Victorian Railways X class (1886)

Last updated

Victorian Railways X class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Phoenix Foundry
Serial number185-199
Build date1886-1887
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 0-6-0
Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Wheelbase 37 ft 4+12 in (11.392 m)
Length48 ft 9+12 in (14.872 m) [1]
Height13 ft 5+34 in (4,108 mm) [1]
Axle load 14  long tons  3 cwt (31,700 lb or 14.4 t)
Loco weight41  long tons  14 cwt (93,400 lb or 42.4 t)
Tender weight25  long tons  14 cwt (57,600 lb or 26.1 t)
Total weight67  long tons  8 cwt (151,000 lb or 68.5 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity70  long cwt (7,800 lb or 3,600 kg)
Water cap.2,220 imp gal (10,100 L; 2,670 US gal)
Boiler pressureOriginal:
140  psi (965  kPa)
Reboilered 1900:
155  psi (1,069  kPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox103.76 sq ft (9.640 m2)
  Tubes1,313.76 sq ft (122.052 m2)
  Total surface1,416.96 sq ft (132 m2)
Cylinders 2
Cylinder size 18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort Original:
14,040  lbf (62.5  kN) at 100 psi
Reboilered 1900:
17,410  lbf (77.4  kN) at 80% boiler pressure
Career
Operators Victorian Railways
NumbersX353-X381 (odd only)
First run3 August 1886
Last run19 November 1920
(34.3 years)
Disposition15 scrapped

The Victorian Railways X class was a class of 0-6-0 mainline goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1886 and 1920.

Contents

History

First class using the new Victorian Railway letter classification system. [2]

Production

Built by the Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat in 1886/87, these were large engines of the English tradition featuring a low footplate and a continuous coupling rod splasher similar to the 'Old' A class. They had a steel cab with cutaway side sheets and a small side window which remained unaltered during their life. The tenders also were similar to the 'Old' A's in design and capacity; a six wheel type with narrow tanks to make space above the footplate for the springs. They were painted in bright green and white outlines, with polished brass dome cover and copper chimney cap. [2]

Regular service

Although they were classed as a main line goods engine, they were regularly assigned to extra and excursion passenger traffic, even working express rosters at times, including the Adelaide Express as far as Stawell and some Gippsland trains to Warragul. They also operated race and showgrounds traffic on the Flemington Racecourse line. In 1894, 13 were allocated to North Melbourne and two to Ballarat probably for working the Adelaide Express. [2]

Design improvements

They were fitted with cow-catches and Westinghouse air-brakes in the 1890s.

Several were used in tests with water and coal economy devices:

Reboilering in 1900-03 raised the working pressure from 140 psi to 155 psi, and the cylinders were rebored to 18 1/2 inches in diameter in 1914-17 with an increase in tractive effort to 18390 pounds. In 1916 the working pressure was reduced to 145 psi, dropping the tractive effort to 17203 pounds. [2]

Accidents

Withdrawal

All the locomotives were removed from the Victorian Railways register between 1917 and 1920 [2]

Fleet summary

Key:In ServicePreservedStored or WithdrawnScrapped
LocomotiveBuilder No.Entered serviceWithdrawnScrappedStatusNotes
X3531853 August 18868 September 1920Scrapped [2]
X35518620 August 18868 September 1920Scrapped [2]
X3571871 October 188626 April 1919Scrapped [2]
X3591885 November 188628 June 1919Scrapped [2]
X36118922 November 18868 September 1920Scrapped [2]
X3631906 December 188625 August 1917Scrapped [2]
X36519120 December 188620 March 1920Scrapped [2]
X36719212 January 188725 January 1917Scrapped [2]
X3691933 January 188710 May 1919Scrapped [2]
X37119410 February 188710 September 1917Scrapped [2]
X37319514 March 188719 November 1920Scrapped [2]
X3751965 April 188726 April 1919Scrapped [2]
X37719710 June 188728 June 1919Scrapped [2]
X37919824 May 188722 November 1919Scrapped [2]
X38119920 June 18878 September 1920Scrapped [2]

References

Specific

  1. 1 2 Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 8.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Cave, Buckland & Beardsell 2002