V/Line H type carriage explained

H type carriage
Interiorimage:File:Interior of H-set carriage — August 2022.jpg
Interiorcaption:Interior of a refurbished carriage in 2022
Service:1981 - 2 February 2024
Manufacturer:V/Line
Factory:Newport Workshops
Replaced:PL, Short &Long W type carriages
Yearconstruction:Built 1956-1968 as Harris suburban EMUs
Rebuilt 1984-1992 to locomotive hauled carriages
Yearservice:1983
Refurbishment:2007-2011
Yearscrapped:2024 - Present
Numberbuilt:59
Numberservice:0
Numberpreserved:6
Numberscrapped:12
Formation:Originally BTH-BH-BCH, later BIH cars added and sets shuffled to make 4, 5 and 6-car sets; loose MTH cars as railmotor trailers.
Diagram:H-1 (BCH), H-2 (Long BCH), H-3 (BH), H-4 (Long BH), H-5 (BTH 161-164 & 167-171), H-6 (BTH 165 & 166, 1st-series Harris window spacing), H-7 (Long BTH)
Fleetnumbers:Ex 1st series Harris Motors - n/a
Ex 2nd series Harris Motors - BCH 121-131; BCH 134 & 135 (short van)
Ex 1st series Harris Trailers - BH 141-151, BIH 189 & 192-194, BTH 165-166 & 174-175, MTH 101-104[1]
Ex 2nd series Harris Trailers - BIH 181-186, BTH 161-164 & 167-171
Ex Refurbished Harris Trailers - BIH 187-188 & 190-191
Ex Long Harris - BTH 172 & 173; BH 152 & 153; BCH 132 & 133
Capacity:63 passengers (BH, BTH & MTH),[2] [3] 67 passengers (BIH),[4] 54 passengers (BCH),[5] 64 passengers (BCH 134 & 135)[6] 87 passengers (BH 152 & 153, BTH 172 & 173),[7] [8] 75 passengers (BCH 132 & 133)[9]
Operator:V/Line Passenger
previously V/Line.
Depots:Newport Workshops
Lines:Wyndham Vale, Bacchus Marsh, Kyneton & SeymourPreviously Geelong, Traralgon & Leongatha
Carbody: (short), (long)
Carlength: (short), (long)
Height: (short), (long)
Art-Sections:Open gangways
Wheelbase: total; per bogie
Weight: (short BCH) (BH, BTH, BIH, MTH) (long BTH, BH & BCH)
Powersupply:415 V AC diesel alternators (MTH cars only), Head end power (all other types)
Brakes:Westinghouse
Coupling:Janney couplers (one end BCH & BTH; both ends MTH); Drawbars (one end BCH & BTH; both ends BIH & BH)

The H type carriages are a class of interurban passenger carriage operated by V/Line in Victoria, Australia. Fitted with high-density 2+3 seating, they were typically used on short distance interurban services from Melbourne to Bacchus Marsh and Geelong until their withdrawal in 2024.

Overview

By 1983, the 1981 New Deal had been such a success that the incoming Cain Government ordered conversion of a fleet of the early Harris suburban Electric Multiple Units to replace the last of the older wooden carriage stock.[10] The fleet eventually reached 59 carriages of multiple types.

For the purpose of contract negotiations, short cars were referred to as SCH, SH or STH and long as LCH, LH or LTH, respectively for conductor, regular and terminal carriages.[11]

Each carriage has two doors per side, manually opened by passengers, but remotely closed and locked by the train conductor (except on MTH cars where originally similar to the Harris trains, access to MTH carriages from platforms is by manual opening and closing double sliding side doors, and thus can be opened by passengers at any time,[12] however the carriages later received a power door mechanism similar to the Comeng and other members of the H type carriages). Toilets, drinking fountains and luggage areas are provided throughout each carriage set.

The carriage sets were originally used for commuter services between Melbourne and a wide range of regional cities. As more long-distance carriages became available, they were reallocated to the shorter runs, typically less than an hour end-to-end. A small number were also used on the Stony Point line.

Coding

H type carriages are numbered in the 101 - 200 series. Sets were issued to traffic with three types of carriage:

Additional cars were later constructed to increase capacity. These cars do not feature toilets:

Carriage sets

As at November 2012, the H type carriages have been fixed into semi-permanent sets, identified with the following codes, in conjunction with a unique number:

Prior to this change, H sets were arranged as follows:

Sets originally entered service as 3 car sets, later having additional cars added to bring them up to four cars. With the breaking up of some sets and reallocation of carriages, longer carriage sets have since been formed.

MTH (loose) carriages

Originally converted for use as trailer carriages for the Tulloch railmotor fleet, four carriages were reconstructed with a similar internal configuration to the BH type, but with automatic couplers at both ends.

