South Australian Railways O class (first)

The South Australian Railways O Class (1st) locomotives were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the South Australian Railways (SAR). They entered service in 1881 on the SAR system and were both withdrawn and scrapped by 1904.

South Australian Railways O Class (1st)
SLNSW 28752 South Australian Railways O class steam locomotive c. 1870
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 5227 & 5228 Build date 1880 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0  • UIC 1'D 2'2' Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 0 in (1,219 mm) Length 53 ft 5+1⁄4 in (16.29 m) Total weight 77 long tons 1 cwt (172,600 lb or 78.3 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6 long tons 1 cwt 1 qr (13,580 lb or 6.16 t) Water cap. 2,800 imp gal (3,400 US gal; 13,000 L) Boiler pressure 130 psi (900 kPa) Heating surface 1,184 sq ft (110.0 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 20 in × 24 in (508 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 22,100 lbf (98 kN)
Career Class O Number in class 2 Numbers 54 & 55 First run 25.2.1881 Withdrawn 1904 Scrapped 1904 Disposition All scrapped

History

Their main job was hauling goods trains on the Intercolonial Railway. When they were first in service they became the largest locomotives on the SAR system. They were unsuccessful on the Adelaide Hills line and were later diverted to work on the Northern line. With the great success of the new 4-6-0 R class locomotives that arrived in 1886, the two O class locomotives were withdrawn from service and scrapped in 1904, with a relatively short working life of 23 years.