Victorian Railways L class (1859)

This article is about the 1859 L class steam locomotive. For the 1953 L class electric locomotives, see Victorian Railways L class.

The Victorian Railways L class was a class of 2-4-0ST passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1861 and 1906, built by both George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England and Slaughter, Gruning & Co., Bristol, England.

Victorian Railways L class (1861)
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (7) Slaughter, Gruning & Co., Bristol, UK (3) Serial number George England: 156 - 159, 164 - 166 Slaughter & Grüning: 408 - 410 Build date 1859 - 1860 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0ST Gauge 5 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) Wheelbase 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) ​  • Coupled 7 ft 6 in (2,290 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) Height 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m) Axle load 13 long tons 11 cwt (30,400 lb or 13.8 t) 1904 diagram: 12 long tons 18 cwt (28,900 lb or 13.1 t) Loco weight 37 long tons 7 cwt (83,700 lb or 37.9 t) 1904 diagram: 35 long tons 14 cwt (80,000 lb or 36.3 t) Fuel capacity 20 long cwt (2,200 lb or 1,000 kg) Water cap. 1,195 imp gal (5,430 L; 1,435 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 14.00 sq ft (1.301 m2) Boiler pressure 130 psi (896 kPa) 1904 diagram: 14, 18, 22 - 32: 130 psi (896 kPa) 16: 100 psi (689 kPa) 20: 110 psi (758 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 87.25 sq ft (8.106 m2)  • Tubes 1,086.63 sq ft (100.951 m2)  • Total surface 1,173.88 sq ft (109 m2) Cylinders 2, inside Cylinder size 16 in × 22 in (406 mm × 559 mm) 1904 diagram: 15 in × 22 in (381 mm × 559 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 9,386 lbf (41.75 kN) at 100 psi 1904 diagram - 130psi: 8,580 lbf (38.2 kN)
Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 10 Numbers Numbers at delivery: 16-25 (never ran with these), Numbers in service: 14-32 (even only) Delivered 1860 First run January 1861 Last run 20 January 1906 (45 years) Withdrawn 1900 - 1906 Disposition All scrapped

History

Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 16–25. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the even numbers 14–32. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class L.

Production

Seven locomotives were built by George England and Co. in 1859 with builder's numbers 156–166, and a further three were built by Slaughter, Grüning & Co. in 1860 with builder's numbers 408–410 at an average cost of £3305-18-8 for each loco.

Regular service

Upon introduction they were used on the Williamstown and Geelong lines, and hauled the first train on the Geelong–Ballarat line in 1862. In 1893, seven were allocated to Melbourne and three were stored.
They finished their days on suburban lines such as the Fairfield to Riversdale section of the Outer Circle line and the Burnley to Darling line.

Design improvements

Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), and brakes.
L14 received a new boiler in 1875, L26 in 1884, L16 & L18 in 1885, and L24 in 1886.

Accidents

• 24 December 1878 - L14 collided with V13 in the Melbourne Yard
• 19 February 1879 - L14 collided with Q95 at Essendon
• 28 August 1883 - L20 collided with O79 at Newmarket
• 13 May 1888 - L28 ran through crossing gates at Clifton Hill
• May 1891 - L32 ran through crossing gates at Deepdene

Demise

L28 was used as a stationary engine at Newport Workshops to drive forging machines between 1900 and c. 1908. L16 was used as a stationary engine at Mathieson's siding, Wandong from 1902. In September 1904, L32 had its tank, wheels, axles, and brakes removed and was sold to Sanderson's saw mill, Otway Ranges for £250 where it apparently survived until finally being scrapped c. 1941.
The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1906.

Fleet summary

Key:	In service	Preserved	Stored or withdrawn	Scrapped

Locomotive	Previous numbers	Builder no.	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status	Notes
L14	16	156	January 1861	11 June 1904		Scrapped	Reboilered - 5 August 1875
L16	17	157	January 1861	1902		Scrapped	Reboilered - 17 December 1885. Stationary boiler at Mathieson's siding - 1902
L18	18	158	July 1861	25 November 1905		Scrapped	Reboilered - 26 October 1885
L20	19	159	January 1861	20 January 1906		Scrapped
L22	20	164	December 1861	18 November 1905		Scrapped
L24	21	165	December 1861	22 October 1904		Scrapped	Reboilered - 28 April 1886
L26	22	166	September 1861	17 September 1904		Scrapped	Reboilered - 13 June 1884
L28	23	408	June 1861	1900	c. 1908	Scrapped	Stationary engine at Newport - 1900
L30	24	409	May 1861	23 July 1904		Scrapped
L32	25	410	June 1861	October 1904	c. 1941	Scrapped	Sold to Sanderson's saw mill (£250) - September 1904

References

• Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 3. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
• Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 4". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 33–36. ISBN 1876677384.

External links

• L class steam locomotive no. 26
• L class steam locomotive no. 18
• VPRS 12903/P0001, 301/04 - Drawing of L class steam locomotive 2-4-0 st c1861
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1938A - L/class steam locomotive no.20 and mallee carriage 70a
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2388 - L class steam locomotive no.22 leaving Somerton for Broadmeadows-Essendon 1899
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2711 - L class steam locomotive no.22 at Spencer Street early 1880s