Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company 4-4-0WT (1871)

This article is about what became the 1878 C class steam locomotive. For the 1918 C class steam locomotive, see Victorian Railways C class. For the 1977 C class diesel locomotives, see Victorian Railways C class (diesel).

Victorian 4-4-0WT
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderRobert Stephenson & Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (6)
Robinson Brothers, South Melbourne (8)
Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat (12)
Serial numberRobert Stephenson: 1995, 2123, 2130, 2214, 2328, 2329
Robinson Brothers: 1–8
Phoenix Foundry: 98–109
Build date1871–1883
Total produced26
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0WT
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 3 in (0.99 m)[1]
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)[1]
Wheelbase19 ft 0 in (5.79 m)[1] ​
 • Leading6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
 • Coupled7 ft 0 in (2,130 mm)[1]
Length:
​
 • Over couplers30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)[1]
Height12 ft 8+1⁄8 in (3.864 m)[1]
Axle load13 long tons 15 cwt (30,800 lb or 14 t)[2]
1914 diagram: 14 long tons 11 cwt 2 qr (32,650 lb or 14.81 t)[3]
Loco weight37 long tons 16 cwt 3 qr (84,760 lb or 38.44 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 37 long tons 11 cwt (84,100 lb or 38.2 t)[3]
Fuel capacity7 long cwt (800 lb or 400 kg)[2]
Water cap.636 imp gal (2,890 L; 764 US gal)[2]
Firebox:​
 • Grate area10.5 sq ft (0.98 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure1904 diagram:
  • 306: 120 psi (827 kPa)
  • 262, 264, 266, 270, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 288, 290, 292, 298, 300, 302, 304, 308, 310: 125 psi (862 kPa)
  • 268, 272, 284, 286, 296: 130 psi (896 kPa)
  • 42, 294: 140 psi (965 kPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox74.87 sq ft (6.956 m2)[2]
 • Tubes686.07 sq ft (63.738 m2)[2]
 • Total surface760.94 sq ft (71 m2)[2]
Cylinders2, outside
Cylinder size15 in × 22 in (381 mm × 559 mm)[2]
Performance figures
Tractive effort8,250 lbf (36.7 kN) at 100 psi[2]
1904 diagram - 140psi: 9,240 lbf (41.1 kN)[1]
1914 diagram: 6,600 lbf (29 kN)[3]
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class26
NumbersNumbers at delivery: 26-31, 52-63, 70-81, 88-89 (never ran with these), Numbers in service: 19-81, 127-149 (odd only)
Delivered1871
First runAugust 1871
Last run19 February 1916
(44.6 years)
Withdrawn1883 - 1916
DispositionAll scrapped

This was a group of 6 4-4-0WT passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company for an early private railway operator in Victoria, and expanded by another 20 locomotives locally built by Robinson Brothers and Phoenix Foundry for the Victorian Railways. They later were known as the Victorian Railways C class.

History

Owners

The original six 4-4-0WT locomotives built by Stephenson were ordered and operated by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company and later the Victorian Railways.

Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company (M&HBUR) 1871–1878

M&HBUR's 4-4-0WT (1871)
Specifications
Career
Operators
Number in class6
NumbersM&HBUR / South Suburban: 20–23, 25–26
VR: C278–C288 (even only)
Delivered1871–1878
First runAugust 1871
Last run17 December 1913
(42.4 years)
DispositionAll became Victorian Railways C class
All later scrapped

The first 4-4-0WT locomotive for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company (B/n 1995) arrived in Hobson's Bay aboard the vessel 'Khandeish' on 13 June 1871 at a cost of £2,444 to land (including customs duty) — it is possibly the first bogie engine in Victoria — and is numbered No.20.[4] The ship 'Astracan' reached Melbourne on 6 April 1973 with the next engine No.21 (B/n 2123) entering service soon after, followed by the 'Loch Ness' on 17 January 1974 with the next two engines No.22 & No.23 (B/n 2130 & 2214), although these locomotives didn't enter service until September and October 1875.[5] Around this time, one of these four locomotives was hired by the Victorian Railways for trial observations.[5] The M&HBUR ordered a final two 4-4-0WT's in February 1877, they arrived aboard the 'Hawarden Castle' (B/n 2328) and the 'Melanope' (B/n 2329) both arriving 1 February 1878 and numbered No.25 & No.26.[6]

When the M&HBUR was taken over by the Government in 1878, the six locomotives were transferred on 1 July 1878 to the Government for use on their South Suburban system (see below).

South Suburban System (Victorian Railways) 1878–1886

VR's 4-4-0WT (1880)
Specifications
Career
Operators
Number in class20
NumbersSouth Suburban: 1–4, 12, 14, 17, 18, 27–38
VR: C42, C262–C276, C290–C310 (even only)
Delivered1880–1883
First runAugust 1880
Last run19 February 1916
(35.5 years)
DispositionAll became Victorian Railways C class
All later scrapped

On the 1 July 1878, the six 4-4-0WT locomotives (No. 20–No. 23, No. 25–No. 26) of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway were transferred to the Government's Victorian Railways. This was separate to the main Government system, and they were able to retain their previous numbers as they were not incorporated into the main Victorian Railways register until the introduction of letter classification in 1886. It was referred to as the Hobson's Bay system from 1879 to 1881, then as the South Suburban system from 1881 to 1886.[6]

In 1880–81, eight were locally built by Robinson Brothers of South Melbourne, and a further twelve were built by Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1882–83.[7]

All twenty-six were added to the main Victorian Railways register (see below).

