70 - Down VLP, North Melbourne, 3/12/2004, [oPJV]DI334 A 70 - trailing view on set H33 with PCJ491, Spencer Street, 15/8/2003, [oPJV]CY046 A 71 + P 20 - FA, Up freight, Craigeburn, 12/10/2004, [oPJV]DK589 A 71 - s2e1c, Vline, Warragul, 11/11/1984, [oREW]BE739 A 71 - Up pass (fisheye/blurred), Craigeburn, 7/10/1984, [oPJV]DK588 A 71 - Vline, nose, cast bogie, Bendigo, 4/1984, [oREW]CT250 A 73 + A + P - Up Tocumwaal, Beveridge, 23/8/2002, [oPJV]CT252 A 73 + A + P 19 - FA, Up freight, trailing, Dn 81 Freightcorp, Beveridge, 23/8/2002, [oPJV]CT257 A 73 + A + P 19 - trailing, rear of train, Beveridge, 23/8/2002, [oPJV]CT251 A 73 + A + P 19 - Up Tocumwaal, trailing view, FA, Beveridge, 23/8/2002, [oPJV]CT531 A 73 + T + X + X - Down Maryvale drops off viaduct, 13/9/2002, [oPJV]AK276 A 73 + X - down freight, Flinders Street, 13/9/2002, [oPJV]AK273 A 73 + X - Down Maryvale comes off viaduct, Flinders Street, 15/9/2002, [oPJV]AK253 A 73 + X - Down Maryvale freight over viaduct, Flinders Street, 13/9/2002, [oPJV]DE245 A 73 + X - on Dn test train, Bendigo, c1981, [oREW]AK280 A 73 + X 32 - FA, Flinders Street, 13/9/2002, [oPJV]12299 A 73 + X 37 - Down Maryvale passes Franklin St box, Spencer Street, 7/6/2003, [oPJV]DB986 A 73 - Dn Maryvale, off viaduct, Flinders Street, 21/1/2003, [oPJV]DK591 A 73 - down end, Vline, north view, signalbox, Bendigo, 28/1/1984, [oREW]DU332 A 73 - FA, nose, Shepparton, 3/12/2002, [oGRE]CR971 A 73 - FA, part view, Flinders Street, 13/9/2002, [oPJV]DG057 A 73 - FA, part view, nose, Spencer Street, 9/6/2003, [oPJV]BE534 A 73 - FA, shutdown, Kensington, 17/7/2003, [oPJV]DU337 A 73 - name plate: Bob Skilton/FA scheme, Shepparton, 11/2002, [oGRE]DK590 A 73 - nose, Vline, Rosewater, SA, 14/12/1983, [oREW]DK593 A 73 - s2e2c, roof, Vline, Bendigo, 28/1/1984, [oREW]DK592 A 73 - Vline, part side, B loco shell, Rosewater, SA, 14/12/1983, [oREW]DK594 A 73 - Vline, s1e2c, South Dynon, 1/4/1984, [oRXO]DK595 A 73 - Vline, s2e1c, Bendigo, 4/1984, [oREW]CP440 A 77 + A 79 + P 20 - Up Bandiana freight, FA, Craigeburn, 16/7/2002, [oPJV]AV472 A 77 - Dn freight, Dynon Junction, 10/12/1999, [oPJV]BE426 A 77 - FA, South Dynon, 18/6/2003, [oPJV]DD628 A 77 - FA, white logo, s2e1c, Kensington, 5/3/2003, [oPJV]DU172 A 77 - FA, with WCR B 61, South Dynon, 18/6/2003, [oPJV]DC668 A 77 - FA, with X 32 FA, South Dynon, 18/6/2003, [oPJV]BE837 A 77 - part view, nose, Craigeburn, 7/10/1984, [oPJV]DG578 A 77 - Vline, driver class, South Dynon, 1980s, [oDVC]DK596 A 77 - Vline, s1e2c, South Dynon, 30/6/1984, [oRXO]BE740 A 77 - with X, Dn Pass, 12 N cars, Craigeburn, 7/10/1984, [oPJV]BE838 A 77 - with X, trailing view, Craigeburn, 7/10/1984, [oPJV]BE839 A 77 - with X, trailing view, 12 cars, Craigeburn, 7/10/1984, [oPJV]DD584 A 78 + P22 + P20 - Up FA freight runs through sprinters, Donnybrook, 3/3/2003, [oPJV]CB551 A 78 - Dn Pass, Heathcote Junction, 18/2/1987, [oPJV]DG258 A 78 - FA, part view, loco shed, South Dynon, 18/6/2003, [oPJV]BD349 A 79 + A - Dn 12 car pass, all Vline, North Melbourne, c1984, [oPJV]CC134 A 81 + X - Up quarry train, Wallan, 11/4/2000, [oPES]CC133 A 81 - 2nd unit, Kilmore East, 11/4/2000, [oPES]DD428 A 81 - FA, orange aircon, Kensington, 18/3/2003, [oPJV]DQ776 A 81 - Freight Victoria, Tottenham Yard, 25/1/2000, [oYUS]DQ774 A 81 - left, B 80, right, 1999, [oYUS]DF536 A 81 - with WCR B 76, South Dynon, 18/6/2003, [oPJV]DH125 A 85 + A 81 - Down Maryvale, North Melbourne, 28/6/2003, [oPJV]DK900 A 85 + P 22 + P 12 + T - Maryvale goods, VLP P loco, Flinders Street, 5/11/2003, [oPJV]AV398 A 85 + X 36 - Up freight, B Box, Tottenham, 14/1/2000, [oPJV]BN076 A 85 - FA colours, South Dynon, 12/2000, [oPJV]DA168 A 85 - FA, second unit, Flinders Street, 12/2002, [oPJV]AV399 A 85 - Vline, Tottenham, 14/1/2000, [oPJV]
Diagrams for 'A '
FileID Description................................................AB693 A - pass (cartoon), c1991, [oMXM]AX432 A - Vline, [oPTC]
File c552m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 18/3/2008
