Victorian Railways X class (1886)

The Victorian Railways X class was a class of 0-6-0 mainline goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1886 and 1920.

For the 1929 steam locomotives, see Victorian Railways X class. For the 1966 diesel locomotives, see Victorian Railways X class (diesel).

Victorian Railways X class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderPhoenix Foundry
Serial number185-199
Build date1886-1887
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Wheelbase37 ft 4+1⁄2 in (11.392 m)
Length48 ft 9+1⁄2 in (14.872 m)[1]
Height13 ft 5+3⁄4 in (4,108 mm)[1]
Axle load14 long tons 3 cwt (31,700 lb or 14.4 t)
Loco weight41 long tons 14 cwt (93,400 lb or 42.4 t)
Tender weight25 long tons 14 cwt (57,600 lb or 26.1 t)
Total weight67 long tons 8 cwt (151,000 lb or 68.5 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity70 long cwt (7,800 lb or 3,600 kg)
Water cap.2,220 imp gal (10,100 L; 2,670 US gal)
Boiler pressureOriginal:
140 psi (965 kPa)
Reboilered 1900:
155 psi (1,069 kPa)
Heating surface1,416.96 sq ft (132 m2)
 • Tubes1,313.76 sq ft (122.052 m2)
 • Firebox103.76 sq ft (9.640 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effortOriginal:
14,040 lbf (62.5 kN) at 100 psi
Reboilered 1900:
17,410 lbf (77.4 kN) at 80% boiler pressure
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
NumbersX353-X381 (odd only)
First run3 August 1886
Last run19 November 1920
(34.3 years)
Disposition15 scrapped

History

First class using the new Victorian Railway letter classification system.[2]

Production

Built by the Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat in 1886/87, these were large engines of the English tradition featuring a low footplate and a continuous coupling rod splasher similar to the 'Old' A class. They had a steel cab with cutaway side sheets and a small side window which remained unaltered during their life. The tenders also were similar to the 'Old' A's in design and capacity; a six wheel type with narrow tanks to make space above the footplate for the springs. They were painted in bright green and white outlines, with polished brass dome cover and copper chimney cap.[2]

Regular service

Although they were classed as a main line goods engine, they were regularly assigned to extra and excursion passenger traffic, even working express rosters at times, including the Adelaide Express as far as Stawell and some Gippsland trains to Warragul. They also operated race and showgrounds traffic on the Flemington Racecourse line. In 1894, 13 were allocated to North Melbourne and two to Ballarat probably for working the Adelaide Express.[2]

Design improvements

They were fitted with cow-catches and Westinghouse air-brakes in the 1890s.

Several were used in tests with water and coal economy devices:

  • No. 353 was fitted with 'Alve's hot air apparatus' in 1893, which was fitted around the chimney. It had large air ducts to the ashpan to preheat the primary air supply to the firebox and thus aid combustion. This was a short-lived experiment of dubious benefit.
  • Nos. 355 and 357 were fitted with Knorr's feed water heaters in 1894.
  • No. 353 was fitted with Knorr's feed water heater and an Alve's hot water pump in August 1895.
  • Nos. 355 and 379 had Adam's vortex blast pipes installed during 1889 and 1891 in an attempt to improve drafting and front-end efficiency.

Reboilering in 1900-03 raised the working pressure from 140 psi to 155 psi, and the cylinders were rebored to 18 1/2 inches in diameter in 1914-17 with an increase in tractive effort to 18390 pounds. In 1916 the working pressure was reduced to 145 psi, dropping the tractive effort to 17203 pounds.[2]

Accidents
  • 4 November 1886 - X359 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 11 January 1888 - X381 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 4 February 1888 - X365 ran away on Sunbury Bank.[2]
  • 14 January 1889 - X365 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 8 February 1889 - X355 damaged in accident.[2]
  • May 1889 - X373 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 18 October 1889 - X355 derailed and turned over embankment near Seymour.[2]
  • 24 February 1890 - X359 and X365 damaged in accident.[2]
  • July 1890 - X371 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 9 June 1898 - X381 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 2 November 1907 - X369 damaged in accident.[2]
  • 5 October 1916 - X359 damaged in collision at Melbourne Yard.[2]
  • 15 August 1918 - X375 damaged in accident at Newmarket.[2]

Withdrawal

All the locomotives were removed from the Victorian Railways register between 1917 and 1920[2]

Fleet summary
Key: In Service Preserved Stored or Withdrawn Scrapped
Locomotive Builder No. Entered service Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
X3531853 August 18868 September 1920Scrapped[2]
X35518620 August 18868 September 1920Scrapped[2]
X3571871 October 188626 April 1919Scrapped[2]
X3591885 November 188628 June 1919Scrapped[2]
X36118922 November 18868 September 1920Scrapped[2]
X3631906 December 188625 August 1917Scrapped[2]
X36519120 December 188620 March 1920Scrapped[2]
X36719212 January 188725 January 1917Scrapped[2]
X3691933 January 188710 May 1919Scrapped[2]
X37119410 February 188710 September 1917Scrapped[2]
X37319514 March 188719 November 1920Scrapped[2]
X3751965 April 188726 April 1919Scrapped[2]
X37719710 June 188728 June 1919Scrapped[2]
X37919824 May 188722 November 1919Scrapped[2]
X38119920 June 18878 September 1920Scrapped[2]

References
  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "14". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific
  1. Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 8.
  2. Cave, Buckland & Beardsell 2002


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