Commonwealth Railways F Class

The Commonwealth Railways F Class was a 2-6-0 tender engine built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1885 for the New South Wales Government Railways as their K class and later sold to the Commonwealth Railways becoming their F class.

Commonwealth Railways F Class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerMr W. Scott
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number7388
Build date1885
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-0
Gauge4 ft 0 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter4 ft.
Total weight68 tons (17 cwt)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 tons
Water cap2,300 gallons
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		17 sq. ft.
Boiler pressure140 p.s.i.
Cylinder size19 in. x 24 in.
Valve gearStephenson valve gear
Performance figures
Tractive effort19,500 lbs.
Career
NumbersF55
WithdrawnNovember 1921
ScrappedJune 1937
DispositionScrapped

History

10 locomotives designed by Mr W. Scott were ordered by the NSWGR from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1884. They were classed as 'K' and entered service in 1885 but were found to be bad at building up steam and so were put on coal trains in the Newcastle districit. Around the same time that the Commonwealth Railways had purchased their Commonwealth Railways D class they obtained a single example of the NSWGR K class. The locomotive in question was K295 and was reclassed as the F class and numbered 55. The engine was obtained to shunt the wharf at Port Augusta. Originally the Commonwealth Railways (CR) had requested an I class (Z26 class) but K295 was the only NSWGR loco available. F55 wasn't in good condition but was needed urgently and was pushed into service at the wharf straight after being unloaded in June 1915. However F55 was unfit for the work and was taken out of service on the 6th of June in 1916. It was then officially withdrawn in November 1921 it then stood in the scrap line for 6 years before finally being scrapped in June 1937.[1]

Class list
Builder's
number		 Works
number		 Road
number		 In service Withdrawn Notes
7388 55 July 1915 November 1921

References
  1. Fluck, Ron; Marshall, Barry; Wilson, John (1996). Locomotives and Railcars of the Commonwealth Railways. Welland South Australia: Gresley Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 1876216018.
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