Victorian Railways (VR) 1886–1906

The South Suburban system was finally incorporated into the Victorian Railways register on 1 January 1886 along with the introduction of the letter classification system. As there were already locomotives with the same numbers, these older locomotives were given the next available numbers; 42, 262–310 (even only) and became known as the C class.[7]

Motor service

In 1904, C272, C282, C286, C294, C296, C306 were modified for motor running, while C284 was also converted at a later date. This involved the addition of handrails and footboards to allow guards to return to the engine while the train was moving, as well as cowcatchers.[8]

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.

Accidents

  • 2 December 1882 - South Sub 32 collided with R191 at Hawthorn[7]
  • 11 May 1887 - C266 was on the ordinary train involved in the Windsor accident[7]
  • 1888 - C288 broke trailing axle[8]
  • 1890 - C310 broke leading axle[7]
  • 16 April 1909 - C310 broke leading axle[8]
  • 1 December 1909 - C286 broke trailing axle at Hartwell[7]

Demise

All scrapped. The first was taken off the register on 9 April 1904 and the last on 19 February 1916.[7]

C266 was fitted up as a washing out engine in 1900, and was at North Melbourne until 7 February 1906 when C310 was similarly equipped and took over. — The boilers of engines needed frequent washing out to remove sediments around the firebox which if allowed to remain would interfere with the circulation of water and lead to overheating of the firebox plates. Before boilers could be washed out with cold water, several hours were needed for the boiler to cool slowly, thus avoiding stress arising from rapid and unequal contractions. Washing out with hot water greatly reduced this delay.[7]

Fleet summary

Key: In service Preserved Stored or withdrawn Scrapped ‡ = Also M&HBUR system
VR No. South
Suburban
No. 		Builder
no. 		Entered
service 		Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
C42 38 109 11 October 1883 1 June 1907 Scrapped Became C42 on the VR
C262 1 98 November 1882 1 June 1907 Scrapped Became C262 on the VR
C264 2 99 December 1882 20 August 1904 Scrapped Became C264 on the VR
C266 3 100 December 1882 11 June 1904 Scrapped Became C266 on the VR. Used as a washing out engine at North Melbourne - 11 June 1904
C268 4 101 3 February 1882 10 February 1906 Scrapped Became C268 on the VR
C270 12 104 24 August 1883 4 June 1904 Scrapped Became C270 on the VR
C272 14 105 31 August 1883 16 November 1909 Scrapped Became C272 on the VR
C274 17 102 June 1883 25 May 1907 Scrapped Became C274 on the VR
C276 18 103 27 April 1883 16 April 1904 Scrapped Became C276 on the VR
C278 20‡ 1995 August 1871 9 May 1908 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C278 on the VR
C280 21‡ 2123 May 1874 26 August 1904 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C280 on the VR
C282 22‡ 2130 September 1875 23 April 1910 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C282 on the VR
C284 23‡ 2214 October 1875 21 January 1908 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C284 on the VR
C286 25‡ 2328 April 1878 17 December 1913 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C286 on the VR
C288 26‡ 2329 April 1878 28 May 1904 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C288 on the VR
C290 27 1 July 1880 21 May 1904 Scrapped Became C290 on the VR
C292 28 2 August 1880 9 April 1904 Scrapped Became C292 on the VR
C294 29 3 October 1880 19 February 1916 Scrapped Became C294 on the VR. Used by Construction Branch - 30 September 1912
C296 30 4 November 1880 23 March 1907 Scrapped Became C296 on the VR
C298 31 5 December 1880 26 August 1904 Scrapped Became C298 on the VR
C300 32 6 January 1881 16 July 1904 Scrapped Became C300 on the VR
C302 33 7 March 1881 4 June 1904 Scrapped Became C302 on the VR
C304 34 8 April 1881 20 August 1904 Scrapped Became C304 on the VR
C306 35 106 14 September 1883 2 December 1905 Scrapped Became C306 on the VR
C308 36 107 21 September 1883 9 July 1904 Scrapped Became C308 on the VR
C310 37 108 5 October 1883 February 1906 Scrapped Became C310 on the VR. Used as a washing out engine at North Melbourne - 7 February 1906

References

  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 13. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 2". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 13–17. ISBN 1876677384.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 11". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 96–97, 102–103. ISBN 1876677384.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 17". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 169, 173. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. 102. ISBN 1876677384.
  3. ^ a b c 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. 9. ISBN 9781920892173.
  4. ^ Harrigan, L. J. (May 1944). "Early Suburban Railways of Melbourne (part XVIII)". Bulletin of the Australian Railway Historical Society (79): 69–70.
  5. ^ a b Harrigan, L. J. (June 1944). "Early Suburban Railways of Melbourne (part XIX)". Bulletin of the Australian Railway Historical Society (80): 81–82.
  6. ^ a b Harrigan, L. J. (August 1944). "Early Suburban Railways of Melbourne (part XXI)". Bulletin of the Australian Railway Historical Society (82): 23–24.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 11". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. ISBN 1876677384.
  8. ^ a b c Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 17". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. ISBN 1876677384.