Following withdrawal of the Tulloch fleet around 1994, the four MTH carriages (63 seats each) were used on the non-electrified suburban Stony Point line, hauled by whatever locomotives V/Line (later V/Line Passenger) had spare at the time. Typically, two carriages would be used on weekdays and a third kept at Frankston for additional weekend capacity, with the fourth under routine maintenance in the city. Carriages were rotated weekly, with a locomotive transfer usually on Mondays or Thursdays and carriages swapped as part of that cycle. When V/Line Passenger was formed the company fleet was cut down to the A class, N class, P class and Y class engines; the P and N class with head-end-power were less useful hauling MTH carriages, so the typical Stony Point Line motive power became the A class.

This pattern continued under various private operators until 26 April 2008, after which Sprinter trains were introduced on the route in lieu. The cars were placed into storage at Newport Worksohps until 2011, when MTH 102 was converted to an inspection car for Metro Trains Melbourne. It now operates between two T class locomotives as IEV102 for inspection trains. The other three MTH carriages are stored, along with unused BH141.

History and typical fleet use

From 1983

Cain/Crabb order, 1983

The contract was awarded to Clyde Engineering, and the initial plan was to convert 33 Harris cars to 11 semi-permanently coupled sets of BCH-BH-BTH. Originally there were concepts to pair each of the carriage sets with a permanently coupled locomotive at the West (non-conductor) end, and to fit the East-end BCH carriages with a small driving stand for controlling the P class locomotives; but this fell through on grounds of safety and inability to stop the locomotive powering instantly in case of a collision, which would have caused the carriage set to telescope.

The first four sets of three carriages (sets SH22, 23, 24 and 25) were delivered in the middle of 1984, and deliveries continued at a steady pace through to the end of that year with twelve 3-carriage sets, SH21 to SH31 inclusive and LH32, in service. Set LH33 entered service in February 1986, a full six months after the twelfth set.

The H sets were initially used on commuter runs from Spencer Street to Bacchus Marsh, Kyneton, Sunbury, Seymour and Leongatha and, on Sundays only, a run from Spencer Street to Stony Point, Frankston, Stony Point and back to Spencer Street to provide capacity above that of the normal railmotor.[13] While never intended during the design phase, H sets were rostered on the morning outbound and midday return Shepparton service from Roster H2, dated 9 December 1984.[14] During the long weekend holidays, H sets would occasionally be extended from Shepparton to Cobram as higher capacity rollingstock was needed elsewhere.

Otherwise, for events like football matches and the biannual runs to Lara for the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport, trains would be formed with nine carriages, a locomotive on each end and another between sets, near the middle. Because of the underfloor multiple-unit cabling, all locomotives on the train would work together from a single control stand; but each set of carriages was powered by its nearest P class locomotive because the power cables, for things like lighting and airconditioning, were only designed for a maximum electrical load equivalent to four carriages.

H sets were normally hauled by either N or P class locomotives, both able to supply the required head end power supply for lighting and air conditioning operation. When hauled by other classes of locomotives, a separate power van was coupled to the set to provide that same function.

A further four MTH carriages were converted in 1984, essentially BH carriages with an underfloor alternator fitted and with regular automatic couplers in place of drawbars. These were intended to be used as trailers for the Tulloch Railcars, as the older trailers were of timber construction with no airconditioning, and well past their use-by dates. The MTH cars could be hauled by anything and everything, because they had onboard alternators negating the requirement for any sort of external power supply.

Socimi bogies

To prepare for a then-planned order for high speed country trains, in 1986 set LH33 (BTH173-BH153-BCH133) was fitted with Socimi bogies designed for operation at 160km/h. The set was hauled by locomotive A85 on runs between Glenorchy and Lubeck on the main Melbourne to Adelaide line, starting from Wednesday 23 July 1986.[15]

Cain/Kirner[16] order, 1989

With the 1990 election quickly approaching and the last of the electric Harris fleet due for withdrawal, the Cain government elected to order conversion of another eight carriages to a new class, BIH. These were functionally identical to the BH carriages, but toilets were not provided, instead being fitted with additional seating. The order also featured two more BCH conductor carriages, though these were fitted with smaller vans and an additional ten seats, compared to their predecessors.

BIH carriages 187 and 188, and the two new conductor cars BCH134 and BCH135, were converted from Grey Ghost stock - previously refurbished less than ten years ago - while the remainder came from regular blue Harris stock.

