T409 walk Parkes NSW. Fri 14th Aug 2026

This is the first visit to western NSW of T409, so it was time to do a walk around on the "wallaby" before SSR logos are applied. However, the "Regional Connect" branding on the side panels has been removed. The much respected and reliable "T" class once numbered 94 members in all, they were built by Clyde Engineering at Granville NSW for the then Victorian Railways, built to replace steam locomotives in Victoria. First delivered was T320 on the 03rd of August 1955 and the last was T412 on the 23rd of November 1968. There are three versions of the class, the "Flat Top" the "High Cab" and the "Low Nose" resulting from the various order blocks placed between 1955 and 1968. T409 still features the "Regional Connect" (part of the Colin Rees group) livery but is now owned by Southern Shorthaul Railroad who purchased it on 28th October 2025. The "T" class were ordered in various stages between 1955 and 1968 with the first order placed in July 1954. There are three basic versions, the original "T" class had a flat top, the second series had a raised cabin windows high cab and the final had raised cab windows high cab and slanted nose. Being Victorian, they only had one set of controls and this was on the number two side long end leading. The Victorians had a thing about preferring locomotives to be long end leading, maybe a legacy of the steam days? All were built for broad gauge operations at the time. Designated EMD model G18B T409 is powered by a two stroke V8 Rootes aspiration eight-cylinder EMD 8-645E prime mover with a speed of 307-900rpm, delivering 1,100hp and a published track speed of 100Kmh. Main generator is an EMD D-25E with a continuous rating of 1,500amps. This provided electrical power to four model Type EMD D-29 traction motors with a gear ratio of 63-14. Loco length is 44 imperial feet and a width of nine feet five inches; loco weight is 68 imperial tons. Fuel capacity is 770 imperial gallons (3,409 litres); lube oil capacity is 108 gallons (490 litres) and cooling water capacity is 133 gallons (604 litres). The T409 family comprises T387 to T396 with all built in 1965 At the time, the Victorian Railways found the "T" class to be an exceptional "all-round" locomotive, and they quickly found their way to main line operations in addition to their branch line duties. Although some crew members find them noisy under full power, they are generally well received and respected little locomotive. They are equally at home on both main line and branch line working. Five of the class were rebuilt at the "H" class for hump yard shunting work, then 13 were rebuilt by Martin & King at Somerton VIC as the "P" class between 1984 & 1985. A "Head-End" power generator was added to supply electrical power to passenger carriages. Five were also rebuilt as the "CK" class for use in South Australia. Southern Shorthaul Railroad currently own: T363, T381, T385, T386, T390, T408, & T409. Distant cousins of the "T" class are the NSW 49 class, a EMD model G8C, however, where the "T" class are Bo-Bo the NSW 49 class are Co-Co bogie configuration. The 49 class also have dual control stands. Did you know? Class leader T320 delivered new on the 02nd of August 1955 in now owned by VicTrack Heritage and the locomotive is preserved at the SRHC compound at Seymour VIC. A brother to the original Victorian first series "T" class is the EMD model G12B "50" class (road numbers 51 to 55), built in 1955 by Clyde Engineering at Granville NSW for the Kowloon-Canton Railway in Hong Kong. Five were built and shipped to Hong Kong as "ready-to-run" locomotives. In 2005 CFCLA purchased four of the five TL class and brought them back to Australia from Hong Kong. In Australia a "TL1" was added to the road number by CFCLA, class leader "51" is mounted on public display in Hong Kong, TL152 is at Newport Workshops VIC, TL153 is on display at Dalby QLD, and TL154 & TL155 are in storage at Tailem Bend SA. Did you observe? Some of the last "T" class to be built featured a little porthole just above the handbrake ratchet along the walkway. The glass on the porthole is broken on T409. Special thanks are extended to SSR staff at Parkes NSW for allowing the walk around T409 in Parkes Yard. 0810hrs on Friday 14th of August 2026.