Beginning of the End, Interurban Locomotive Hauled Services.

Signs of modernity, change and a bid for faster diesel multiple units.

Beginning of the end, two SLH sets to remain until mid-2024.

V/Line Locomotive Hauled Fleet has seen rapid change since the 2010’s, with the removal of the P Class and A Class. Now, we are about to see the N Class replaced with VLocity units.

The backbone of the Interurban Fleet is the V/Line H set carriages, designed for high capacity in a 2+3 formation from former Harris multiple units. The majority of the H sets are comprised from 60ft Harris Trailer and Motor cars with only two sets made from 70ft Longer Harris Trailer and Motor cars which were done during the ‘New Deal’ to boost customer morale.

*60ft — SH (Short Harris), 70ft — LH (Long Harris).

Inside BTH carriage, facing towards the locomotive.

H sets are semi-permament sets of three carriages (BCH-BH-BTH) but later reformed into the six car — SSH or SLH sets (BCH-BH-BTH-BCH-BH-BTH).

The H Set historically ran to Sunbury, Shepparton, Wyndham Vale and Leongatha with the remaining sets running to Bacchus Marsh and Geelong to suppliment the growing demand for those regions.

N475 ‘City of Moe’ approaches Deer Park Station.

Throughout 2023, I’ve documented majority of the Bacchus Marsh operations whilst in its peak period of operations. But in recent weeks, the Bacchus Marsh N Class hauled services will end as V/Line moves forward with modernisation plans as five services rostered with ‘N-SSH’ turns into one.

N453 ‘City of Albury’ leads the evening peak hour service to Bacchus Marsh with SSH23 in tow.

N468 ‘City of Bairnsdale’ arrives into Melton.

The peak hour services to Bacchus Marsh were established to deal with the growing patronage at Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Cobblebank and Melton, as Melbourne’s outer west expands outwards.

V/Line has moved some SSH sets to Echuca and Shepparton for storage. SSH27/28 had moved up first and eventually taken back to Newport Workshops for disposal. SSH26 and SSH31 have since moved to Echuca for storage.
As of writing this article, only one SSH set and two SLH sets remain in active operation. SSH23, the last operational SSH set will likely be withdrawn from active service at the end of 2023.

Photographing N’s in the Goulburn Valley.

Under FP62 (November 2023), the master train plan only requires two SLH set and no SSH sets. With one SLH running to Melton / Bacchus Marsh and the other SLH to Geelong.

The remaining H-Set services allocated as follows:

• 0723 Melbourne Southern Cross (ex Geelong)**
• 0726 Melbourne Southern Cross (ex- Bacchus Marsh)*
• 1631 Geelong **
• 1721 Melton then Bacchus Marsh.*

*Its also understood that the Melton / Bacchus Marsh H sets services will cease on 8/12/2023 as a VLocity unit will be taking its place.

**Geelong H-Set services will remain until February, where a proposed timetable change will see them taken out of service, ending an era of H-Set carriages being in use.

We are about to see the final H Set services go in Early 2024, enjoy it whilst you still can.