South Australian Railways A class

Last updated

South Australian Railways A Class
South Australian Railways A Class No. 19.jpg
South Australian Railways A Class No. 19
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Robert Stephenson and Company
Serial number1827-1828 & 2108
Build date1868
Total produced3
Rebuilder Islington Railway Workshops
Rebuild date1889 (No. 1) 1883 & 1911 (No. 19)
Number rebuilt2
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 2-4-0 WT
   UIC 1'B T
Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Length26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Height12 ft 10 in (3,911.6 mm)
Axle load 10 long tons 15 cwt (12.0 short tons; 10.9 t)
Loco weight30 long tons 4 cwt (33.8 short tons; 30.7 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity13+34 long hundredweight (0.77 short tons; 0.70 t)
Water cap.225 imp gal (1,020 l; 270 US gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
11.7 sq ft (1.09 m2)
Boiler pressure130 lbf/in2 (896 kPa)
Heating surface:
  Tubes
751.6 sq ft (69.83 m2)
  Firebox65.9 sq ft (6.12 m2)
Cylinders Two
Cylinder size 14 in × 22 in (356 mm × 559 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 7,940 lbf (35.32 kN)
Career
Operators South Australian Railways
Class A
Number in class3
Numbers1, 19 & 20
First run9.1868
Withdrawn1893–1924
Scrapped1893–1924
DispositionAll scrapped

The South Australian Railways A Class locomotives arrived for the South Australian Railways in September and October 1868 from Robert Stephenson and Company. A third and final locomotive was ordered and arrived in 1873, these locomotives were withdrawn between 1893 and 1924 from the SAR after many years of hard service. [1]

History

The railway line from Roseworthy to Forresters (now known as Tarlee), was opened of rail traffic on the 5th of July 1896. The line was originally designed and intended for horse traction and was laid with light 40 pound rail. The idea of horsepower was later discarded and eventually the first two locomotives imported from the Robert Stephenson and Company arrived. These first lot of two locomotives were designated the "A Class" and were put to work on the Roseworthy to Forresters line. The A class were a first for the South Australian Railways, being the first Broad Gauge locomotives to be fitted with outside cylinders. Though not long after these new locomotives arrived they were found to be quite rigid in their wheelbase and too heavy for the light track. With the arrival of the new F class locomotives in September 1869 the A class had their place taken on this stretch of line.

Following the A class locomotives being moved from the Roseworthy to Forresters railway line, they were then placed in service on the Port line. On the Port line these locomotives proved to be a much more valuable asset, so much so that a third locomotive was ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company and arrived in 1873. Over their career these three engines were allocated to suburban passenger and goods services around the South Australian Railways network. Together these locomotives performed shunting duties for many years at various locations, including the Adelaide railway yard. One of the three locomotives was stationed for a period of years at Strathalbyn and was in service to work from Strathalbyn to Milang. The Milang line was a branch off the Victor Harbor Railway Line. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">0-4-0</span> Locomotive wheel arrangement

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven. The wheels on the earliest four-coupled locomotives were connected by a single gear wheel, but from 1825 the wheels were usually connected with coupling rods to form a single driven set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in South Australia</span>

The first railway in colonial South Australia was a line from the port of Goolwa on the River Murray to an ocean harbour at Port Elliot, which first operated in December 1853, before its completion in May 1854.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways</span> Government department that ran South Australias railways from 1854 to 1978

South Australian Railways (SAR) was the statutory corporation through which the Government of South Australia built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 until March 1978, when its non-urban railways were incorporated into Australian National, and its Adelaide urban lines were transferred to the State Transport Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways Redhen railcar</span>

Redhen railcar was the nickname given to the 300 and 400 classes of diesel-hydraulic railcars designed and built by the South Australian Railways’ Islington Railway Workshops between 1955 and 1971. The class remained in service until 1996 and remain a nostalgic part of South Australian culture; some are operated by the SteamRanger Heritage Railway and other railway preservation entities.

The Port Melbourne railway line is a former railway line in Melbourne, Australia, opened in September 1854, that is now a light rail line. It was instigated by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company to carry passengers arriving in Victoria at Station Pier and to alleviate the high cost of shipping goods using small vessels up the Yarra River to Melbourne. The line's conversion to light rail occurred in 1987; it is now served by tram route 109.

The Canterbury Provincial Railways was an early part of the railways of New Zealand. Built by the Canterbury Provincial government mainly to the broad gauge of 5 ft 3 in, the railway reached most of the Canterbury region by the time the province was abolished in 1876. Edward Dobson, the Provincial Engineer from 1854 to 1868, was the designer and overseer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAGR V class</span> Class of 24 Australian 2–8-2 locomotives

The WAGR V class was the last class of steam locomotive to enter service with the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). The class was part of the post war regeneration plan for the WAGR, intended for the heavy coal traffic between the Collie coal fields and Perth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Town Railway & Dock 2-4-0T</span>

The Cape Town Railway & Dock 2-4-0T of 1864 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT</span>

The Cape Government Railways 2nd Class 2-6-2TT of 1875 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

