Tasmanian Government Railways R class

The Tasmanian Government Railways R class was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.

Tasmanian Government Railways R class
Tasmanian Government Railways R Class streamlined locomotive, departing Hobart circa 1940.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderPerry Engineering
Serial number243-246
Build date1923
Total produced4
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Leading dia.2 ft 4 1⁄2 in (724 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm)
Trailing dia.3 ft (914 mm)
Wheelbase27 ft 3 in (8,306 mm) engine, 9 ft 9 in (2,972 mm) coupled, 50 ft 10 1⁄4 in (15,500 mm) total
Length60 ft 2 1⁄4 in (18,345 mm)
Height12 ft 3 3⁄8 in (3,743 mm)
Axle load12 3⁄4 long tons (13.0 t; 14.3 short tons)
Loco weight58 3⁄4 long tons (59.7 t; 65.8 short tons)
Tender weight39 long tons (39.6 t; 43.7 short tons)
Total weight97 3⁄4 long tons (99.3 t; 109.5 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 long tons (6.1 t; 6.7 short tons)
Water cap3,500 imp gal (16,000 L)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		32.5 sq ft (3.02 m2)
Boiler pressure160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Heating surface1,554 sq ft (144.37 m2)
 • Tubes and flues1,420 sq ft (131.92 m2)
 • Firebox134 sq ft (12.45 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeSchmidt
 • Heating area320 sq ft (29.73 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size20 in × 24 in (508 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Valve typePiston 9 in (229 mm) diameter
Loco brakeSteam
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort23,738 lbf (105.59 kN)
Factor of adh.3.59
Career
OperatorsTasmanian Government Railways
Number in class4
NumbersR1-R4
Dispositionall scrapped

History

In 1923, the Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of four 4-6-2 locomotives from Perry Engineering, Gawler as replacements for the A class. They operated on the Western, Derwent Valley, Main and Fingal lines.[1][2]

In the late 1930s, R3 and R4 were fitted with streamlining similar to the Victorian Railways S class for operation of Hobart to Launceston expresses. This was removed in the late 1940s. All were withdrawn in 1956-1957 due to a reorganisation of timetable to allow better use of the X Class diesels, much newer M class steam engines and DP 'diesel patrol' railcars.

After a period in storage in Launceston yard, due to their worn out condition and redundancy all was scrapped by the early 1960s, sadly just missing out on preservation.[1][2]

References
  1. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 180. ISBN 9781921719011.
  2. "Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents" Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 page 12

Tasmanian Government Railways Locomotive diagram L14 https://stors.tas.gov.au/P2316-1-23$init=P2316-1-23_033

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