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Victorian Railways B class

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This article is about the 1861 B class steam locomotive. For the 1952 B class diesel locomotives, see Victorian Railways B class (diesel).

Victorian Railways B class
B class with original spark-arresting funnel
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, UK (19)
R and W Hawthorn, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (13)
Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat (2)
Serial numberBeyer, Peacock: 231 - 237, 261 - 266, 1034 - 1039
R and W Hawthorn: 1138 - 1144, 1155 - 1160
Phoenix Foundry: 65 - 66
Build date1861 - 1880
Total produced34
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)[1]
Driver dia.6 ft 0 in (1,830 mm)[1]
Tender wheels3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)[1]
Wheelbase35 ft 8+1⁄2 in (10.884 m)[1] ​
 • Coupled7 ft 9 in (2,360 mm)[1]
 • Tender10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)[1]
Length:
​
 • Over couplers45 ft 11 in (14.00 m)[1]
Height13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)[1]
Axle load14 long tons 6 cwt (32,000 lb or 14.5 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 13 long tons 10 cwt (30,200 lb or 13.7 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 13 long tons 12 cwt (30,500 lb or 13.8 t)[3]
Loco weight37 long tons 2 cwt (83,100 lb or 37.7 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 35 long tons 6 cwt 2 qr (79,130 lb or 35.89 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 36 long tons 10 cwt (81,800 lb or 37.1 t)[3]
Tender weight26 long tons 0 cwt (58,200 lb or 26.4 t)[2]
1914 diagram: 26 long tons 7 cwt 2 qr (59,080 lb or 26.8 t)[3]
Total weight63 long tons 2 cwt (141,300 lb or 64.1 t)[2]
1904 diagram: 61 long tons 6 cwt 2 qr (137,370 lb or 62.31 t)[1]
1914 diagram: 62 long tons 17 cwt 2 qr (140,840 lb or 63.88 t)[3]
Fuel capacityRebuilt 1865: 70 long cwt (7,800 lb or 3,600 kg)[2]
Water cap.1,400 imp gal (6,400 L; 1,700 US gal)[2]
Rebuilt 1865: 1,915 imp gal (8,710 L; 2,300 US gal)[2]
1904 diagram: 2,150 imp gal (9,800 L; 2,580 US gal)[1]
1914 diagram: 2,100 imp gal (9,500 L; 2,500 US gal)[3]
Firebox:​
 • Grate area15.27 sq ft (1.419 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure1904 diagram:
  • 102: 120 psi (827 kPa)
  • 46 - 52, 56 - 74, 78, 80, 84, 86, 90, 94, 96, 104 - 112, 186, 188: 130 psi (896 kPa)
  • 54, 76, 88: 140 psi (965 kPa)

1914 diagram:

Heating surface:​
 • Firebox113.66 sq ft (10.559 m2)[2]
 • Tubes901.62 sq ft (83.763 m2)[2]
 • Total surface1,015.28 sq ft (94 m2)[2]
Cylinders2, inside
Cylinder size16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)[2]
1904 diagram: 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)[1]
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,633 lbf (42.85 kN) at 100 psi[2]
1904 diagram - 140psi: 10,790 lbf (48.0 kN)[1]
1914 diagram - 140psi: 14,025 lbf (62.39 kN)[3]
Career
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Number in class34
NumbersNumbers at delivery: 32-51, 64-69, 82-87 (never ran with these), Numbers in service: 46-96, 102-112, 186-188 (even only)
Delivered1861
First runJuly 1862
Last run9 June 1917
(54.9 years)
Withdrawn1884 - 1917
DispositionAll scrapped


The mainline passenger locomotives, later classified as B class, ran on the Victorian Railways (VR) between 1862 and 1917. They used a 2-4-0 wheel arrangement, which provided greater traction on the new, more heavily graded Geelong–Ballarat railway and the Melbourne-Bendigo-Echuca railway, as opposed to the 2-2-2 arrangement previously selected for the relatively level Geelong line. The B class locomotives are regarded as the first mainline VR motive power, and were highly successful in passenger operations.[4]

History[edit]

Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 32-51, 64-69, 82-87. 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 46-96, 102-112, 186-188[5]. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class B.

