The covers of our June edition are all about G Classes. On our front cover is a 1961 photograph of narrow-gauge steam locomotive G42, which entered service 100 years ago this month, rumbling across the Gellibrand River in the final months of the Beech Forest Line. On the rear cover, we have a superb image of our new G Class tram, G1.7001, undertaking a test run along the palm-lined tramway running along Mt Alexander Road, Essendon.
5 June 2026 marks 100 years since the entry into service of the Victorian Railways G Class, which despite plans for more to be constructed, only ever numbered two locomotives. To mark their centenary, we take a look at the interesting story of these locomotives. While history has judged that the four 2-foot-6-inch narrow-gauge railways built by Victorian Railways were an economic failure, the G Class Garratt locomotives did much to improve the situation. With a tractive effort more than double that of the NA Class locomotives, they were able to haul able goods trains with more than double the loading, greatly reducing operating cost per ton-mile. As a result, it is probable that the two lines on which they operated remained open longer than they otherwise might have.From history made in 1926, we move forward to history being made in 2026. Thomas Hobley takes a ride on the new X’Trapolis 2.0, train, already being referred to simply as the XT2, on its inaugural run to Upfield. His report on the run includes photos that capture the jubilant atmosphere of the occasion as excited railfans packed the train.
Mark Cauchi has uncovered a trove of superbly sharp photographs of a spectacular 1957 derailment at Ballan in which a broken axle derailed a fast goods service from Adelaide, with the axle crashing into the front yard of a Departmental Residence where only a minute or two earlier, four children had been playing. Mark delves into the detail of the collision, in which some wagons and louvre vans in the consist were torn apart or crushed, while three motor body transport wagons carrying FE Holden carbodies to Melbourne for assembly remained relatively unscatched. There are excellent photographs of the recovery operations, which show the railway steam cranes at work.
Trevor Penn presents another fascinating image in our Photo in focus series. This month we take a look at Ouyen Station on a morning back in 1925 as the AEC rail motor arrives with the service from Murrayville. As is customary, Trevor examines the plethora of historic details in the image. Trevor also takes a look at a reader-sent photo of Spencer Street Station in 1986, contrasting the many changes since a 1961 photo he examined in our December 2025 edition.
Our rolling stock column takes a look at recent developments, including the delivery of VLocity set VL141, which may likely be the last set to be built, and the storage of veteran PN locomotives X48 and X50.
Our tourist and heritage rail column takes us again to Mornington Tourist Railway, where recently-retired V/Line car BZN275 has joined the fleet still clad in its PTV ‘shard’ vinyl wrap, making for interesting photography coupled to the railway’s K Class steam loco.
Our news section covers the order of 25 more XT2 sets, Melton electrification, Inland Rail, other rail expenditure in the State Budget, and TSRs affecting V/Line punctuality, while our Tramway section takes a look at G1 tram testing and the possibility of a smaller G2 variant of the G Class.
And our usual other columns are there:
- Infrastructure
- Operations and sightings
- PTV service quality
- Where is it?
- Taildisc
