Commonwealth Railways D class

The Commonwealth Railways D class were a class of 4-4-0 construction and shunting locomotives built in 1880 by Beyer, Peacock and Company originally for the New South Wales Government Railways and later the Commonwealth Railways.

Commonwealth Railways D Class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock and Company
Serial number1909–1914
Build date1880
Total produced6
Rebuild date1910
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-4-0
  UIC2′B n2
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 12 in (1,537 mm)
Length46 ft 6 in (14,173 mm)
Loco weight58 long tons 18 cwt (59.8 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity4 long tons 10 cwt (4.6 t)
Water cap2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
14.75 sq ft (1.370 m2)
Boiler pressure150 lbf/in2 (1.03 MPa)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort12,290 lbf (54.67 kN)
Career
Withdrawn1921–1943
Scrapped1958–1959
DispositionAll scrapped

History

Construction started on a new line which went from Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta however a need for more motive power was required and so the New South Wales Government Railways started negotiating with the Commonwealth Railways. The NSWGR had introduced their Q Class in 1880 originally as 4-4-0 side tank engines but due to excessive axle loads they were converted by the NSWGR into tender engines with 6 wheel tenders. There were 6 of them bought originally for suburban passenger work they were now surplus to requirements. So the Commonwealth Railways purchased 4 locomotives in October 1912 at the cost of £4,700. The remaining 2 were purchased soon after. All six locomotives were given automatic couplers prior to entering service but all retained their original NSWGR number. They were also reclassed as 'D'. In 1913 and 1914 the class had many problems with cracking gauge glasses and tubes blowing which slowed the progress of the construction of the Trans-Australian Line. Many more problems followed such as broken stays, side rod brasses, axle box brasses and the need for many of the class to be re-tubed this resulted in most of that class spending a lot of time in the workshops at Port Augusta. When the G/GA class was introduced the D class were relegated to shunting duties.[1]

Withdrawal

In the 1920's all the D class were withdrawn but not scrapped except for D162 which was withdrawn in July of 1943. The D class started being scrapped in 1958 with the last D class number 163 being scrapped on the 26th of March 1959.[1]

Class list

NSW / CR
number
BP
Works
number
In service Withdrawn Notes
158 1909 8 July 1913 1926
159 1910 14 June 1913 1921
160 1911 21 April 1913 1926
161 1912 14 June 1913 1926
162 1913 14 June 1913 July 1943
163 1914 6 May 1913 July 1926

References

  1. Fluck, Ron; Marshall, Barry; John, Wilson (1996). Locomotives and Railcars of the Commonwealth Railways. Welland, South Australia: Gresley Publications. pp. 22–23. ISBN 1876216018.
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