South Australian Railways 700 class (steam)

The South Australian Railways 700 class was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways.

South Australian Railways 700 Class
South Australian Railways 700 Class Locomotive No. 700, 1926
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Fred Shea Builder Armstrong Whitworth Serial number 643-652 Build date 1926 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 1′D1′ 2′2′ Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) Length 73 ft 2 in (22.30 m) Height 4.1275 Metres Axle load 18 tons 7 cwt Adhesive weight 70.15 tons Loco weight 96.10 tons Tender weight 75.95 tons Total weight 171 long tons 15 cwt (384,700 lb or 174.5 t) 166 tons 6 cwr 2 qtr original Fuel type Coal Oil Fuel capacity 17 tons 14½ tons on 60lb. rail 2,950 gallons oil Water cap 5,900 gallons Firebox:  • Firegrate area 47 sq. ft. Boiler pressure 200 psi (1,379 kPa) Heating surface:  • Firebox 195 sq. ft. Superheater: ​  • Heating area 619 sq. ft. Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 22 in × 28 in (559 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts valve gear
Performance figures Tractive effort 40,418 lbf (179.79 kN)
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class 700 Numbers 700-709 First run 27/4/1926 Withdrawn 1959-1967 Preserved 702 Scrapped 1962-1968 Disposition 1 preserved, 9 scrapped

History

As part of William Webb's rehabilitation of the South Australian Railways, ten 2-8-2 steam locomotives were delivered by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle upon Tyne in March 1926. They were designed to operate across all broad gauge branch lines. In 1928, they were followed by ten nearly identical 710 class locomotives built at Islington Railway Workshops. Coal shortages after World War II saw a number converted to burn oil. All were later converted back to coal burners. The first two were withdrawn in June 1959 with the remainder replaced as 830 diesel locomotives entered service. The last was withdrawn in June 1968.[1][2]

The National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide has preserved 702.[3]

References

1. Drymalik, Chris. "Broad Gauge 700 class 2-8-2 locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth Railways Page.
2. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0730100057.
3. 702 National Railway Museum

External links

Media related to South Australian Railways 700 class (steam) at Wikimedia Commons