South Australian Railways C class

The South Australian Railways C class locomotives were built by the Robert Stephenson and Company for the South Australian Railways in 1856. The first locomotive (no. 5) was in service by November 1856; the second (no. 6) by January 1857. They were both withdrawn after long service lives, with no. 5 being withdrawn after 50 years working on the SAR. No. 6 lasted well into Commissioner Webb's era, being withdrawn in 1926 at almost 70 years old.

South Australian Railways C Class
South Australian Railways C class locomotive no. 6
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Robert Stephenson and Company Order number 1045, 1046 Build date 1856 Total produced 2 Rebuilder Islington Railway Workshops Rebuild date 1884 (no. 5), 1885 & 1914 (no. 6) Number rebuilt 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0  • UIC 1′B 3 Gauge 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1372 mm) Length 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m) Width 7 ft 6 in (2286 mm) over running boards Height 12 ft 8 in (3861 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load 9 long tons 9 cwt (9.6 t) Total weight 42 long tons 1 cwt (42.7 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 3 long tons 15+3⁄4 cwt (3.85 t) Water cap. 1060 imp gal (4800 L; 1270 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 12.71 sq ft (1.181 m2) Boiler pressure 130 lbf/in2 (0.90 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 73.1 sq ft (6.79 m2)  • Tubes 780 sq ft (72 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 14 in × 20 in (356 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort Original: 7548 lbf (33.58 kN) As rebuilt: 8021 lbf (35.68 kN)
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class C Number in class 2 Numbers 5 & 6 First run November 1856 Withdrawn 1906, 1926 Disposition All scrapped

History

After the South Australian Railways had its new B class tank engines built to run on the railway line to Gawler, two more locomotives were purchased to also run this service on the lightly engineered line. These locomotives were designated the "C class". Their range was increased to include stops at Roseworthy and Kapunda following the opening of the new line extension in August 1860. The C class was later used in constructing the Tarlee line. In 1884 and 1885, both locomotives were rebuilt and put back into traffic, having acquired new cabs which were complete with circular front and side windows.

The C class worked on the northern lines until they were superseded by more powerful locomotives. No. 5 was condemned in 1906 at the age of 50 years; no. 6 continued to work on the suburban system and performed shunting duties at Mile End and Port Adelaide, eventually being withdrawn and scrapped in 1926 after 70 years of service.