Victorian Railways E class

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-4-2 T (71) & 0-6-2 T (5), later 24x 2-4-2 converted to 0-6-2.
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Driver dia.	5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Length	33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
Height	12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3,898.9 mm)
Axle load	16 long tons 8 cwt (36,700 lb or 16.7 t)
• Coupled	16 long tons 8 cwt (36,700 lb or 16.7 t)
Loco weight	53 long tons 8 cwt (119,600 lb or 54.3 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	2 long tons 10 cwt (5,600 lb or 2.5 t)
Water cap.	1,600 imp gal (1,900 US gal; 7,300 L)

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Edward Alexander Jeffreys
Builder	Kitson & Company, David Munro & Co, Phoenix Foundry
Build date	1888-1894
Total produced	76
Rebuilder	Victorian Railways, Newport Workshops
Number rebuilt	24

Victorian Railways E class
Victorian Railways E class
	Builders photo of Tasmania, 1888
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Edward Alexander Jeffreys
Builder	Kitson & Company, David Munro & Co, Phoenix Foundry
Build date	1888-1894
Total produced	76
Rebuilder	Victorian Railways, Newport Workshops
Number rebuilt	24
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-4-2 T (71) & 0-6-2 T (5), later 24x 2-4-2 converted to 0-6-2.
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Driver dia.	5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Length	33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
Height	12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3,898.9 mm)
Axle load	16 long tons 8 cwt (36,700 lb or 16.7 t)
• Coupled	16 long tons 8 cwt (36,700 lb or 16.7 t)
Loco weight	53 long tons 8 cwt (119,600 lb or 54.3 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	2 long tons 10 cwt (5,600 lb or 2.5 t)
Water cap.	1,600 imp gal (1,900 US gal; 7,300 L)
Operators
Career
Operators	Victorian Railways, South Australian Railways
Numbers	426 (Kitson), 346 to 394 (even numbers, Phoenix Foundry), 12, 34, 36, 428 to 460 (even numbers, Phoenix Foundry) and 472 to 520 (even numbers, David Munro)
Delivered	1888
First run	1889
Last run	1972
Preserved	E369, E371, E236
Scrapped	1915-1960s
Current owner	VicTrack Heritage, Victorian Goldfields Railway.
Disposition	3 preserved, remainder scrapped

Last updated December 01, 2024

The E class was a class of suburban tank steam locomotive that ran on Australia's Victorian Railways (VR).

History

During the late 19th century, Victorian Railways had ended up with a mixed fleet of locomotives of various designs, which had caused maintenance difficulties. To solve this, Richard Speight, a VR commissioner who had worked for the Midland Railway, set out a program to adopt standardized locomotive designs based on British practices. Tasked with designing locomotives for the scheme was Edward Alexander Jeffreys, who designed 5 classes of locomotive for Victorian Railways, all using standard parts. These would become the D class and New A class 4-4-0s, the New R class and Y class 0-6-0s, and the E class 2-4-2T.

After the design for Jeffreys' 2-4-2T design was finalized by VR, a contract was awarded to the Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat for construction of 25 locomotives in 1887, while an example was built by Kitson & Co of Leeds in 1888 for the Melbourne Centennial Exhibitions at the Royal Exhibitions Building, built to Jeffreys' original design without the local changes done by VR. The engine, named Tasmania , was displayed alongside an example of Jeffery’s 0-6-0 goods engine design (later Y class) named Victoria , also built by Kitson. In 1889, Tasmania entered service as E426. 20 more locomotives would also be built by the Phoenix Foundry from 1892.

Although considered to be a prototype due to it being the first E class delivered, Tasmania did not serve as the pattern engine of the class, as the Phoenix Foundry examples were already ordered by the time it was built.^[1]

In April 1890, Victorian Railways awarded another contract to David Munro & Company of South Melbourne. They would finish their first locomotive in 1892 and built more locomotives until the last one was completed in 1894.

Seventy engines were eventually built locally. They were numbered 346 to 394 (even numbers, Phoenix Foundry), 12, 34, 36, 428 to 460 (even numbers, Phoenix Foundry), and 472 to 520 (even numbers, David Munro).^[2]

Phoenix delivered five additional locomotives designated as the E^E class, numbered 462, 464, 466, 468, and 470. These had a new wheel arrangement of 0-6-2T, specifically designed for shunting use. After evaluation, engines 482 and 496 in 1898, followed by 490 and 478 in 1906-1907, were converted to the same format, although the latter two used 170psi boilers and 18-inch cylinders in place of the earlier 140psi boilers and 17-inch cylinders.^[2]

E426 (the Kitson locomotive) was the first E class to be withdrawn in 1915, and two more units in 1917. Melbourne's suburban electrification project made the 2-4-2T engines quickly obsolete. Between 1919-1923, twenty were converted to match the nine existing shunters' 0-6-2T configuration (all bar 494 upgraded to 18-inch cylinders), while another twenty-five were withdrawn. Of the latter group, twenty were sold to the South Australian Railways to become their second M class.^[2] An additional eighteen were withdrawn in 1924, leaving only a single 2-4-2T type in service.