Production[edit]

The first order for seven locomotives was placed with R and W Hawthorn in February 1861 and in April 1861 for seven locomotives of the same design with Beyer, Peacock & Company. These were extended to, a further six from Hawthorn in October 1861 and a further six from Beyer Peacock in January 1862. The thirteen locomotives built by Beyer Peacock (builder's numbers 231-237, 261-266) arrived in Port Phillip mid 1862, while the thirteen locomotives built by Hawthorn (B/n 1138-1144, 1155-1160) arrived in Port Phillip late 1862[5].
In June 1871, further order for six locomotives was placed with Beyer Peacock (B/n 1034-1039) which arrived May 1972. The average of the imported locos was a cost of £3688-13-9 each[5].
A further two were locally built by the Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1880 (B/n 65-66)[5].

Design features[edit]

The B-class locomotives were easily recognisable by their use of external frames and bearings, with coupling rods mounted outside the frames, earning them the nickname "overarmers".

They featured an unusual design of firebox, which had two separate chambers, each with its own firedoor, divided by a water space that effectively acted as a thermic syphon, and joined at the tubeplate. The two fireboxes were designed to be worked separately, with one fire being built while the other was burning. That configuration was designed to extract the maximum heat from the wood fuels the VR used in its early years. However, the last two locomotives, built in the 1880s, had a conventional single firebox.[4]

Regular service[edit]

The Sydney Express circa 1900, with a New A-class locomotive leading a B-class locomotive

The B class's initial duties, hauling passenger services on the new mainlines, expanded as the mainline network grew. B 88 had the honour of leading the first VR train to Albury on 14 June 1883.[4]

B 50 was selected to haul the first Victorian Railways Royal Train in 1867,[6] taking Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh to Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. The Royal Train was recorded running the 45 miles (72 km) between Melbourne and Geelong in as little as 52 minutes.[7]

By 1894, the VR's Rolling Stock Branch Diagram Book noted the allocation of B-class locomotives around the state, with two at Stawell, six at Melbourne, five at Bendigo, three at Geelong, six at Ballarat, four at Benalla, and three at Seymour.[8]

While the B-class locomotives were highly successful on the expensively engineered 1860s mainlines for which they were designed, they were less suited for the more cheaply built extensions to the VR system.[9] Future VR express passenger locomotives were to use a four-wheel leading bogie to steer the locomotive, and from 1884, a class of 4-4-0 locomotives (later classed 'Old A') began to supplement, and eventually supersede the B class. Despite the delivery of the Old A, and the later and increasingly larger 'New A' and AA class 4-4-0s of 1889 and 1900 respectively, the entire B class (other than a couple of accident write-offs) lasted into the 20th century, with their roles ranging from double heading on express passenger trains to shunting duties.

Design improvements[edit]

Given their long life and the considerable technological development of railways during that period, the B-class locomotives saw a number of improvements.

As delivered, the only means of braking them was by operating a handbrake on the tender wheels. B 50 and B 108 were used in comparative trials of the Woods hydraulic and Westinghouse air brake systems in January 1884, leading to the Westinghouse system being adopted as the standard.[8]

During the 1880s, the boiler pressure of the locomotives was increased from 130 psi (900 kPa) to 140 psi (970 kPa),[4] and their cylinder bore was increased from 16 to 17 inches (410 to 430 mm), with those rebuilt after 1896 being fitted with 17.5 inches (440 mm) cylinders.[10] Those changes led to considerably increased tractive effort.

The large spark-arresting chimneys originally fitted were replaced by a straight chimney, with a conical spark arrestor being located in the smokebox.

The cab was also redesigned to provide greater amenity to the crew. The original sheet metal structure, prone to vibration at speed, was replaced by one of wood, and a double roof was employed for greater comfort in Australian weather conditions.