The new BIH carriages were inserted into sets SH21 thru SH28, bringing their capacity up to approximately match the long sets LH32 and LH33. Sets SH29, SH30 and SH31 were left untouched, and as far as can be determined, the two additional BCH cars were left unused until 1992, when two BH carriages were converted to BTH allowing the formation of new sets.

Once the FSH sets became available, event traffic like the Airshow trains increased to twelve-car trains with a locomotive on each end and a third between carriages eight and nine.

From 1992

Kirner/Spyker order, 1992

By 1992, Steve Crabb had long-since been replaced as the Victorian Member of Parliament with the Transport Portfolio. His successor, Peter Spyker, authorised an order for the final six BIH carriages. These were delivered in 1992 and allowed the remaining three Short sets to be extended to match capacity. These final carriages were converted from previously refurbished "Grey Ghost" Harris stock, rather than the original blue cars. At the same time, two BH carriages had automatic couplers fitted at one end and these were reclassed BTH.

Around this time the Tulloch railmotors were withdrawn from service, freeing the four MTH cars. Consideration was given to converting them to other classes for incorporation in normal H sets. However, it was decided to instead operate the MTH carriages exclusively on the Stony Point route, because an infrequent, isolated shuttle service would have been a waste of one of the N or P class locomotives with head-end power, better used elsewhere. If the Stony Point line had run from Spencer Street in lieu of Frankston, then it is quite possible that the H fleet would have been reworked with thirteen FSH and two LH sets (plus one spare carriage), all with about 250 seats.

With the MTH cars separated from the rest of the fleet, the final BIH carriages were allocated largely at random, with the result by end of 1992 being:

High-ranking staff within V/Line were aware at the time that the last of the Harris electric fleet was being withdrawn, and tried to facilitate conversion of the remaining six Grey Ghost vehicles to add to the H car fleet. This was knocked back because, at the time, it was thought that more than just 22 of the new Sprinter railcars were going to be ordered.

In 1995, the entire H-series fleet was passed from V/Line to V/Line Passenger.

From 1999

In 1999, the fleet was reorganised. Previously, there had been four SH, nine FSH, one LH and one FLH set. In September of that year, set SH35 was split up, and set FSH28 lost its BIH carriage. The now-loose four carriages were reallocated to sets 22, 26, 29 and 32, so the new split became four SH, five FSH, three VSH and two FLH sets. Other than the remaining FSH sets (all 247 seats), the new set makeup had nearly every set with its own consist and differing capacity. Each of the different consists also had slightly different weights, lengths, capacities and door layouts, affecting the timetabling.

As a result, rosters were often written with specific sets in mind; the VSH and FLH sets could be grouped into a fleet of five sets for the longer runs, and the FSH sets for the shorter runs. The SH sets were either run individually on the shortest runs, or in pairs on the longest.

When the five-carriage sets were formed, the end BTH and BCH cars were recabled with higher-capacity wiring, to avoid any risk of overheating. However, the P Class locomotives were only able to supply power for four carriages' worth of air-conditioning and lighting and did not have sufficient power for acceleration of a five-carriage set, so those trains had to be hauled by N class engines, or A class engines with a PH power van attached. Additionally, because of the drawbar and inter-carriage doorway arrangements, BCH135 and BTH175 were reversed for coupling to Set #29.

Later in this period, patronage spikes would require coupling an FSH with SH set, for a seven-car consist. These services became colloquially known as the "Poor Man's XPT", with a P class locomotive on each end of the consist, controlled by a single crew. No trials were performed with push/pull 2xFSH sets, because it was clear from P-FSH-SH-P sets that any such consist would have been too heavy for passenger train schedules, requiring a minimum power to weight ratio.

In 2004, carriage BIH187 was pulled from set FSH27, and stored at Newport Workshops. It was returned to the set about three months later.

From 2005

In 2005, Marshall station was opened as an extension to the Geelong line. It was serviced by H sets previously running only to South Geelong, along with trains running to Warrnambool.

2006 saw another reorganisation of the H cars, this time on account of VLocity deliveries with Regional Fast Rail project. The VLocities were supposed to replace the H sets, but patronage booming meant they had to be retained.[17] As part of the reorganisation, the H type carriages were refurbished and repainted into the new V/Line livery from September 2007.[18] [19]

As a result, set SH34 was split up, and sets 21, 27 and 32 lost their BIH coaches. Like when SH35 had been broken up, carriages BCH134 and BTH174 were reversed, for coupling to Set #32. The six freed cars were reallocated to sets 23, 28, 32 and 33, with the new outline thus-

With the deliveries of the VLocity fleet, the H sets were largely replaced by railcars on the longer runs, and so they began running more frequently on Melton and Bacchus Marsh, Sunbury and Kyneton, and Seymour services.

