South Australian Railways L class

The South Australian Railways L Class Locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company for the South Australian Railways and were introduced to the system in 1880.[1]

South Australian Railways L Class
South Australian Railways L Class No. 39
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock and Company Serial number 1883-1886 Build date 1879 Total produced 4 Rebuilder Islington Railway Workshops Rebuild date 1880-1881 (Converted to Tender Locomotive) 1894-1914 (Rebuilt) Number rebuilt 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0  • UIC 2'B T Gauge 5'3" Broad Gauge Driver dia. 5 ft. 0 in. Length 43 ft. 3½ in. Axle load 12 tons 16 cwt 3 qtr (Original Tank Locomotive) 10 tons 16 cwt (Converted Tender Locomotive) Loco weight 36 tons 3 cwt 1 qtr (Original Tank Locomotive) Total weight 57 tons 14 cwt (Converted Tender Locomotive) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 36 cub. Ft. (Original Tank Locomotive) 4 tons 18 cwt 3 qtr (Converted Tender Locomotive) Water cap 600 gallons (Original Tank Locomotive) 2,040 gallons (Converted Tender Locomotive) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 15.5 square feet (Original Tank Locomotive) 15.6 square feet (Converted Tender Locomotive) Boiler pressure 130 lbs p.s.i. Heating surface:  • Tubes 888.1 square feet (Original Tank Locomotive) 894.1 square feet (Converted Tender Locomotive)  • Firebox 80.8 square feet (Original Tank Locomotive) 78.1 square feet (Converted Tender Locomotive) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 16 in. x 22 in.
Performance figures Tractive effort 10,371 lbs
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class L Number in class 4 Numbers 38-41 First run 1.4.1880 Withdrawn 1928-1931 Scrapped 1928-1934 Disposition all scrapped

History

The four L class tank locomotives that were purchased from Beyer, Peacock and Company for the South Australian Railways in 1880 were meant to work on the Port line. There was a problem straight away with the new locomotives, they were found to have an axle load which was too high for the track and bridges that they would run over. To solve this problem the S.A.R. went and purchased four six wheeled tenders from Dübs and Company, Scotland and removed the side water tanks to bring the axle load down to a more acceptable level. With the L class entering service as tender locomotives they were put to work on the northern lines, as far as Riverton and heading further north once heavier track was laid up to Terowie. The L class also worked Kapunda and on the Adelaide to Nairne section of the "Intercolonial Railway". Later in life the L class worked in the eastern area of Murray Bridge, which included mixed trains to Pinnaroo. When S.A.R. commissioner William Alfred Webb's famous "Big Power" locomotives arrived in 1926, this put the now smaller L class locomotives to limited work. This eventually resulted in the withdrawal and scrapping of these 4-4-0 locomotives.[2]

References

1. Drymalik, Chris. "Broad Gauge L-class 4-4-0 tank locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth Railways Information (ComRails). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
2. R. E., FLUCK; R., SAMPSON; K. J., BIRD (1986). STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND RAILCARS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS. South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. ISBN 0959 5073 37.