South Australian Railways K class (narrow gauge)

The South Australian Railways K class (narrow gauge) comprised a single locomotive. The design, by South Australian Railways Locomotive Engineer William Thow, was very similar to that of the broad-gauge K class, but it was smaller and lighter. It was allocated number 52 within the sequence allocated to the larger locomotives.

South Australian Railways
K class (narrow-gauge version)
Sole representative of its class on the narrow gauge, South Australian Railways K class no. 52 at Peterborough
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerWilliam Thow
BuilderDübs and Company
Build date1883
Total produced1
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte0-6-4T
  UICC2' T
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia.3 ft 6 in (1067 mm)
Trailing dia.2 ft 3 in (686 mm)
Wheelbase9 ft 0 in (2743 mm)
Wheel spacing
(Asymmetrical)
5 ft 4 12 in (1638 mm) +
3 ft 7 12 in (1105 mm)
Length:
  Over beams28 ft 3 in (8611 mm)
Height11 ft 6 in (3505 mm)
Axle load20 long tons 0 cwt (44,800 lb or 20.3 t)
  1st coupled6 long tons 11 cwt (14,700 lb or 6.7 t)
  2nd coupled6 long tons 16.8 cwt (15,300 lb or 6.9 t)
  3rd coupled6 long tons 16.8 cwt (15,300 lb or 6.9 t)
  Trailing11 long tons 0 cwt (24,600 lb or 11.2 t)
Loco weight32 long tons 12 cwt (73,000 lb or 33.1 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity1 long ton 2 cwt 3 qr (2,550 lb or 1.16 t)
Water cap940 imp gal
(1130 US gal; 4300 L)
Firebox typeRound-top
  Firegrate area13.14 sq ft (1.221 m2)
Boiler:
  Pitch5 ft 8 in (1730 mm)
Boiler pressure130 psi (900 kPa)
Safety valveSalter spring balance,
probably Ramsbottom later
Heating surface:
  Tubes
699.5 sq ft (64.99 m2)
  Firebox77.9 sq ft (7.24 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size14 12 in × 20 in
(368 mm × 508 mm)
Valve gearInside
Performance figures
Tractive effort11,063 lbf (49.21 kN)
Career
OperatorsSouth Australian Railways
ClassK (narrow gauge)
Number in class1
Numbers52
First run25 January 1884
Withdrawn24 May 1938
DispositionScrapped

The locomotive was built in 1883, five years after the first broad-gauge K class locomotive and a year before the last of the 18 such locomotives entered service. No. 52 was built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow, whereas Beyer, Peacock and Company, of Manchester, built all the broad-gauge class.[1][2]

The broad-gauge design was moderately "shrunk" to meet the smaller loading gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) lines and the lower load-bearing capacity of track compared with the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge.[3][4][1] Some key specifications are compared in the table below.

Some differences between the two types of K class locomotives
SpecificationNarrow-gauge KBroad-gauge KNarrow/
broad proportion
Length over buffer beams28 ft 3 in (8611 mm)30 ft 0 in (9144 mm)94%
Driving wheels diameter3 ft 6 in (1067 mm)4 ft 0 in (1219 mm)88%
Loco weight32 long tons 12 cwt (73,000 lb or 33.1 t)42 long tons 19 cwt (96,200 lb or 43.6 t)76%
Heating surface (firebox + tubes)699.5 sq ft (64.99 m2)920.2 sq ft (85.49 m2)76%
Tractive effort11,063 lbf (49.21 kN)12,535 lbf (55.76 kN)88%
Broad and narrow gauge versions of the K class (click to enlarge)

A major design weakness of the broad-gauge K class was the lack of a leading bogie (pilot truck), which led to frequent derailments, especially on sharp curves and difficult gradients. A partial solution was to run the locomotives in reverse – i.e., with cab leading – so that the rear bogie led, providing guidance for the driving wheels.[3] The extent to which the weakness affected no. 52 is not known, although the presence of a stopcock on both ends of the locomotive – to take water from a four-wheeled tank wagon on longer journeys – indicates that it was able to be operated both funnel-first and cab-first.

Little is known about the service life of the locomotive; it is believed to have spent most of its half-century existence at Peterborough as a shunting engine.[1]

References

  1. Drymalik, Chris (2020). "Narrow gauge K-class 0-6-4 tank locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth railways information (ComRails). Chris Drymalik. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. Fluck, Ronald E.; Sampson, Robert; Bird, Kim J. (1986). Steam locomotives and railcars of the South Australian Railways. Adelaide, South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. ISBN 0959507337.
  3. Williams, Hugh (2008). "The broad gauge K class locomotives of the South Australian Railways". Proceedings of the 2008 convention. Modelling the Railways of South Australia. Adelaide. p. 159.
  4. Drymalik, Chris (2020). "Broad gauge K-class 0-6-4 tank locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth railways information (ComRails). Chris Drymalik. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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