N-Class, the Powerhouse of V/Line Victoria.

N464 ‘City of Geelong’ leads the down ex-Melton empty cars service to Bacchus Marsh, seen here at Parwan Curves on decent into Bacchus Marsh.

V/Line Victoria is about to celebrate 40 years since its inception in 1983, since taking over from Victorian Railways and has outlived the sectored privatisation attempts.

As V/Line’s owner, the Department of Transport prepares for the next 10 years, DOT is planning the modern fleet renewal towards possible VLocity only solution.

One by one, the N classes are fading away into history and plans for only one line to retain N Class locomotives in 2026, I thought it was time to actually document the N classes before they are gone.

N Class consist of 25 class members (N451–475), with each one named after a Victorian City (and one NSW City). The N Class locomotives were ordered in two batches, N451–460, N461–475 (N461-N475 were built from surplus EMD parts that were originally allocated to the A Class fleet conversion project.)

With a handful of peak and long distance services still operated with the N class, the fleet is becoming rarer and rarer to see in day to day operation.

• Swan Hill 2x Services per Day, in each direction.
• Warrnambool 5x Services per Weekday, 3x per Weekend, in each direction.
• Geelong 2x Services per Weekday, in each direction.
• Melton / Bacchus Marsh 5x Services per Weekday in each direction.
• Bairnsdale 1x Evening Service (to Bairnsdale) and 1x Morning (to Melbourne) in each direction per day.

N473 ‘City of Warragul’ leading the evening Gippslander to Bairnsdale.

N453 ‘City of Albury’ in-between SSH25 and SSH28 at Spencer Street Station.

N458 ‘City of Maryborough’, passing the soon to be removed level crossing at Deer Park.

Cobblebank with N462 ‘City of Shepparton’ on a evening Melton service.

LEFT: N Class locomotives cross at Broadmeadows, RIGHT: N451 ‘City of Portland’ idles away at Seymour Road 2.

N453 ‘City of Albury’ takes one of the last Shepparton services to Shepparton, passing the photographer here at Kilmore East. 30th September 2022.

N464 ‘City of Geelong’ hauls the Southern Aurora for the first time, Albion Victoria.

Inside the Cab, and the future of V/Line at Newport Workshops.

N453 ‘City of Albury’, bowing one last time on the afternoon ex-Albury service.