From 2012

In conjunction with a new timetable of 18 November 2012, the H set fleet was reorganised to give three six-car sets as well as twelve semi-permanently-coupled three-car sets, giving an effective total of nine six-car sets in service. These trains usually provided peak-hour services to Bacchus Marsh, Wyndham Vale and Seymour, hauled by N and P class locomotives. Stock shortages of other classes mean there were almost daily runs of H carriage sets to Marshall and Traralgon.

All carriages have now been recabled to allow a single head-end-power unit to operate the entire train from one end, rather than requiring a separate power source for carriages beyond the fourth or fifth.

The current capacities are:

Loose carriage BH141 (63 seats) is currently stored at Newport Workshops, along with unused MTH 101, 103 and 104.

2015 roster

From July 2015, there were no regularly scheduled H sets on the Northern or Eastern regions, or anywhere at all on weekends, though occasional carriage shortages saw these sets filling in for other services. Quite often, H sets filled in on Geelong & Shepparton runs, resulting in first class and buffet facilities being unavailable. H sets were used on Seymour, Wyndham Vale and Bacchus Marsh runs from this time. All these rosters were hauled by N or P class locomotives, occasionally aided by A66.

From January 2017, one H set resumed operations along the Geelong line, having been moved from the Seymour Line. This set ran the 7:36 am Geelong to Southern Cross, and the 6:18 pm Southern Cross to Geelong.[20]

In late August 2017, some of the H sets were altered to account for the withdrawal of the P class locomotives. The two SH-LH sets alternated between Geelong and Bacchus Marsh; the SSH set (with A66 and a PH power van) and one SH-SH pair were captive to Bacchus Marsh runs; and the three remaining SH-SH pairs cycled around three rosters, either Bacchus Marsh to Southern Cross, Southern Cross to Geelong and Geelong to Southern Cross over the course of a day.[21] [22] [23] The ex-Bacchus Marsh roster included a trip to Seymour in the afternoon.[24]

In January 2021, H sets were re-rostered exclusively on the Bacchus Marsh[25] and Shepparton[26] lines, alongside occasional unscheduled runs to Geelong and elsewhere. However, from October 2022, due to the replacement of loco-hauled services on the Shepparton line, it was necessary to reinstate a daily trip to Geelong, while Shepparton services are now operated by VLocities. Thus, from 23 October, the 7:23am Geelong to Southern Cross and 4:18pm Southern Cross to Geelong have been operated by H sets.[27]

Post-Covid

In the era after Covid significant quantities of VLocity carriages were delivered; this in conjunction with the general replacement of locomotive-hauled trains across the board led to some minor set reconfigurations. Generally speaking, the sets previously formed were retained, with reclassifications around the time the sets entered the workshops for refurbishing into the PTV shard livery.

The sets formed were 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32 and 33, each six carriages. Of these, sets 22, 26 and 28 had a single BTH and BCH car each with the middle four cars assorted BIH and BH types; the other sets had two BTH, two BCH and one or two of the BH and BIH types. Long-van cars BCH134 and BCH135 were used in the middle of sets SSH27 and SSH31, and the 75ft long cars formed the east end of sets SLH32 and SLH33.

IEV102 remained in use by Metro Trains as an inspection vehicle. MTH101, 103, 104 and BH141 remained stored at Newport Workshops.

On 26 July 2023 a train hauled by N Class locomotives N465 and N460 transferred H sets SSH28 and SSH27 to Shepparton for storage;[28] these had returned to Newport by November for disposal. Also in late October and early November, sets SSH31 and SSH23 were transferred (separately) to Echuca for storage.

As of November 2023, the master train plan only required one SLH set and no SSH sets. This set ran on weekdays from Maddingley sidings at 7:17am, picked up at Bacchus Marsh at 7:26am and arrived in Melbourne at 8:20am, then stabled. In the afternoon, it left Southern Cross at 5:21pm, ran to Melton, arriving 6:02pm, then was overtaken by a Wendouree service and continued as a separate service at 6:12pm for Bacchus Marsh at 6:28pm, finally running empty at 6:31pm to Maddingley at 6:37pm. Neither the locomotives or carriages from this roster were used on weekends.[29]

As of March 2024, the last ever revenue H set service was on 2 February 2024, formed of SSH25 and SLH32, hauled by N456 "City of Colac",[30] leaving from Southern Cross Station at 19:18, and then running to Waurn Ponds Station.The LH Cars from SLH32/33, have been set aside for preservation and will be transferred to a heritage group in the coming months.

Set history

Note: Colours are representative only, and do not directly correlate to liveries worn in the era.

