South Australian Railways V class

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

South Australian Railways V class
Preserved V9 at Naracoorte
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co James Martin & Co Serial number 1597-1599, 1619, 67-70 Build date 1876, 1893 Total produced 8
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-4 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 21 ft 3.75 in (6.50 m) Height 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) Loco weight 12 long tons 11 cwt (28,100 lb or 12.8 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 0 long tons 12 cwt (1,300 lb or 0.6 t) Water cap 300 imperial gallons (1,400 l; 360 US gal) Boiler pressure 130 psi (896 kPa) Heating surface 256.9 sq ft (23.87 m^2)  • Tubes 231.3 sq ft (21.49 m^2)  • Firebox 25.6 sq ft (2.38 m^2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 9.5 in × 15 in (241 mm × 381 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 3,910 lbf (17.39 kN)
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class V Numbers V9-V12, V143-V146 Preserved V9 Disposition 1 preserved, 7 scrapped

History

In November 1876 the South Australian Railways took delivery of four 0-4-4 locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Co, Manchester for use on the lightly laid Kingston-Naracoorte railway line. After final assembly was completed in South Australia, all entered service between January and May 1877. They were built to the same design as the Norwegian State Railways V1 class.[1]

They were not a success being too light and having insufficient water capacity for the 84 kilometre journey, requiring a water gin to be attached. In 1879, two W class locomotives were transferred with V9 becoming the shunter at Kingston wharf and the other three stored.[1]

In 1882, V12 was returned to service at Port Germein before moving to Port Pirie, while in the same year V10 was transferred to Port Wakefield, the latter was joined by V11 in 1885. In 1888, V9 moved to Port Augusta. From November 1891 until May 1893, V11 was loaned to BHP to operate on its lightly laid Broken Hill network. All four were rebuilt between 1891 and 1896. Between September and December 1893, a further four were delivered from James Martin & Co.[1]

They operated at various locations including Peterborough, Port Lincoln, Terowie and Wallaroo. Some were loaned interstate during the construction of the Yallourn Power Station. Most were withdrawn in the 1930s and 1940s with V9 plinthed at Pioneer Park, Naracoorte.[1]

Class list

Number Builder Builder's number In service Notes V9 Beyer, Peacock & Co 1597 February 1877 preserved at Pioneer Park, Naracoorte V10 Beyer, Peacock & Co 1598 February 1877 V11 Beyer, Peacock & Co 1599 January 1877 V12 Beyer, Peacock & Co 1619 May 1877 V143 James Martin & Co 67 September 1893 V144 James Martin & Co 68 October 1893 V145 James Martin & Co 69 November 1893 V146 James Martin & Co 70 December 1893

References

1. "Mechanical Horses: The V Class of the SAR" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 755 September 2000 pages 332-337

Literature

• Frank Stamford: And the tail-waggers did all right … The Kingston–Naracoorte Railway in the 1870s – Part 2. In: Light Railways - Australia’s Magazine of Industrial & Narrow Gauge Railways, No 254, April 2017. Pages 16-25.

External links

Media related to South Australian Railways V class at Wikimedia Commons