South Australian Railways 720 class

The South Australian Railways 720 class was a class of 2-8-4 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways.

South Australian Railways 720 Class
724 at North Adelaide station in 1952
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Fred Shea Builder Islington Railway Workshops Build date 1930-1943 Total produced 17
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-4 1′D2′ 3′3′ Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) Length 83 ft. 6 in. Height 4.26466 Metres Axle load 19.85 tons Adhesive weight 77.10 tons Loco weight 123.80 tons Tender weight 104.00 tons Total weight 227 long tons 4 cwt (508,900 lb or 230.8 t) Fuel type Coal Oil Fuel capacity 17 tons 3,060 gallons oil (locos converted to oil burning only) Water cap 9,000 gallons 9,400 gallons (when oil fired) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 59.5 sq. ft. Boiler pressure 215 psi (1,482 kPa) Heating surface:  • Tubes 2,615 sq. ft.  • Firebox 360 sq. ft. Superheater: ​  • Heating area 751 sq. ft. Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 22 in × 28 in (559 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts valve gear
Performance figures Tractive effort 43,450 lbf (193.28 kN) 52,000 lbf (231.31 kN) with booster cut in
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class 720 Numbers 720-736 First run 26/11/1930 Withdrawn 1958-1960 Scrapped 1958-1963 Disposition all scrapped

History

The 720 class were built by the South Australian Railways as an improved version of the 710 class locomotives. The initial order was for five locomotives. They were intended to operate on the lighter broad gauge lines, but after they began to spread rails, they were confined to the heavier lines. A further twelve were built between 1938 and 1943. The final twelve differed in having streamlined valances and boiler lagging tinwear. Coal shortages after World War II saw 14 converted to burn oil. All were later converted back to coal burners. The last were withdrawn in April 1960.[1][2]

References

1. 720 class Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
2. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 161. ISBN 0730100057.

External links

Media related to South Australian Railways 720 class at Wikimedia Commons