Victorian Railways L class (1859)

This article is about the 1859 L class steam locomotive. For the 1953 L class electric locomotives, see Victorian Railways L class.

Victorian Railways L class (1861)
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderGeorge England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (7)
Slaughter, Gruning & Co., Bristol, UK (3)
Serial numberGeorge England: 156 - 159, 164 - 166
Slaughter & Grüning: 408 - 410
Build date1859 - 1860
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-0ST
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)[1]
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)[1]
Wheelbase14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)[1] ​
 • Coupled7 ft 6 in (2,290 mm)[1]
Length:
​
 • Over couplers28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)[1]
Height13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)[1]
Axle load13 long tons 11 cwt (30,400 lb or 13.8 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 12 long tons 18 cwt (28,900 lb or 13.1 t)[1]
Loco weight37 long tons 7 cwt (83,700 lb or 37.9 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 35 long tons 14 cwt (80,000 lb or 36.3 t)[1]
Fuel capacity20 long cwt (2,200 lb or 1,000 kg)[1]
Water cap.1,195 imp gal (5,430 L; 1,435 US gal)[1]
Firebox:​
 • Grate area14.00 sq ft (1.301 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure130 psi (896 kPa)
1904 diagram:
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox87.25 sq ft (8.106 m2)[2]
 • Tubes1,086.63 sq ft (100.951 m2)[2]
 • Total surface1,173.88 sq ft (109 m2)[2]
Cylinders2, inside
Cylinder size16 in × 22 in (406 mm × 559 mm)[2]
1904 diagram: 15 in × 22 in (381 mm × 559 mm)[1]
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,386 lbf (41.75 kN) at 100 psi[2]
1904 diagram - 130psi: 8,580 lbf (38.2 kN)[1]
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class10
NumbersNumbers at delivery: 16-25 (never ran with these), Numbers in service: 14-32 (even only)
Delivered1860
First runJanuary 1861
Last run20 January 1906
(45 years)
Withdrawn1900 - 1906
DispositionAll scrapped

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.

History

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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.

Production

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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]

Regular service

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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]

Design improvements

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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]

Accidents

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Demise

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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]

Fleet summary

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Key: In service Preserved Stored or withdrawn Scrapped
Locomotive Previous numbers Builder no. Entered service Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
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]

References

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  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 3. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 4". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 33–36. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. p. 36. ISBN 1876677384.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 4". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. ISBN 1876677384.
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