CodeSet No.FromToCar FCar ECar DCar CCar BCar A (East end)CapacityWeightLengthChanges to achieveNotes
SH211984-07-091985-30-10[31] BTH161BH141BCH121180105t58mAs Built
"SH"211985-30-10By 1986-03-27[32] BTH161BCH12111336mLose BH141 to "SH"28
SH21By 1986-03-27By 1987-08-01[33] BTH161BH141BCH121180105t58mRegain BH141 ex "SH"28.
SH21By 1987-08-01By 1988-02-07[34] BTH167BH147BH141BCH121180105t58mLose BTH161 to SH27; gain BH147 & BTH167 ex SH27.
SH21By 1988-02-071989-07-05BTH161BH141BCH121180105t58mRegain BTH161 ex SH27 and lose BH147 & BTH167 to SH27.
FSH211989-07-062006-10-xxBTH161BH141BIH181BCH121247138t77mAdd BIH181, new build.
SH212006-10-xx2012-11-26BTH161BH141BCH121180105t58mRemove BIH181 to Newport Workshops
SH212012-11-26Circa 2022BTH161BIH181BCH121184104t58mAdd BIH181 ex Set #25, remove BH141 to Newport WorkshopsPaired with SH27
SH21Circa 2022CurrentSet absorbed into SLH33
SH221984-05-31By 1987-08-01BTH162BH142BCH122180105t58mAs Built
SH22By 1987-08-011988-xx-xx (before Easter)Set dissolved into SH27 & LH32
FSH221989-07-171999-09-xxBTH162BH142BIH182BCH122247138t77mReformed; add BIH182, new build
VSH221999-09-xx2012-11-xxBTH162BH149BH142BIH182BCH122310172t96mAdd BH149 ex Set #29
SSH222012-11-xxCirca 2021BTH162BH149BIH184BH142BIH182BCH122377205t116mAdd BIH184 ex Set #24
SSH22Circa 2021CurrentBTH162BH149BIH184BH142BIH182BCH122377205t116mRepainted
SH231984-06-211989-07-13BTH163BH143BCH123180105t58mAs Built
FSH231989-07-132007-09-25BTH163BH143BIH183BCH123247138t77mAdd BIH183, new build
VSH232007-09-252012-05-xxBTH163BIH181BH143BIH183BCH123314171t96mAdd BIH181 ex Newport
FSH232012-05-xx2012-11-xxBTH163BH143BIH183BCH123247138t77mRemove BIH181 to Set #25
"FSH"232011-11-xxBy 2021-01-31BTH163BIH183BCH123184104t58mRemove BH143 to Set #26, BIH181 to NewportPaired with SH24
SSH23By 2021-01-31CurrentBTH164BH144BCH124BTH163BIH183BCH123364209t116mAbsorbed SH24Stored Echuca circa November 2023
SH241984-06-261989-07-27BTH164BH144BCH124180105t58mAs BuiltFirst set to have suspension upgraded for 115 km/h running.[35]
FSH241989-07-271997-09-15[36] BTH164BH144BIH184BCH124247138t77mAdd BIH184, new build
FSH241997-09-152012-11-xxBTH164BH144BIH184BCH124247138t77mRepainted
"FSH"242012-11-xxBy 2021-01-31BTH164BH144BCH124180105t58mRemove BIH184 to Set #22Paired with SH23.
SH24By 2021-01-31CurrentSet absorbed into SSH23
SH251984-06-071987-12-04[37] BTH165BH145BCH125180105t58mAs Built
"SH"251987-12-041989-xx-xx (after October)BTH167BH147BH145BCH125243139t77mRemove BTH165; add BH147 and BTH167 ex "SH"27
FSH251989-xx-xx (after October)2012-05-xxBTH165BH145BIH185BCH125247138t77mAdd BIH185, new build; regain BTH165 ex "SH"27.
VSH252012-05-xx2012-11-14BTH165BH145BIH185BIH181BCH125314171t96mAdd BIH181 ex Newport
"VSH"252012-11-142012-11-xxBTH165BIH185BIH181BCH125251137t77mRemove BH145 to Set #28
