Victorian Railways P class (1859)

The Victorian Railways P class was a class of 0-6-0 goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1860 and 1921, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, England.

Victorian Railways P class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, UK
Serial number115 - 119
Build date1859
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)[1]
Tender wheels3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)[1]
Wheelbase32 ft 0+12 in (9.766 m)[1]
 • Coupled14 ft 4 in (4,370 mm)[1]
 • Tender11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)[1]
Length:
 • Over couplers43 ft 1+14 in (13.138 m)[1]
Height13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)[1]
Axle load10 long tons 2 cwt (22,600 lb or 10.3 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 11 long tons 4 cwt (25,100 lb or 11.4 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 11 long tons 12 cwt (26,000 lb or 11.8 t)[3]
Loco weight28 long tons 12 cwt (64,100 lb or 29.1 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 29 long tons 8 cwt 1 qr (65,880 lb or 29.88 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 30 long tons 12 cwt (68,500 lb or 31.1 t)[3]
Tender weight24 long tons 2 cwt (54,000 lb or 24.5 t)[2]
1914 diagram: 21 long tons 6 cwt (47,700 lb or 21.6 t)[3]
Total weight52 long tons 14 cwt (118,000 lb or 53.5 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 53 long tons 10 cwt 1 qr (119,870 lb or 54.37 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 51 long tons 18 cwt (116,300 lb or 52.7 t)[3]
Fuel capacity60 long cwt (6,700 lb or 3,000 kg)[1]
Water cap.1,722 imp gal (7,830 L; 2,068 US gal)[1]
Firebox:
 • Grate area14.03 sq ft (1.303 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure1904 diagram: 1914 diagram: 150 psi (1,034 kPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox88.95 sq ft (8.264 m2)[2]
1914 diagram: 88.5 sq ft (8 m2)[3]
 • Tubes1,097.67 sq ft (101.977 m2)[2]
1914 diagram: 994.1 sq ft (92 m2)[3]
 • Total surface1,186.62 sq ft (110 m2)[2]
1914 diagram: 1,082.6 sq ft (101 m2)[3]
Cylinders2, inside
Cylinder size16 in × 22 in (406 mm × 559 mm)[2]
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,386 lbf (41.75 kN) at 100 psi[2]
1904 diagram - 150psi: 11,264 lbf (50.10 kN)[1]
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class5
Numbers5-9, 1860: 1-9 (odd only)
Delivered1860
First runMarch 1860
Last run18 February 1921
(61 years)
Withdrawn1917 - 1921
DispositionAll scrapped

History

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Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were numbered 5–9. This was changed in the late 1860's to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the odd numbers 1–9.[4] This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class P.

Production

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The five locomotives were built in 1859 with builder's numbers 115–119 at an average cost of £3779-12-0 for each loco. They arrived in Port Phillip in March 1860.[4]

Regular service

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In addition to regular goods service, some were loaned to contractors, like Cornish & Bruce, for line construction and ballasting purposes. In 1894, all were allocated to Bendigo.[4]

Design improvements

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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.
P1 received a new boiler in December 1894.[4] Then between 1903 and 1906 they were all reboilered with a new boiler pressures of 150psi.[4]

Demise

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P3 was withdrawn in 1917, P5 and P9 in 1919, P7 in 1920, and P1 in 1921.[4]

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
P1 6 116 March 1860 7 June 1919 Scrapped Hired to Evans, Merry & Co. - 1860. Reboilered - 13 December 1894. Reboilered - November 1903[4]
P3 8 118 October 1860 18 February 1921 Scrapped Hired to Cornish & Bruce - October 1860. Painted red - 1904[4]
P5 5 115 April 1860 19 February 1920 Scrapped [4]
P7 7 117 November 1860 19 May 1917 Scrapped [4]
P9 9 119 September 1860 30 August 1919 Scrapped [4]

References

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  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 2. 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. 23–33, 36. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. 36. ISBN 1876677384.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g 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. 10. ISBN 9781920892173.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. ISBN 1876677384.
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