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The Victorian Railways L class was a class of 2-4-0ST passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1861 and 1906, built by both George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England and Slaughter, Gruning & Co., Bristol, England.
Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 16–25. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the even numbers 14–32. [3] This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class L.
Seven locomotives were built by George England and Co. in 1859 with builder's numbers 156–166, and a further three were built by Slaughter, Grüning & Co. in 1860 with builder's numbers 408–410 at an average cost of £3305-18-8 for each loco. [3]
Upon introduction they were used on the Williamstown and Geelong lines, and hauled the first train on the Geelong–Ballarat line in 1862. [3] In 1893, seven were allocated to Melbourne and three were stored. [3]
They finished their days on suburban lines such as the Fairfield to Riversdale section of the Outer Circle line and the Burnley to Darling line. [3]
Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), and brakes.
L14 received a new boiler in 1875, L26 in 1884, L16 & L18 in 1885, and L24 in 1886. [3]
L28 was used as a stationary engine at Newport Workshops to drive forging machines between 1900 and c. 1908. L16 was used as a stationary engine at Mathieson's siding, Wandong from 1902. In September 1904, L32 had its tank, wheels, axles, and brakes removed and was sold to Sanderson's saw mill, Otway Ranges for £250 where it apparently survived until finally being scrapped c. 1941. [3]
The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1906. [3]
Key: | In service | Preserved | Stored or withdrawn | Scrapped |
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Locomotive | Previous numbers | Builder no. | Entered service | Withdrawn | Scrapped | Status | Notes |
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L14 | 16 | 156 | January 1861 | 11 June 1904 | Scrapped | Reboilered - 5 August 1875 [3] | |
L16 | 17 | 157 | January 1861 | 1902 | Scrapped | Reboilered - 17 December 1885. Stationary boiler at Mathieson's siding - 1902 [3] | |
L18 | 18 | 158 | July 1861 | 25 November 1905 | Scrapped | Reboilered - 26 October 1885 [3] | |
L20 | 19 | 159 | January 1861 | 20 January 1906 | Scrapped | [3] | |
L22 | 20 | 164 | December 1861 | 18 November 1905 | Scrapped | [3] | |
L24 | 21 | 165 | December 1861 | 22 October 1904 | Scrapped | Reboilered - 28 April 1886 [3] | |
L26 | 22 | 166 | September 1861 | 17 September 1904 | Scrapped | Reboilered - 13 June 1884 [3] | |
L28 | 23 | 408 | June 1861 | 1900 | c. 1908 | Scrapped | Stationary engine at Newport - 1900 [3] |
L30 | 24 | 409 | May 1861 | 23 July 1904 | Scrapped | [3] | |
L32 | 25 | 410 | June 1861 | October 1904 | c. 1941 | Scrapped | Sold to Sanderson's saw mill (£250) - September 1904 [3] |
The Victorian Railways X class was a mainline goods locomotive of the 2-8-2 'Mikado' type operated by the Victorian Railways (VR) between 1929 and 1960. They were the most powerful goods locomotive on the VR, aside from the single H class, H220, which was confined to the North East line, until the advent of diesel-electric traction, and operated over the key Bendigo, Wodonga, and Gippsland mainlines.
The AA class was an express passenger locomotive that ran on the Victorian Railways between 1900 and 1932. The largest, heaviest and most powerful 4-4-0 steam locomotive to run in Australia, it was the final development of this locomotive type in Australia.
The Victorian Railways B class was a class of 2-4-0 passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways (VR) between 1862 and 1917, built by various builders. The B class locomotives are regarded as the first mainline VR motive power, and were highly successful in passenger operations.
The Victorian Railways V class of 1857 was a class of 0-6-0 goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1858 and 1904, built by George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
The Victorian Railways F class was originally a class of 2-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1874 and 1929.
The Victorian Railways X class was a class of 0-6-0 mainline goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1886 and 1920.
The Victorian Railways G class was a class of 4-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1877 and 1904.
The Victorian Railways H class was a class of 4-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1877 and 1916.
The D class of 1887 were Phoenix-built locomotives to be used on Victorian Railways.
The D class of 1876 was the first example of American-built locomotives to be used on Victorian Railways, and among the first such engines to operate in Australia.
The Victorian Railways No. 1 was the first government passenger steam locomotive on Victorian Railways. It was a 2-2-2 passenger locomotive operated by the Victorian Railways between 1858 and 1890 and again between 1893 and 1904, built by George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
The Victorian Railways J class of 1859 was a class of 2-2-2 main line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1860 and 1912, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, England.
The Victorian Railways P class was a class of 0-6-0 goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1860 and 1921, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, England.
The Geelong & Melbourne Railway Company operated a total of 1 locomotive that fell under the Whyte notation of 0-4-0T, with a Vertical boiler, between 1855 and 1860. Later it was operated by the Victorian Railways between 1860 and 1893. This was the second locomotive manufactured in Australia.
The Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company operated a total of four 2-2-2WT locomotives between 1856 and 1860. They were later operated by the Victorian Railways between 1860 and 1889.
The Victorian Railways O class was a class of 0-6-0 goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1862 and 1922, built by various builders.
The Victorian Railways No. 100 was the first government built steam locomotive on Victorian Railways. It was a 2-4-0 passenger locomotive operated by the Victorian Railways between 1872 and 1916, built by Williamstown Workshops.
This was a group of 18 2-4-0WT passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company and an extra locomotive built from spare parts supplied with the other 18. These locomotives not only provided the bulk workforce of the early private railway operators in Victoria, but upon their withdrawal they once again proved themselves as useful as contractors locos building some of the railway lines for the then expanding Victorian Railway network.
This was a group of 6 4-4-0WT passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company for an early private railway operator in Victoria, and expanded by another 20 locomotives locally built by Robinson Brothers and Phoenix Foundry for the Victorian Railways. They later were known as the Victorian Railways C class.