SH252012-11-xxCirca 2022BTH165BIH185BCH125184104t58mRemove BIH181 to Set #21Paired with SH30
SSH25Circa 2022CurrentBTH170BIH190BCH130BTH165BIH185BCH125368208t116mAbsorbed SH30
SH261984-08-021989-06-28BTH166BH146BCH126180105t58mAs Built
FSH261989-06-281999-09-xxBTH166BH146BIH186BCH126247138t77mAdd BIH186, new build
VSH261999-09-xx2012-11-xxBTH166BIH188BH146BIH192BCH126314171t96mRemove BIH186 to Set #32, add BIH188 ex Set #26, add BIH192 ex Set #35. Fitted with rubber inter-carriage diaphragms in 2010.[38]
SSH262012-11-xxCirca 2022BTH166BH143BIH188BH146BIH192BCH126377205t116mAdd BH143 ex Set #23
SSH26Circa 2022CurrentBTH166BH143BIH188BH146BIH192BCH126377205t116mRepainted
SH271984-10-10By 1987-08-01BTH167BH147BCH127180105t58mAs Built
SH27By 1987-08-011987-12-04BTH161BCH122BTH162BCH127Lose BH147 & BTH167 to SH21; gain BTH162 and BCH122 ex SH22 and BTH161 ex SH21
"SH"271987-12-041990-07-20BTH165BCH122BTH162BCH127234142t77mAdd BTH165 ex SH25, lose BTH161 to SH21
FSH271990-07-202004-12-xxBTH167BH147BIH187BCH127247138t77mAdd BIH187 new build
SH272004-12-xx2005-03-xxBTH167BH147BCH127180105t58mRemove BIH187 to Newport
FSH272005-03-xx2006-10-xxBTH167BH147BIH187BCH127247138t77mAdd BIH187 ex Newport
"FSH"272006-10-xx2012-11-xxBTH167BH147BCH127180105t58mRemove BIH187 to #28
SH272012-11-xxCirca 2022BTH167BH147BCH127180105t58mPaired with SH21
SSH27Circa 2022CurrentBTH175BIH186BCH135BTH167BIH147BCH127374209t116mAbsorbed SH35Stored Shepparton late July 2023; to Newport November 2023
SH281985-05-291985-10-30BTH168BH148BCH128180105t58mAs Built
SH281985-10-30By 1986-03-27BTH168BH148BH141BCH128247Gain BH141 ex SH21, due to set LH33 not permitted in service.[39]
SH28By 1986-03-271990-09-29BTH168BH148BCH128180105t58mRestored to original configuration
FSH281990-09-291999-09-xxBTH168BH148BIH188BCH128247138t77mAdd BIH188, new build
SH281999-09-xx2006-04-03BTH168BH148BCH128180105t58mRemove BIH188 to Set #26
FSH282006-04-032012-11-xxBTH168BH148BIH194BCH128247138t77mAdd BIH194 ex Set #34
SSH282012-11-xxCirca 2021BTH168BH145BIH194BH148BIH187BCH128377205t116mAdd BH145 ex Set #25, BIH187 ex Set #27
SSH28Circa 2021CurrentBTH168BH145BIH194BH148BIH187BCH128377205t116mRepaintedStored Shepparton late July 2023; to Newport November 2023
SH291984-12-191992-06-26BTH169BH149BCH129180105t58mAs Built
FSH291992-06-261999-09-xxBTH169BH149BIH189BCH129247138t77mAdd BIH189, new build
VSH291999-09-xx2012-11-xxBCH135BTH175BTH169BIH189BCH129311175t97mRemove BH149 to Set #22, add BCH135 & BTH175 ex Set #35
SH292012-11-xxCirca 2022BTH169BIH189BCH129184104t58mRemove BCH135 & BTH175 to Set #35Paired with SH35
SH29Circa 2022CurrentSet absorbed into SSH23
SH301984-05-061992-06-25BTH170BH150BCH130180105t58mAs Built
SH301992-06-252003-xx-xxBTH170BIH190BCH130184104t58mAdd BIH190, new build; Remove BH150, convert to BTH174
