Queensland B18¼ class locomotive

The Queensland Railways B18¼ class locomotive was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways.

Queensland Railways B18¼ class
230
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderNorth Ipswich Railway Workshops (59)
Walkers Limited (24)
Build date1926-1947
Total produced83
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Driver dia.4 ft 3 in (1,295 mm)
Loco weight56.3 long tons (63.1 short tons; 57.2 t)
Tender weight36.9 long tons (41.3 short tons; 37.5 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity8 long tons (9.0 short tons; 8.1 t)
Water cap3,000 imp gal (14,000 l; 3,600 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		25 sq ft (2.3 m2)
Boiler pressure170 lbf/in2 (1,172 kPa)
Heating surface1,957 sq ft (181.8 m2) (as built)
1,923 sq ft (178.7 m2) (1935 reboilering)
1,859 sq ft (172.7 m2) (1936 reboilering)
 • Tubes1,511 sq ft (140.4 m2) (as built)
1,478 sq ft (137.3 m2) (1935 reboilering)
1,414 sq ft (131.4 m2) (1936 reboilering)
Cylinders2 outside
Cylinder size18.25 in × 24 in (464 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Tractive effort22,648 lbf (100.7 kN)
Factor of adh.3.54
Career
OperatorsQueensland Railways
Numbers16, 18, 28, 30, 40, 52, 84, 227-232, 768-771, 827-830, 841-852, 864-881, 887-916
Preserved771
Disposition1 preserved, 82 scrapped

History

The first batch of 17 B18¼ class locomotive were built by the North Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1926. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the B18 class, B representing they had three driving axles, and the 18 the cylinder diameter in inches.[1][2][3]

Further orders saw the class total 83 by 1947 with some built by Walkers Limited. The latter examples were fitted with modified boilers and improved cabs. The early examples were painted prussian blue with the boilers having a natural finish. The latter examples were painted black with red lining. In 1949 all were repainted green with red lining. From 1951 they began to be relegated following the delivery of the BB18¼ class. The first was withdrawn in March 1967, with the last removed from traffic in 1970.[1][2][3]

Preservation

References
  1. Armstrong, John (1994). Locomotives in the Tropics Volume 2. Brisbane: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 86–96. ISBN 9780909937263.
  2. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 113. ISBN 086417778X.
  3. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 196. ISBN 9781921719011.

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