South Australian Railways U class

South Australian Railways U class
U class locomotive no. 2 in 1891
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock and Company
Serial number1499-1506
Build date1876
Total produced8
Number rebuilt4
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-0
 • UIC2'C 2
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length34 ft 6+1⁄2 in (10.528 m)
Axle load5 long tons 3 cwt (11,500 lb or 5.2 t)
Total weight30 long tons 3 cwt (67,500 lb or 30.6 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity2 long tons 6 cwt (5,200 lb or 2.3 t)
Water cap.850 imp gal
(1,020 US gal; 3,900 L)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area9.76 sq ft (0.907 m2)
Boiler pressure130 lb/sq in (896 kPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox45.4 sq ft (4.22 m2)
 • Tubes492.1 sq ft (45.72 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size12 in × 20 in (305 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort7,532 lbf (33.50 kN)
Career
OperatorsSouth Australian Railways
ClassU
Number in class8
Numbers1-8
First runApril 1876
Withdrawn1904-1929
Scrapped1904-1955
DispositionAll scrapped

The eight members of the South Australian Railways U class were the first narrow-gauge 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) locomotives on the South Australian Railways and the first of many steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock and Company for the railway. They entered service in 1876: four on the Port Wakefield to Hoyleton line and four on the Port Pirie to Crystal Brook line. Subsequently they operated on the Port Wakefield, Port Pirie and Port Augusta lines.[1][2]

In addition to their SAR operations, several were used by contractors at various times on extending the narrow gauge lines into the hinterland. Their role on main lines did not last long, because of shortcomings in the valve gear and pony truck designs; locomotives of the long-lived W class entered service two years later,[2] after which the U class locomotives were deployed on shunting and further railway construction. In 1915, with the Thevenard gypsum line open and resources no doubt stretched, three were sent to the isolated Port Lincoln Division for three years until the first of the Y class arrived.[1][3] Their working lives variously lasted 28 years (three locos), 48–53 (four) and 79 (one).[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Knife, Peter (2013). Peninsula Pioneer revisited. Port Lincoln: Peter Knife. p. 256. ISBN 9780975783535.
  2. ^ a b c Drymalik, Chris. "Narrow Gauge U-class 2-6-0 locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth Railways Information (ComRails). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. ^ Fluck, R. E.; Sampson, R.; Bird, K. J. (1986). Steam locomotives and railcars of the South Australian Railways. South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. p. 112. ISBN 0959-5073-37.
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