SH302003-xx-xx20xx-xx-xxBTH170BIH190BCH130184104t58mRepainted
SH3020xx-xx-xxCirca 2022BTH170BIH190BCH130184104t58mRepaintedPaired with SH25
SH30Circa 2022CurrentSet absorbed into SSH25
SH311985-08-141992-06-24BTH171BH151BCH131180105t58mAs Built
SH311992-06-2420xx-xx-xxBTH171BIH191BCH131184104t58mAdd BIH191, new build; Remove BH151, convert to BTH175
SH3120xx-xx-xxCirca 2022BTH171BIH191BCH131184104t58mRepaintedPaired with LH33
SSH31Circa 2022CurrentBTH174BIH193BCH134BTH171BIH191BCH131374209t116mAbsorbed SH34Stored Echuca circa November 2023
LH321985-03-08By 1987-08-01BTH172BH152BCH132249118t70mAs Built
"LH"32By 1987-08-011999-09-xxBTH172BH142BH152BCH132316151t90mAdd BH142 ex SH22.
FLH321999-09-xx2006-04-30BTH172BH152BIH186BCH132316151t90mRemove BH142; add BIH186 ex Set #26
VLH322006-05-012012-11-xxBCH134BTH174BTH172BH152BCH132376189t109mRemove BIH186 to Set #33, add BCH134 & BTH174 to Set #34First roster Roster #8306 & #8323 M-F (0701 up / 1732 down SEY)
LH322012-11-xxCirca 2022BTH172BH152BCH132249118t70mRemove BCH134 & BTH174 to Set #34Paired with SH34
SLH32Circa 2022CurrentBTH169BIH189BCH129BTH172BH152BCH132433222t128mAbsorbed SH29
LH331986-02-281992-07-03BTH173BH153BCH133249118t70mAs BuiltFitted with Socimi bogies, allowed to run at 160 km/h
FLH331992-07-032006-04-xxBTH173BH153BIH193BCH133316151t90mAdd BIH193, new build
VLH332006-04-xx2012-11-xxBTH173BIH186BH153BIH193BCH133383184t109mAdd BIH186 ex Set #32Position of BIH186 unclear
LH332012-11-xxCirca 2022BTH173BH153BCH133249118t70mBIH186 to Set #35, BIH193 to Set #34Paired with SH31
SLH33Circa 2022CurrentBTH161BIH181BCH121BTH173BH153BCH133433222t128mAbsorbed SH21
?H341990-10-041992-07-10BCH1346437t19mAs Built
SH341992-07-102006-04-03BTH174BIH194BCH134194104t58mFirst formed
SH342006-04-032012-11-xxNilNilNilSplit - BIH194 to #28; BCH134+BTH174 to #32
SH342012-11-xxCirca 2022BCH134BIH193BTH174190105t58mReformed - BIH193 ex #33; BCH134+BTH174 ex #32Reversed; paired with LH32
SH34Circa 2022CurrentSet absorbed into SSH31
?H351990-10-041992-07-10BCH1356437t19mAs Built
SH351992-07-101999-09-xxBTH175BIH192BCH135194104t58mFirst formed
SH351999-09-xx2012-11-xxNilNilNilSplit - BIH192 to #26; BCH135+BTH175 to #29
SH352012-11-xxCirca 2022BCH135BIH186BTH175194104t58mReformed - BIH186 ex #33; BCH135+BTH175 ex #29Reversed; paired with SH29
SH35Circa 2022CurrentSet absorbed into SSH27
MTH1011984-06-18CurrentMTH1016339t19mAs BuiltStored since 26 April 2008
MTH1021984-06-292011-12-07MTH1026339t19mAs BuiltStored since 26 April 2008
IEV1022011-12-07CurrentIEV102Nil39t19mModified ex MTH102Track and Overhead inspection vehicle; restricted to 80 km/h[40]
MTH1031984-07-27CurrentMTH1036339t19mAs BuiltStored since 26 April 2008
MTH1041984-08-21CurrentMTH1046339t19mAs BuiltStored since 26 April 2008