The Milang railway line was a branch line, now closed, of the former South Australian Railways that left the mainline to Victor Harbor at the farming locality of Sandergrove, 9 km (6 mi) south of Strathalbyn and 89.7 km (55.75 mi) by rail from Adelaide. From there it proceeded in a south-easterly direction for 13.1 km (8.1 mi) to the riverport of Milang on Lake Alexandrina, in the estuary of the River Murray. The line was opened on 17 December 1884; it was formally closed on 17 June 1970. The route is now a "rail trail" that is popular with hikers. The precincts of the former Milang station house a railway museum that includes an innovative locomotive driving simulator for visitors to operate. Onsite is a centre for South Australian historical light railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peterborough railway line</span>

The Peterborough railway line was a railway line on the South Australian Railways network. It extended from a junction at Roseworthy on the Morgan railway line through Hamley Bridge, Riverton, initially to Tarlee, then extended in stages to Peterborough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways locomotives 1–3</span> First three locomotives of the South Australian Railways, delivered 1856

South Australian Railways locomotives 1, 2 and 3, the first locomotives delivered to the railway, arrived in time for deployment on the soon-to-be-opened Adelaide to Port Adelaide line. Built in 1855 by William Fairbairn & Sons in Manchester, UK, they arrived at Port Adelaide on the brig Theodore in November 1855, and were unloaded in January 1856; they were assembled and placed service in the succeeding three months. They were named Adelaide, Victoria and Albert but were numbered only after many years, and a locomotive class was never assigned to them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways C class</span>

The South Australian Railways C Class locomotives were built by the Robert Stephenson and Company for the South Australian Railways in 1856. The first locomotive was in service by November 1856, with the second engine in service by January 1857. They were both withdrawn after long service lives, with No. 5 being withdrawn after 50 years working on the SAR. No. 6 lasted well into Commissioner Webbs era, finally being withdrawn in 1926 at almost 70 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways F class (1869)</span> SAR steam locomotive class built 1869

The two South Australian Railways F Class (1st) locomotives were built in England in 1869 by the Avonside Engine Company of Bristol. No. 21 entered service on the South Australian Railways in September 1869; No. 22 followed in October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways G class</span>

The South Australian Railways G Class locomotives first appeared on the South Australian Railways in 1869 after being purchased from Beyer, Peacock and Company. More locomotives were purchased and in service by 1880, and again in 1886. The G class was extinct by 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways H class</span> Class of 9 Australian 4-4-0 locomotives

The South Australian Railways H Class locomotives were built by Robert Stephenson and Company in 1870 for the South Australian Railways. The first of three numbered 25, 26 and 27 were all in service by June 1871. After being a well received class, two more locomotives were ordered and were in service by October 1872. Nos. 30 and 31 arrived in August 1874. The final two locomotives ordered for the SAR arrived in August 1877 and were numbered 2 and 3. These locomotives worked on the SAR system for many years, with only one member of the class being withdrawn in 1888. The rest of the class were rebuilt over the years and lasted well into the next century with, the final locomotive being withdrawn by 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways I class (first)</span> Class of 1 Australian 0-4-0T locomotive

The first South Australian Railways I class locomotive was built by Neilson and Company, Scotland for the Canterbury Provincial Railways, New Zealand in 1873 and numbered 9. In May 1878 the South Australian Railways (SAR) purchased it. The ship that transported it to South Australia was wrecked, but the locomotive was salvaged and entered service on the SAR in April 1879 as number 38. In 1880 or 1881 it was renumbered 48. It was allocated to "I" class – which was ultimately to be known as the "first I class" – in 1887 or 1888. In October 1905 the SAR withdrew it from service, then sold it in May 1906 to the South Australian Harbours Board for use in the construction of the Outer Harbour breakwater. It was scrapped in August 1909.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways K class (broad gauge)</span> Class of South Australian Railways broad-gauge steam locomotive delivered between 1879 and 1884

Eighteen South Australian Railways K class (broad-gauge) locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company for the South Australian Railways (SAR) between 1878 and 1884. Despite having a fundamental design flaw that affected their original role as light-line passenger locomotives, they eventually performed shunting duties exclusively. They operated for six decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways L class</span> South Australian Railways 4-4-0 broad gauge locomotives built in 1879 by Beyer, Peacock & Co.

Four South Australian Railways L class broad-gauge locomotives with a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in 1879 and entered service in March–April 1880. They were condemned in 1928 and 1931, and were subsequently scrapped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways O class (second)</span>

The South Australian Railways O Class (2nd) locomotive was a 4-4-0WT built by Robert Stephenson and Company in 1868 for the Launceston and Western Railway Company. It entered service with the South Australian Railways in 1912 and was cut up in 1930.

References

  1. TURNER, JIM (1998). EARLY AUSTRALIAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVES 1855-1895. South Australia: Kangaroo Press. p. 42. ISBN   0-86417-875-1.
  2. Fluck, R. E.; Sampson, R.; Bird, K. J. (1986). Steam Locomotives and Railcars of the South Australian Railways. South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. p. 45. ISBN   0959 5073 37.
  3. Drymalik, Chris. "Broad Gauge A-class 2-4-0 well tank locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth Railways Information (ComRails). Retrieved 30 July 2019.