Victorian Railways 'Old' V class were the first government goods steam locomotives on Victorian Railways, built by George England & Co. The four engines were 0-6-0 configuration tender engines built in 1857-8 with builders numbers 142-145. The engines arrived in Port Phillip in September 1858 along with a passenger locomotive of 2-2-2 tender configuration. The passenger loco, the first Victorian government passenger loco, had the builders number 146.
The small 2-2-2 passenger engine was quite successful over easier runs and five more were ordered in May 1860. During 1871 it was converted to 2-4-0 configuration to handle heavier loads and steeper gradients on the newer lines.
The first system used by Victorian Railways of identifying the locomotives was consecutive numbering from 1 onwards for both passenger and goods locomotives; so the goods engines were numbered 1-4 and the passenger engine No.1. This was soon changed to consecutive numbering from 1-5 allotted with the goods locos adding 1 to their numbers. This numbering was later superseded by the introduction of the system of allotting odd numbers starting from 1 for goods locomotives, and even numbers starting from 2 for passenger locos. This system remained in use until 1912. It was expedient to begin the odds and evens series with the J Class with the goods locos numbered 11-17 (Odds only) and passenger loco numbered 12.
In the 1886 identification system the goods locos were classed V but engine No. 12 remained unclassed. Eventually both numbers 12 and 13 were sold, No. 12 to the Yarrawonga Council for use on the Katamatite tramway, then bought back and renumbered because other engines had taken their numbers in the meantime. Numbers 12 and 13 became numbers 528 and 497. No 11 was taken off register in May 1891 when it was sold to contractor Andrew O'Keefe for $2700. Withdrawals of the other four took place in 1904 with the last No 15 being withdrawn on the 13 September.