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vicsig - Photos. vicsig.net. 20 December 2016. 29 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160829223135/http://vicsig.net/photo/8111. live.
  2. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.119 & 121
  3. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.99
  4. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.93, 95 & 97
  5. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.81
  6. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.83
  7. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.91
  8. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.123
  9. Bray, Vincent & Gregory, Steel & Special Coaching Stock of Victoria, 2009,, p.82
  10. Book: Lee, Robert. The Railways of Victoria 1854-2004. Melbourne University Publishing. 2007. 978-0-522-85134-2. 255.
  11. Newsrail June 1984 p185
  12. Web site: V/LineCars.com - MTH Carriages . https://web.archive.org/web/20060819055424/http://www.vlinecars.com/mthcars.htm . August 19, 2006.
  13. Newsrail July 1985 pp.215-218
  14. Newsrail April 1985 pp.110-111
  15. Newsrail September 1986 p.275
  16. Book: Hughes, Colin A. . A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics, 1985-1999 . 2002 . Federation Press . 978-1-86287-434-3 . en.
  17. Web site: Remaining Orange V/Line liveried stock. Railpage. 31 January 2016. 11 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190411162345/http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p5979.htm#5979. live.
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20071107081009/http://www.vlinecars.com/fleetrefurb/launch.htm Carriage & Sprinter Refurbishment Program & New V/Line Livery
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20080506063637/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/56769d574d6b77c0ca257354007f40c1!OpenDocument New Look V/Line Fleet Takes to the Tracks
  20. Web site: Network Service Plan - South West Region Up . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170206022124/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSModules/SharePoint/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=VNAP&fileref=%2fNetworkServicesPlan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fSouth+Western+Region+Weekday+-+Up.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=98b9919be0f82e8ddbe89eb42ae891d18b1ad729e23a5e37a2997b38069804b3. 2017-02-06 . 2022-11-24 . V/Line Corporate.
  21. Web site: V/Line central region weekday network service plan August 2017 . 8 September 2017 . 9 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052049/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSModules/SharePoint/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=VNAP&fileref=%2fNetworkServicesPlan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fAugust+2017+Central+(Local)+Weekday+%2b8024.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=edb78f1cedd19ee7fbc10797a5c36d1cb1633ff1729d2ce0d3d61d0d6ab5e084 . live .
  22. Web site: V/Line south western region network service plan August 2017 . 8 September 2017 . 9 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170909004917/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSModules/SharePoint/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=VNAP&fileref=%2fNetworkServicesPlan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fAugust+2017+South+Western+Weekday.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=026043e42ff861dac19a63736aa54ab036ae94d913f3e21ad735bb4ed4452b90 . live .
  23. Web site: V/Line western region weekday network service plan August 2017 . 8 September 2017 . 9 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170909005313/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSModules/SharePoint/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=VNAP&fileref=%2fNetworkServicesPlan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fAugust+2017+Western+Weekday%2b8023%2b8024.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=f1b755f2fd7b41f3426f542ac00c6a6c1597f84aae03828f36366d8cf787cf55 . live .
  24. Web site: V/Line north eastern region weekday network service plan August 2017 . 8 September 2017 . 9 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170909004424/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSModules/SharePoint/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=VNAP&fileref=%2fNetworkServicesPlan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fAugust+2017+North+Eastern+Weekday%2b8024%2b8025.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=79e6bf348b0259dd9c116a221f92f53549aa274275268608475487a91791b49d . live .
  25. Web site: V/Line Passenger . 2022-02-13 . Network Service Plan - Passenger Schedules - Western . dead . 2022-03-08 . 2022-11-24 . V/Line Corporate. https://web.archive.org/web/20220308102340/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=Network-Service-Plan&fileref=%2fsites%2fExtranet%2fNetwork+Service+Plan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fFP55+13-02-22+Western+Weekday+NSP+221221.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=865e7961baf742a58eb7d809b87c625d3ed3a29b9a869d5370f697eab6158dfc .
  26. Web site: V/Line Passenger . 2022-02-13 . Network Service Plan - North East Goulburn Valley . dead . 2022-03-04 . 2022-11-24 . V/Line Corporate. https://web.archive.org/web/20220304184252/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=Network-Service-Plan&fileref=%2fsites%2fExtranet%2fNetwork+Service+Plan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fFP55+13-02-22+North+Eastern+Weekday+NSP+221221.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=28e0333f7c74e541d9b199cff88b09fb646638ddc652a1dcdc4c503b521f4ca1 .
  27. Web site: 2022-10-23 . Network Service Plan - South Western . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025114104/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=Network-Service-Plan&fileref=%2fsites%2fExtranet%2fNetwork+Service+Plan%2fPassenger+Schedules%2fFP59+23-10-22+South+Western+Weekday+NSP+051022.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=483d32f83926b5bb942f542e8c125949c3021abbb3abe678964e6b07aab44dd1 . 2022-10-25 . 2022-11-24 . V/Line Corporate.
  28. Web site: VICSIG . 2023-12-06 . vicsig.net.
  29. Web site: 2023-11-09 . Network Service Plan - Passenger Schedules Western. Vline. 2023-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109052947/https://corporate.vline.com.au/CMSPages/GetSharePointFile.ashx?connectionname=Network-Service-Plan&fileref=/sites/Extranet/Network+Service+Plan/Passenger+Schedules/FP62+19-11-23+Western+Weekday+NSP131023.pdf&cacheminutes=5&cachefilesize=1024&hash=045adcc34b46b646d35fc6ab8aeecaecf85ab6c11da5a78824d9de0fda106dcc . 9 November 2023 .
  30. Web site: 2024-02-03 . The END of V/Line H Sets in Victoria! (1812 Geelong H set Final Run) . . 2024-02-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213020237/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsCmziywkU . 13 February 2024 .
  31. Newsrail March 1986 pp.88-89
  32. Newsrail June 1986 p.166
  33. Newsrail October 1987 p.310
  34. Newsrail April 1988 p.121
  35. Newsrail April 19088 p.121
  36. Newsrail October 1997 p.323
  37. Newsrail April 1988 p.101
  38. Web site: One-off inter-carriage connections still fitted to carriage set SSH26 . 2024-01-16.
  39. Newsrail April 1986 p.120
  40. Web site: Network Service Plan - Addenda . https://web.archive.org/web/20210313084455/https://corporate.vline.com.au/getattachment/16cd1a7a-2973-4631-80fc-b6218b9ef990/Addenda . 13 March 2021.