Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954), Tuesday 6 January 1925, page 4


POWERFUL LOCOMOTIVE: The first of the new "C" class locomotives to be used in the Western andNorthern Northern districts for the haulage of wheat was put on the line on Friday. It is to be used to draw the trains from Ararat to Geelong via the Maroona plains line, which line takes off at Maroona from the Hamilton line, and joins the Geelong line at Gheringhap. The new engine is capable of hauling 1200 tons of wheat, as against 780 tons hauled by. the "A2" class, and as two of the latter had to be used for a load which the `'C" class can handle singly there is a distinct saving in. steam power and working expenses. There' is also another advantage in that two ''C"' class engines will pull two trains equal to the loading of three each drawvn by "'A2'' class engines, so that a whole train is saved. The "C" class is not likely to be seen on the Ballarat lines save casually, as the gradients are too steep for such big tonnage. Nor will they be used between Stawell and Ararat for the same reason. They are immense engines, and their capacity to haul huge loads over easy gradients will make them a decided asset during wheat transport time.