The Victorian Railways rail tractors are a small shunting unit used by the Victorian Railways of Australia for moving railway wagons in at country stations and private sidings. Varying in power output and size, they are agricultural tractors on top of a four wheeled steel rail wagon frame.[1] Unit 54 is a one off unit acquired from the Portland Harbour Trust who used it on their private siding.
These shunters (except RT 54) are not fitted with air brakes but are through piped to enable them to be worked dead as part of a normal train.[2] Units currently authorised to operate on Victorian tracks are RT 3-40, 42-43 and 45-53; the second group being more powerful, and all being permitted to travel at 15 km/h maximum.[2] Units RT 18, 28 and 43 have been gauge converted and transferred to Sydney for use on the construction of the Epping to Chatswood railway.[3]
