Victorian Railways No.1 (1857)

The Victorian Railways No. 1 was the first government passenger steam locomotive on Victorian Railways. It was a 2-2-2 (later 2-4-0) passenger locomotive operated by the Victorian Railways between 1858 and 1890 and again between 1893 and 1904, built by George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Victorian Railways No. 1
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderGeorge England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Serial number146
Build date1857
Total produced1
Rebuild datec.1871
Number rebuilt1
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-2-2
Rebuilt 1871: 2-4-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.Unknown
Driver dia.6 ft 6 in (1,980 mm)[1]
Rebuilt 1871: 5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)[1]
Trailing dia.Unknown
Rebuilt 1871: N/A
Tender wheelsUnknown
Water cap.1,200 imp gal (5,500 L; 1,400 US gal)[2]
Cylinders2
Cylinder size14 in × 22 in (356 mm × 559 mm)[1]
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class1
Numbers1, 1860: 12, 1893: 528
Delivered1858
First run16 September 1858
Last run15 April 1904
(45.6 years)
Withdrawn1904
DispositionTo South Australia, later scrapped

History

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Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately. The passenger engine was numbered 1 (the first goods engine was also numbered 1). This was changed to consecutive numbering between June 1859 and March 1860 with the goods locos being numbers 2–5.[2] With the introduction of the J class in 1860, to avoid confusion these were temporarily altered to 1A (and 2A–5A for the goods locos). The numbering was once again changed in the late 1860's to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with this locomotive taking number 12.[2] In the 1886 classification system, No. 12 remained unclassified

Production

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This locomotive was built by George England and Co. in 1857 with builder's numbers 146 at a cost of £2200, +£900 freight and insurance, and arrived in Port Phillip on 12 May 1858 along with 0-6-0 goods locomotive No. 1.[3][2]

Regular service

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This small 2-2-2 passenger locomotive was quite successful over the easier runs on the first government lines, which resulted in five similar locomotives being introduced in 1860. Between 5 July 1895 and 20 March 1896 it was leased to Altona Bay Estate Co. Later it used for a short time at Box Hill Brick Works, and then a short time as a shunter at Geelong.[2]

Design improvements

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In about 1871 it was rebuilt to 2-4-0 wheel arrangement to improve adhesion and allow greater tractive effort to cope with heavier loads and steeper gradients on the new routes[4].
Over the years it was fitted with various alterations to the cab. 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.

Demise

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In May 1890, No. 12 was sold to Shire of Yarrawonga for their Katamatite Tramway where it was used until December 1892, it was then bought back in July 1893 and renumbered 528, as another locomotive had already received that number in the meantime[2].
It was once again withdrawn on 15 April 1904, and sold to Mr Pearman for Rowden & Baxter for £400 and was sent to Outer Harbor, South Australia — where it remained for the remainder of its life, first in construction work then from 1908 as a shunter loco until finally being broken up c. 1910 (53 years after construction).[2]

Fleet summary

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Key: In service Preserved Stored or withdrawn Scrapped
Locomotive Previous numbers Builder no. Entered service Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
12 1, 1A 146 January 1859 May 1890 - Sold to Shire of Yarrawonga for Katamatite tramway - May 1890[2]
528 (ex No 12) 146 July 1893 15 April 1904 Sold Leased to Altona Bay Estate Co. - 5 July 1895 to 20 March 1896. Sold to Mr Pearman for Rowden & Baxter (£400) - 1904. To Outer Harbour, SA[2]

References

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  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 1. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 3". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 18–22. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific

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  1. ^ a b c Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. p. 22. ISBN 1876677384.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 3". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. ISBN 1876677384.
  3. ^ "George England Locos". Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  4. ^ Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1854–2010 (5th ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 978-1921719011.
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