South Australian Railways B class

The South Australian Railways B class was a class of 2-4-0T steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways.

South Australian Railways B class
The first locomotive manufactured at the Government Railway workshops, Adelaide, S.A. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145876288/view
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Robert Stephenson and Company Build date 1856 Total produced 2 Rebuild date B 4 (1875 & 1892) B 7 (1876 & 1887)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0 (as built) 2-4-0T (after rebuild) Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Driver dia. 5 ft 6 in (1.676 m) Height 3.7338 Metres Axle load 12 tons 9 cwt Loco weight 33 tons Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 3 tons 15 cwt (Tender) 6 cwt (Tank) Water cap 1,060 gallons (Tender) 500 gallons (Tank) Boiler pressure 130 psi (896 kPa) Heating surface:  • Tubes 728 square feet  • Firebox 66 square feet Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 14 in × 20 in (356 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 6,562 lbs
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class B Numbers 4, 7 Last run 1935-1938 Withdrawn 1935-1938 Scrapped 1935-1938 Disposition both scrapped

History

In 1856 the South Australian Railways ordered two 2-4-0 tender locomotives from Robert Stephenson and Company, the first arriving in November 1856 and the second in March 1858. They entered service on the Gawler and Outer Harbor lines. In 1875 both were rebuilt as 2-4-0T tank engines. In 1887, number 7 was rebuilt by Islington Railway Workshops as a crane locomotive with number 4 following in 1893. Both were withdrawn and scrapped in the 1930s.[1]

Class list

Number	Date in Service	Date Condemned
4	November 1856	April 1938
7	March 1858	July 1935

References

1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 14/15. ISBN 0 7301 0005 7.