In the 1923 locomotive renumbering scheme, the E^E class engines were reclassified in the 350-379 group. By 1929, this had expanded to 390, and the group was reclassified as E.^[2]

The original 2-4-2T engines were intended to take numbers 236-245 without a class letter. However, only one engine survived long enough to have the new number applied. Thus, 506 became 236.^[2]

Class table

Builder	No.	Type	On register	E	Convert	Renumber	New E^E no.	Reclass as E	Sold to SAR	New M no.	Off register	Notes
Kitson	3088	2-4-2T	1889	426							1915	Pattern engine
Phoenix	251	2-4-2T	1889	346							1920	Damaged in accident 1891. Phoenix No.252 was not of this class.
Phoenix	253	2-4-2T	1889	348	1923	1923	380	1929			1959
Phoenix	254	2-4-2T	1889	350					1920	256
Phoenix	255	2-4-2T	1889	352					1920	262
Phoenix	256	2-4-2T	1890	354							1924
Phoenix	257	2-4-2T	1890	356							1917
Phoenix	258	2-4-2T	1890	358							1924
Phoenix	259	2-4-2T	1890	360							1924
Phoenix	260	2-4-2T	1890	362	1922	-	362	1931			1954
Phoenix	261	2-4-2T	1890	364	1922	-	364	Unknown^[2]			1955	Collision with engine M 316, 1903
Phoenix	262	2-4-2T	1890	366					1921	267
Phoenix	263	2-4-2T	1890	368							1924	Accident 1890, derailed 1900, collision 1902
Phoenix	264	2-4-2T	1890	370	1922	-	370	1929			1959
Phoenix	265	2-4-2T	1890	372					1920	257		Fitted with Gibson patented link-motion 1893; in Richmond 1908 accident
Phoenix	266	2-4-2T	1890	374	1921	-	374	1930			1961	At Ararat 1915-1916; first engine (with E386) painted red and chocolate livery in 1903.
Phoenix	267	2-4-2T	1890	376	1921	-	376	1930			1955
Phoenix	268	2-4-2T	1890	378	1922	-	378	Unknown^[2]			1951
Phoenix	269	2-4-2T	1890	380					1921	268
Phoenix	270	2-4-2T	1890	382							1920
Phoenix	271	2-4-2T	1890	384					1921	269
Phoenix	272	2-4-2T	1890	386					1921	270		First engine (with E374) painted red and chocolate livery in 1903.
Phoenix	273	2-4-2T	1890	388							1924
Phoenix	274	2-4-2T	1890	390	Unknown^[2]	-	390	Unknown</ref>			1955	Assume upgraded, else it would have been renumbered 237-245 range?
Phoenix	275	2-4-2T	1890	392							1920
Phoenix	276	2-4-2T	1890	394							1924
Phoenix	290	2-4-2T	1892	12							1924
Phoenix	291	2-4-2T	1892	34	1921	1925	350	1929			1953
Phoenix	292	2-4-2T	1892	36					1921	266
Phoenix	293	2-4-2T	1892	428	1922	1925	351	1929			1954
Phoenix	294	2-4-2T	1892	430					1921	271
Phoenix	295	2-4-2T	1892	432							1924
Phoenix	296	2-4-2T	1892	434					1920	258
Phoenix	297	2-4-2T	1892	436	1923	1923	377	Unknown^[2]			1962
Phoenix	298	2-4-2T	1893	438	1923	1923	381	1929			1954	Casualty at Jolimont 1901 with E 494
Phoenix	299	2-4-2T	1893	440					1920	263
Phoenix	300	2-4-2T	1893	442							1924	Ran off end of siding, Hawthorn, 1899
Phoenix	301	2-4-2T	1893	444							1924
Phoenix	302	2-4-2T	1893	446					1920	264
Phoenix	303	2-4-2T	1893	448							1924
Phoenix	304	2-4-2T	1893	450							1920
Phoenix	305	2-4-2T	1893	452					1920	259
Phoenix	306	2-4-2T	1893	454	1920	1923	352	1931			1954
Phoenix	307	2-4-2T	1893	456					1921	272
Phoenix	308	2-4-2T	1893	458					1921	273
Phoenix	309	2-4-2T	1893	460							1917
Phoenix	310	0-6-2T	1893	462	As built	1923	353	1929			1954	17in cylinders from new.
Phoenix	311	0-6-2T	1893	464	As built	1923	355	1929			1956	17in cylinders from new.
Phoenix	312	0-6-2T	1893	466	As built	1923	356	1929			1954	17in cylinders from new.
Phoenix	313	0-6-2T	1893	468	As built	1923	357	1929			1960	17in cylinders from new. Ran into North Melbourne Depot turntable pit
Phoenix	314	0-6-2T	1893	470	As built	1923	359	1929			1937	17in cylinders from new.
Munro	01	2-4-2T	1892	472							1924
Munro	02	2-4-2T	1892	474							1924	Ran through South Yarra floods 1907
Munro	03	2-4-2T	1892	476							1924
Munro	04	2-4-2T	1892	478	1907	1923	361	1929			1954	E^E upgrade used 18in cylinders. Ran off end of siding at Ringwood and overturned, 1908
Munro	05	2-4-2T	1892	480							1924	Fitted with Gibson patented link-motion 1893
Munro	06	2-4-2T	1892	482	1898	1924	363	Unknown^[2]			1955	E^E upgrade used 17in cylinders; 18in cylinders fitted in 1929. Collision with engine R 324, 1927
Munro	07	2-4-2T	1892	484	1921	1924	365	1930			1954
Munro	08	2-4-2T	1892	486	1920	1924	366	Unknown^[2]			1956
Munro	09	2-4-2T	1892	488							1924	Damaged in Newport Yards 1896
Munro	10	2-4-2T	1892	490	1906	1923	367	Unknown^[2]			1956	E^E upgrade used 18in cylinders.
Munro	11	2-4-2T	1892	492					1921	274
Munro	12	2-4-2T	1892	494	1919	1923	369	1931			1972 (Preserved)	E^E upgrade used 17in cylinders. Accident with E 438 at Jolimont 1901 and Richmond 1908
Munro	13	2-4-2T	1892	496	1898	1923	371	1929			1972 (Preserved)	E^E upgrade used 17in cylinders; 18in cylinders fitted in 1929.
Munro	14	2-4-2T	1893	498	1920	1925	372	1931			1959
Munro	15	2-4-2T	1893	500							1920	Accident at Spencer Street Station 1910
Munro	16	2-4-2T	1893	502							1924
Munro	17	2-4-2T	1893	504					1920	260
Munro	18	2-4-2T	1893	506							1953 (Preserved)	Renumbered 236 (unclassed) in 1923
Munro	19	2-4-2T	1893	508					1920	265
Munro	20	2-4-2T	1893	510	1922	1924	373	1929			1956	Broken connecting rod pierced boiler, 1899
Munro	21	2-4-2T	1893	512							1924
Munro	22	2-4-2T	1894	514	1923	1923	379	1931			1962	Hauled royal train from Port Melbourne, 1901
Munro	23	2-4-2T	1894	516					1920	261
Munro	24	2-4-2T	1894	518	1920	1922	375	Unknown^[2]			1955
Munro	25	2-4-2T	1894	520					1921	275

