South Australian Railways N class

The South Australian Railways N Class Locomotives were built in 1881 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the South Australian Railways. They were rebuilt in 1904 which vastly improved their performance and completely changed their look from a typical American locomotive of the time to a more British locomotive.[1]

South Australian Railways N Class
South Australian Railways N Class No. 53
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 5238 & 5241 Build date 1881 Total produced 2 Rebuilder Islington Railway Workshops Rebuild date 1904 Number rebuilt 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2'C 2'2' Gauge 5'3" Broad Gauge Driver dia. 5 ft. 0 in. Length 52 ft. 10 in. (Original) 57 ft. 8 5/8 in. (Rebuilt) Axle load 12 tons 5 cwt (Original) 12 tons 14 cwt (Rebuilt) Total weight 83 tons 5 cwt (Original) 93 tons 7 cwt (Rebuilt) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 5 tons 6 cwt (Original) 5 tons (Rebuilt) Water cap 3,000 gallons (Original) 4,000 gallons (Rebuilt) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 19 square feet Boiler pressure 130 lbs p.s.i. (Original) 175 lbs p.s.i. (Rebuilt) Heating surface:  • Tubes 1,190 square feet (Original) 1,480 square feet (Rebuilt)  • Firebox 113 square feet (Original) 121 square feet (Rebuilt) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 19 in. x 24 in.
Performance figures Tractive effort 15,950 lbs (Original) 21,420 lbs (Rebuilt)
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class N Number in class 2 Numbers 52 & 53 First run 10.3.1881 Withdrawn 1925-1927 Scrapped 1925-1928 Disposition all scrapped

History

These new N class locomotives were imported from Baldwin Locomotive Works USA, also with two O class locomotives for the South Australian Railways. The other two O class locomotives were more of a goods locomotive and the N class locomotives were made for working passenger trains along the new "Intercolonial Railway", which ran through the Adelaide Hills. These new locomotives imported from the United States were the first to be fitted with bogie tenders. When they were first issued into service in 1881 they were allocated to run passenger and mixed trains between Adelaide and Kapunda. On the 14th of March 1883 N class locomotive No. 52 was rostered to haul a train to officially open the line between Adelaide and Aldgate. Though with a great deal of difficulty it managed to haul the official train which had the State Governor on board and made it to Blackwood, where it finally broke down. N class locomotive No. 52 eventually finished the trip to Aldgate with only the Vice-Regal and Ministerial carriages later on that day. The N class locomotives continued their service through the Adelaide Hills and on some occasions worked to Strathalbyn. In 1904 both N classes were rebuilt at Islington Railway Workshops, which completely changed their appearance from the classic American design of that period to a more conventional British outline. Along with the rebuilding of these locomotives, they also got new bogie tenders built as well. After the rebuilding the primary duty of the N class was now hauling livestock trains between Adelaide and Terowie. Though now the N class locomotives were capable of the duties of the Rx class locomotives, they still worked on livestock trains. The rebuilt N class roamed their way around the S.A.R. system until they were both withdrawn in the mid 1920s.[2]

References

1. Drymalik, Chris. "Broad Gauge N-class 4-6-0 locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth Railways Information (ComRails). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
2. FLUCK, R. E.; SAMPSON, R.; BIRD, K. J. (1986). STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND RAILCARS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS. South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. p. 61. ISBN 0959 5073 37.