Accidents[edit]

  • 1860's - B78 ran away on Warrenheip Bank and through dead end Ballarat[5]
  • c.November 1876 - B82 cut rail in halves without derailing[5]
  • 2 April 1884 - B82 & B92 damaged beyond repair in a head-on collision on the Geelong line between Little River and Werribee[5]
  • 18 August 1884 - B72 boiler exploded at Warrenheip, locomotive was repaired and returned to service[5]
  • 1889 - B56 broke tender axle[5]
  • 1890 - B56 broke tender axle[5]
  • July 1895 - B88 collided with O69 at Spencer Street[5]
  • 13 April 1904 - B110 derailed when it pushed a rake of coal wagons off the end of the coal stage at Seymour and was left suspended by its tender, resting on the wreckage of the wagons below[11][5]

Demise[edit]

Other than accident write-offs, the entire class lasted until 1904, when ten were withdrawn, many of which were over forty years old by that stage. Over the next ten years, the remainder of the class was gradually retired as mechanical condition dictated, to the point where just two locomotives, B 56 and B 76, remained on the register.

Those last two members of the class served out their final days shunting carriages at Spencer Street Station and North Melbourne yards, and were withdrawn for scrapping in May and June 1917.[4]

None were preserved.

Fleet summary[edit]

Key: In service Preserved Stored or withdrawn Scrapped
Locomotive Previous numbers Builder no. Entered service Withdrawn Scrapped Status Notes
B46 32 231 August 1862 24 September 1904 Scrapped [5]
B48 33 232 August 1862 14 May 1904 Scrapped [5]
B50 34 233 August 1862 20 August 1904 Scrapped Royal train for the Duke of Edinburgh - 17 October 1867[5]
B52 35 234 July 1862 7 April 1906 Scrapped [5]
B54 36 235 August 1862 26 March 1910 Scrapped [5]
B56 37 236 August 1862 10 May 1917 Scrapped [5]
B58 38 237 August 1862 26 April 1906 Scrapped [5]
B60 46 261 March 1864 7 May 1904 Scrapped [5]
B62 47 262 July 1863 24 September 1904 Scrapped [5]
B64 48 263 September 1863 30 June 1909 Scrapped [5]
B66 49 264 March 1863 8 August 1904 Scrapped [5]
B68 50 265 April 1863 29 April 1905 Scrapped [5]
B70 51 266 March 1863 30 March 1907 Scrapped [5]
B72 39 1138 January 1863 8 October 1904 Scrapped [5]
B74 40 1139 January 1863 13 August 1904 Scrapped [5]
B76 41 1140 January 1863 9 June 1917 Scrapped [5]
B78 42 1141 January 1863 15 April 1905 Scrapped [5]
B80 43 1142 October 1863 21 July 1906 Scrapped [5]
B82 44 1143 1863 2 April 1884 2 April 1884 Scrapped Destroyed in accident[5]
B84 45 1144 August 1863 1 April 1905 Scrapped [5]
B86 64 1155 July 1864 8 October 1904 Scrapped [5]
B88 65 1156 July 1864 15 August 1914 Scrapped [5]
B90 66 1157 October 1864 15 October 1904 Scrapped [5]
B92 67 1158 1863 2 April 1884 2 April 1884 Scrapped Destroyed in accident[5]
B94 68 1159 May 1863 17 June 1911 Scrapped [5]
B96 69 1160 October 1863 15 December 1908 Scrapped [5]
B102 82 1034 May 1872 25 April 1908 Scrapped [5]
B104 83 1035 May 1872 14 November 1908 Scrapped [5]
B106 84 1036 June 1872 16 March 1907 Scrapped [5]
B108 85 1037 June 1872 16 January 1909 Scrapped [5]
B110 86 1038 June 1872 9 March 1907 Scrapped [5]
B112 87 1039 July 1872 28 March 1908 Scrapped [5]
B186 - 66 May 1881 15 August 1914 Scrapped Exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition - 1880[5]
B188 - 65 October 1880 30 September 1911 Scrapped [5]

References[edit]

  • Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 5. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
  • Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 5". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 37–52. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 j k l m 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. 50. ISBN 1876677384.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1914 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1914. p. 9.
  4. ^ a b c d e Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia 1854–2007. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-877058-54-7.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 5". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. ISBN 1876677384.
  6. ^ "VPRS 12800/P1 H 1177 - PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA". prov.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  7. ^ Hartigan, Leo J. (1962). Victorian Railways to '62. Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board. p. 269.
  8. ^ a b Cave, et al., p. 49
  9. ^ Cave et al., p. 118
  10. ^ Cave, et al., p. 45
  11. ^ "VPRS 12800/P1 H 1250 - PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA". prov.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 10 August 2008.

External links[edit]

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