Commonwealth Railways C class

Commonwealth Railways C class
C63 in 1938
C63 in 1938
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Walkers Limited
Serial number 454-461
Build date 1938
Total produced 8
Specifications
Configuration:
 ​
 • Whyte 4-6-0
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loco weight 207 long tons (210 t; 232 short tons)
Fuel type Coal
Water cap 12,180 imp gal (55,400 L; 14,630 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 30.5 sq ft (2.83 m2)
Boiler pressure 180 psi (12 bar; 1,200 kPa)
Cylinder size 23 in × 26 in (584 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 30,498 lbf (135.66 kN)
Career
Operators Commonwealth Railways
Numbers C62-C69
First run January 1938
Disposition All scrapped

The Commonwealth Railways C class was a class of 4-6-0 passenger locomotives built in 1938 by Walkers Limited, Maryborough, for the Commonwealth Railways, Australia.

History

Following the extension of Commonwealth Railways' standard gauge line from Port Augusta to Port Pirie in 1937, and with increasing loads being hauled on the Trans-Australian Railway, an order was placed with Walkers Limited, Maryborough for eight 4-6-0 passenger locomotives to the same design as the New South Wales Government Railways' C36 class, but with higher capacity tenders.[1][2]

All were delivered between January and April 1938. The new locomotives were able to shave 10 hours off the journey time of the Trans Australian. Four were converted to burn oil during the 1949 coal strike, being converted back to coal burning after the strike ended.[1]

With the arrival of the GM class diesels, the first was withdrawn in January 1952 and by early 1953 only two remained. The last was withdrawn in September 1957. The locomotives were scrapped, but the tenders were converted into water carriers for use on the Commonwealth Railways weed killer train, still being in use in the early 1980s.[1]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 164. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
  2. ↑ C class Chris's Commonwealth Railways Pages

Bibliography

  • Fluck, Ronald E; Marshall, Barry; Wilson, John (1996). Locomotives and Railcars of the Commonwealth Railways. Welland, SA: Gresley Publishing. ISBN 1876216018.

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