Victorian Railways V class (1857)
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The Victorian Railways V class of 1857 was a class of 0-6-0 goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1858 and 1904, built by George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
History[edit]
Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately. The goods engines were numbered 1-4 (the first passenger 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[3]. With the introduction of the J class in 1860, to avoid confusion these were temporarily altered to 2A-5A. The numbering was once again 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 11-17[3]. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, the goods locos were allocated to Class V.
Production[edit]
The four locomotives were built in 1857 with builder's numbers 142–145 at a cost of £2300, +£900 freight and insurance, for each loco. The first arrived in Port Phillip on 12 May 1858 along with 2-2-2 passenger locomotive No. 1, the remaining three arrived in Port Phillip on 31 May 1858[4][3].
Regular service[edit]
In addition to regular goods service, some were loaned to contractors, like Cornish & Bruce, for line construction and ballasting purposes. In 1894, it was noted that three were allocated one each to Daylesford, Geelong, and Sale[3].
Design improvements[edit]
Over the years they were fitted with various new cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), brakes, and cowcatchers — and improvements for their useability — handrails and footboards[3].
The original brakes provided was a hand brake on the tender with wood blocks on all six wheels. This was upgraded to steam brakes on the engines in 1884-1886, and at least two (V15 and V17) were later fitted with Westinghouse air brakes[3].
New boilers with a working pressure of 130psi were fitted, starting with V11 in 1880, and the remaining 3 locomotives in 1884-1885[3].
Accidents[edit]
- December 1878 - V13 collided with L14 in the Melbourne Yard[3]
- August 1879 - V17 collided with O65 in Melbourne Yard[3]
- January 1883 - V13 ran off road on Dock Pier[3]
- September 1890 - No 497 in shops after accident[3]
- 29 November 1894 - V17 broke leading axle near Bairnsdale[3]
Withdrawal[edit]
All the locomotives were removed from the Victorian Railways register between 1891 and 1904. V13 was sold to an unknown buyer in 1893, then bought back and renumbered 497 (unclassed)[5][3]. V11 was sold in May 1891 to contractor Andrew O'Keefe for £1900($2700)[3]. The remaining locomotives were withdrawn in 1904, with the last V15 being withdrawn on 13 September.
Fleet summary[edit]
Key: | In Service | Preserved | Stored or withdrawn | Scrapped |
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Locomotive | Previous numbers | Builder No. | Entered service | Withdrawn | Scrapped | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
V11 | 1, 2, 2A | 142 | January 1859 | May 1891 | Scrapped | Sold to O'Keefe[3] | |
V13 | 2, 3, 3A | 143 | January 1859 | 1893 | - | Sold[3] | |
V15 | 3, 4, 4A | 144 | January 1859 | 13 September 1904 | Scrapped | [3] | |
V17 | 4, 5, 5A | 145 | January 1859 | 8 August 1904 | Scrapped | [3] | |
497 | (ex V13) | 144 | 12 December 1895 | 7 September 1904 | Scrapped | Repurchased by Victorian Railway[3] |
References[edit]
- 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 3". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 18–22. ISBN 1876677384.
Specific[edit]
- ^ 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. 11.
- ^ 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. 22. ISBN 1876677384.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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.
- ^ "George England Locos". Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1854–2010 (5th ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 978-1921719011.