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Victorian Railways L class (1861)

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This article is about the 1861 L class steam locomotive. For the 1953 L class electric locomotives, see Victorian Railways L class.

Victorian Railways L class (1861)
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderGeorge England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (7)
Slaughter, Gruning & Co., Bristol, UK (3)
Serial numberGeorge England: 156 - 159, 164 - 166
Slaughter & Grüning: 408 - 410
Build date1859 - 1860
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-0ST
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)[1]
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)[1]
Wheelbase14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)[1] ​
 • Coupled7 ft 6 in (2,290 mm)[1]
Length:
​
 • Over couplers28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)[1]
Height13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)[1]
Axle load13 long tons 11 cwt (30,400 lb or 13.8 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 12 long tons 18 cwt (28,900 lb or 13.1 t)[1]
Loco weight37 long tons 7 cwt (83,700 lb or 37.9 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 35 long tons 14 cwt (80,000 lb or 36.3 t)[1]
Fuel capacity20 long cwt (2,200 lb or 1,000 kg)[1]
Water cap.1,195 imp gal (5,430 L; 1,435 US gal)[1]
Firebox:​
 • Grate area14.00 sq ft (1.301 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure130 psi (896 kPa)
1904 diagram:
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox87.25 sq ft (8.106 m2)[2]
 • Tubes1,086.63 sq ft (100.951 m2)[2]
 • Total surface1,173.88 sq ft (109 m2)[2]
Cylinders2, inside
Cylinder size16 in × 22 in (406 mm × 559 mm)[2]
1904 diagram: 15 in × 22 in (381 mm × 559 mm)[1]
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,386 lbf (41.75 kN) at 100 psi[2]
1904 diagram - 130psi: 8,580 lbf (38.2 kN)[1]
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class10
NumbersNumbers at delivery: 16-25 (never ran with these), Numbers in service: 14-32 (even only)
Delivered1860
First runJanuary 1861
Last run20 January 1906
(45 years)
Withdrawn1900 - 1906
DispositionAll scrapped

The Victorian Railways L class was a class of 2-4-0ST passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1861 and 1906, built by both George England and Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England and Slaughter, Gruning & Co., Bristol, England

History[edit]

Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 16-25. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the even numbers 14-32[3]. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class L.

Production[edit]

Seven locomotives were built by George England and Co. in 1859 with builder's numbers 156-166, and a further three were built by Slaughter, Gruning & Co. in 1860 with builder's numbers 408-410 at an average cost of £3305-18-8 for each loco[3].

Regular service[edit]

Upon introduction they were used on the Williamstown and Geelong lines, and hauled the first train on the Geelong–Ballarat line in 1862[3]. In 1893, seven were allocated to Melbourne and three were stored[3].
THey finished their days on suburban lines such as the Fairfield to Riversdale section of the Outer Circle line and the Burnley to Darling line[3].

Design improvements[edit]

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.
L14 received a new boiler in 1875, L26 in 1884, L16 & L18 in 1885, and L24 in 1886[3].

Accidents[edit]

  • 24 December 1878 - L14 collided with V13 in the Melbourne Yard[3]
  • 19 February 1879 - L14 collided with Q95 at Essendon[3]
  • 28 August 1883 - L20 collided with O79 at Newmarket[3]
  • 13 May 1888 - L28 ran through crossing gates at Clifton Hill[3]
  • May 1891 - L32 ran through crossing gates at Deepdene[3]

Demise[edit]

L28 was used as a stationary engine at Newport Workshops to drive forging machines between 1900 and c. 1908. L16 was used as a stationary engine at Mathieson's siding from 1902. In September 1904, L32 had it's tank, wheels, axles, and brakes removed and was sold to Sanderson's saw mill, Otways for £250 where it apparently survived until finally being scrapped c. 1941[3].
The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1906[3].

Fleet summary[edit]

Key: In service Preserved Stored or withdrawn Scrapped
Locomotive Previous numbers Builder no. Entered service Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
L14 16 156 January 1861 11 June 1904 Scrapped [3]
L16 17 157 January 1861 1902 Scrapped Stationary boiler at Mathieson's siding - 1902[3]
L18 18 158 July 1861 25 November 1905 Scrapped [3]
L20 19 159 January 1861 20 January 1906 Scrapped [3]
L22 20 164 December 1861 18 November 1905 Scrapped [3]
L24 21 165 December 1861 22 October 1904 Scrapped [3]
L26 22 166 September 1861 17 September 1904 Scrapped [3]
L28 23 408 June 1861 1900 c. 1908 Scrapped Stationary engine at Newport - 1900[3]
L30 24 409 May 1861 23 July 1904 Scrapped [3]
L32 25 410 June 1861 October 1904 c. 1941 Scrapped Sold to Sanderson's saw mill - September 1904[3]

References[edit]

  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 3. 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. 33–36. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w 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.

External links[edit]

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