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Victorian Railways F class (1874)

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This article is about the 1874 F class steam locomotive. For the 1951 F class diesel locomotives, see Victorian Railways F class (diesel).

The Victorian Railways F class was originally a class of 2-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1874 and 1929.

Victorian Railways F class (2-4-0)
An F Class locomotive in the Central Highlands region, c. 1875
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder
Serial number
  • Beyer, Peacock & Co: 1267
  • Phoenix: 28, 30, 31, 33-39, 55-64
Build date1874, 1876-1877, 1879-1880
Total produced21
Rebuild date
  • New boiler: 1902-1912
  • 2-4-2 motor: 1910-1911
Number rebuilt
  • New boiler: 21
  • 2-4-2 motor: 7 (see below)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Tender wheels3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Wheelbase31 ft 4 in (9.55 m)
Length41 ft 11 1⁄2 in (12.789 m)[1]
Height11 ft 11 5⁄8 in (3.648 m)[1]
Axle load
  • Original: 9 long tons 11 cwt (21,400 lb or 9.7 t)
  • Rebuilt: 10 long tons 8 cwt (23,300 lb or 10.6 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity
  • Original: 60 long cwt (6,700 lb or 3,000 kg)
  • Rebuilt: 70 long cwt (7,800 lb or 3,600 kg)
Water cap.
  • Original: 1,710 imp gal (7,800 L; 2,050 US gal)
  • Rebuilt: 2,600 imp gal (12,000 L; 3,100 US gal)
Boiler pressureVaries between120 psi (827 kPa) & 160 psi (1,103 kPa)[1]
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox
  • Original: 71.21 sq ft (6.616 m2)
  • Rebuilt: 72.4 sq ft (6.73 m2)
 • Tubes
  • Original: 764.65 sq ft (71.038 m2)
  • Rebuilt: 792.7 sq ft (73.64 m2)
 • Total surface
  • Original: 835.86 sq ft (78 m2)
  • Rebuilt: 865.1 sq ft (80 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size15 3⁄4 in × 20 in (400 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort
  • Original: 8,268 lbf (36.78 kN) at 100 psi
  • Rebuilt: 10,584 lbf (47.08 kN) at 80% boiler pressure
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
NumbersF98, F 126-F144 (even only), F 166-F184 (even only)
First runJune 1874
Last run24 June 1924
(50.1 years)
Disposition7 converted, 14 scrapped
Victorian Railways F class motor (2-4-2T)
F Class branch locomotive in the Newport Railway Museum, 2016
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerSeipen, VR drawing office
Build date1910-1911
Total produced7
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-2T
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Trailing dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Wheelbase19 ft 7 in (5.97 m)
Length30 ft 7 1⁄4 in (9.328 m)[2]
Height11 ft 11 5⁄8 in (3.648 m)[2]
Axle load11 long tons 6 cwt (25,300 lb or 11.5 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity20 long cwt (2,200 lb or 1,000 kg)
Water cap.1,100 imp gal (5,000 L; 1,300 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 psi (1,103 kPa)[2]
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox72.4 sq ft (6.73 m2)
 • Tubes792.7 sq ft (73.64 m2)
 • Total surface865.1 sq ft (80 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size15 3⁄4 in × 20 in (400 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort10,584 lbf (47.08 kN) at 80% boiler pressure
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
NumbersF172-F184 (even only)
First run1910
Last run30 November 1929
(55.5 years)
Disposition1 preserved, 6 scrapped

History

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Classed 'F' in 1886.[3]

Production

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The pattern engine was constructed by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1874. An order for 20 more locomotives of this design was placed 2 years later with the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat, with 10 built in 1876–77 and a further 10 in 1879–80. They were originally supplied with four-wheeled tenders, but were eventually provided with larger six-wheeled ones which increased their water capacity to 1,710 imp gal (7,800 L; 2,050 US gal).[3]

Regular service

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In early life they were mainly used on the main lines radiating form Ballarat and Ararat. By 1894, 3 were allotted to Geelong, 5 to Ararat, 3 to Ballarat, 2 to Seymour, 2 to Benalla, 2 to Princes Bridge, and 4 to Sale.[3]

Design improvements

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All were reboilered between 1902-12, along with the T class, to a new common, larger boiler type.[3]

2-4-2T motors

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In 1910-11, the Victorian Railways decided to convert seven of them into "motor" locomotives for use in outer suburban areas. The tenders were removed and they became 2-4-2 tanks. They kept their numbers 172–184 (evens only).

Accidents

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  • 10 November 1878 - F98 ran through the end on the engine shed at Dunolly[3]
  • 26 July 1881 - F98 collided with H160 at Beaufort[3]
  • ? - F142 in collision at Creswick[3]
  • 11 March 1897 - F172 derailed at Cannon Hill near Warrnambool[3]

Withdrawal

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The un-rebuilt tender engines were taken off register between 1916 and 1924, and the "motors" were taken off between 1920 and 1929. F184 was sold to Earlston, Cranbourne for £750[3].
One of the 2-4-2T class survives, number 176, having been sold to the Sunshine Harvester Works in 1920 for £1500,[3] where was used as a shunter until 1961. It was then donated to the Newport Railway Museum, and is the oldest surviving Victorian Railway locomotive, having been built in 1880.

Fleet summary

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Key: In Service Preserved Stored or Withdrawn Scrapped
Locomotive Builder No. Entered service Converted to 2-4-2T Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
F98 1267 June 1874 - 13 March 1919 Scrapped [3]
F126 28 9 August 1876 - 7 August 1916 Scrapped [3]
F128 30 16 October 1876 - 27 June 1916 Scrapped [3]
F130 31 19 October 1876 - 7 June 1919 Scrapped [3]
F132 33 10 January 1877 - 8 November 1916 Scrapped [3]
F134 34 11 January 1877 - 24 January 1916 Scrapped [3]
F136 35 1 February 1877 - 8 July 1922 Scrapped [3]
F138 36 30 January 1877 - 24 June 1924 Scrapped [3]
F140 37 6 February 1877 - 15 July 1922 Scrapped [3]
F142 38 10 March 1877 - 10 June 1922 Scrapped [3]
F144 39 27 March 1877 - 8 July 1922 Scrapped [3]
F166 55 April 1879 - 15 July 1922 Scrapped [3]
F168 56 June 1879 - 25 January 1917 Scrapped [3]
F170 57 July 1879 - 24 January 1916 Scrapped [3]
F172 58 November 1879 1910-11 7 November 1928 Scrapped [3]
F174 59 December 1879 1910-11 30 November 1929 Scrapped [3]
F176 61 January 1880 1910-11 28 May 1920 Sold to Sunshine Harvester Works. Donated to Museum. Display [3]
F178 62 January 1880 1910-11 29 June 1926 Scrapped [3]
F180 63 February 1880 1910-11 29 June 1926 Scrapped [3]
F182 60 December 1879 1910-11 12 September 1925 Scrapped [3]
F184 64 March 1880 1910-11 29 February 1926 Sold to Earlston, Cranbourne [3]
 
F176 on display at Newport Railway Museum in 2022
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References

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  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 65, 70–72, 75–77, 170–173. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific

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  1. ^ a b c Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 3.
  2. ^ a b c Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1914 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railwaysas reproduced by the ARHS Victoria Division in 2008. 1914. p. 3. ISBN 9781920892173.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Cave, Buckland & Beardsell 2002
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