Retirements and preservation

In November 1937, E359 became the first 0-6-2T type to be taken off the register, while the remaining engines stayed on the register until the 1950s, with six of them continued to operate until the early 1960s.

The last original 2-4-2T engine, 236, was used as a shunter at Newport Workshops until it was taken out of service in 1953. The locomotive was then selected for display at Spencer Street Station for the 100th anniversary of Victoria's railways as it was in good enough condition, ultimately sparing it from immediate scrapping. The engine was eventually restored and displayed from the 11th to the 25th of September, 1954.^[3] It was then stored at Newport Workshops and later allocated to the newly established ARHS Railway Museum in Newport as one of its first display pieces, where it resides as of 2016^[update].

The last two locomotives in service, 369 and 371, worked as yard pilots at Newport Workshops until their withdrawal in 1972. After retirement, E369 was transferred to the Newport Railway Museum.

E371 was moved to storage at Newport Workshops until the 1980s when it was bought by the Castlemaine & Maldon Railway Group. It would be transferred to Spotswood so it could be dismantled for future restoration. It was eventually found out that the locomotive had sustained significant damage to parts of its frames and boiler, which was considered too costly to repair at the time. Therefore, E371 was reassembled sometime in the 1990s and transferred to Maldon Railway Station for display.^{[ original research? ]}

Around April 2022, E371 was cosmetically overhauled with a brand-new coat of black paint, including painted cab and number plates in the form of stickers, and was moved to the station’s Dock Platform for display.

236 at Newport Workshops, 1950
E369 at the Newport Railway Museum
David Munro & Company locomotive builders plate as seen on E236
E371 on display at Maldon

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References

↑ Newsrail April 2024 Volume 52-Number 4. ISSN 0310-7477.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Cave, N.; Buckland, J.; Beardsell, D. (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First 50 Years. Australian Railway Historical Society, Victorian Division. pp. 150–158. ISBN 1876677384.
↑ Newsrail April 2023 Volume 51-Number 4. ISSN 0310-7477.

External links

Victorian Preserved Steam Locomotives detailed information about all surviving ex-VR steam locos.
Diagram of 2-4-2T E class locomotive
Diagram of 0-6-2T E^E class locomotive
Picture of E 446
E^E 371
E 446 Side view
E 250
E^E 494
E 480
E 512
E-class locomotive at Korong Vale

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[1] Newsrail April 2024 Volume 52-Number 4. ISSN 0310-7477.

[Cave50-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Cave, N.; Buckland, J.; Beardsell, D. (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First 50 Years. Australian Railway Historical Society, Victorian Division. pp. 150–158. ISBN 1876677384.

[3] Newsrail April 2023 Volume 51-Number 4. ISSN 0310-7477.

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