Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company 2-4-0WT (1854)

Victorian 2-4-0WT
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Robert Stephenson & Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Serial number 954-957, 1080, 1183, 1184, 1268, 1269, 1377, 1378, 1458-1460, 1620, 1802, 1803, 1991 Build date 1854-1971 Total produced 18
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0WT Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) Driver dia. 1st five: 4 ft 7.5 in (1,410 mm) Remainder of class: 5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm) Wheelbase 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m) ​  • Coupled 7 ft 0 in (2,130 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 27 ft 9+1⁄2 in (8.471 m) Height 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) Axle load 11 long tons 0 cwt (24,600 lb or 11.2 t) 11 long tons 13 cwt 3 qr (26,180 lb or 11.88 t) Loco weight 29 long tons 12 cwt (66,300 lb or 30.1 t) 1904 diagram: 32 long tons 0 cwt 3 qr (71,760 lb or 32.55 t) Fuel capacity 5 long cwt (600 lb or 300 kg) Water cap. 510 imp gal (2,300 L; 610 US gal) 1904 diagram: 1,171 imp gal (5,320 L; 1,406 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 12.25 sq ft (1.138 m2) Boiler pressure 1904 diagram: 246, 252, 254: 90 psi (621 kPa) 256, 258: 130 psi (896 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 67.15 sq ft (6.238 m2)  • Tubes 664.45 sq ft (61.729 m2)  • Total surface 731.60 sq ft (68 m2) Cylinders 2, inside Cylinder size 1st five: 12 in × 20 in (305 mm × 508 mm) Remainder of class: 14 in × 22 in (356 mm × 559 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 1904 diagram - 130psi: 7,474 lbf (33.25 kN)
Career First run 25 December 1854 Last run 26 May 1906 (51.4 years)

This was a group of 18 2-4-0WT passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company.

History

Owners

Over the years, new Stephenson 2-4-0WT locomotives were ordered and operated by the various private operators of the early Victorian railway network and later the Victorian Railways.

Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company (M&HBR) 1854–1865

M&HBR's 2-4-0WT (1854)
Specifications
Career Operators Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company: 1854–1865 Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company: 1858–1862 St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company: 1861–1862 Melbourne Railway Company: 1862–1865 Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company: 1865–1878 South Suburban: 1878–1886 Victorian Railways: 1886–1906 Number in class 10 Numbers 1–4, 6–9, 11 Melbourne, Sandridge, Victoria, Yarra, St Kilda, Rapid, Meteor Delivered 1854 First run 25 December 1854 Last run 26 May 1906 (51.4 years) Disposition 5 sold, 5 became Victorian Railways N class All later scrapped

The first two locomotive for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company (B/n 954–955) arrived in Hobson's Bay aboard the vessel 'Jane Francis' on 23 November 1854 and were unloaded three weeks later. The first commenced running on 25 December and the second on 5 January 1855, thereafter each working the traffic on alternate days. The ship 'Hannah Conner' reached Melbourne on 23 January 1955 with the next two engines (B/n 956–957) and by April 1855 all four were in service, being used in rotation. A fifth locomotive (B/n 1080), ordered in anticipation of the opening of the company's branch to St Kilda, arrived on the 'Magna Bona' on 12 June 1857. These five locomotives were named Melbourne (954), Sandridge (955), Victoria (956), Yarra (957), and St Kilda (1080).

Two locomotives (B/n 1183–1184) were built in 1858, with the same wheel arrangement but with larger dimensions than the first five including 14 in × 22 in (356 mm × 559 mm) cylinders and 5 ft (1,500 mm) diameter wheels. These were named Rapid (1183), and Meteor (1184). In 1860, another two of this larger type were added (B/n 1268–1269), followed in 1863 by third (B/n 1458). Unlike the previous locomotives, these remained unnamed.

Victoria was sold to Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company in 1858 and Melbourne and Yarra were sold to St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company in 1862. Sandridge was taken out of running service in 1863. When the M&HBR was amalgamated with the Melbourne Railway Company on 30 June 1865, the six remaining operating locomotives and Sandridge passed to the newly named Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company.

Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company (M&SR) 1858–1862

M&SR's 2-4-0WT (1861)
Specifications
Career Operators Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company: 1861–1862 Melbourne Railway Company: 1862–1865 Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company: 1865–1878 South Suburban: 1878–1882 Number in class 2 Numbers 10, Kew Builders number 1378 Delivered 1861 First run October 1861 Last run 1882 (20.7 years) Disposition Both sold All later scrapped

The Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company purchased Victoria from the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company in December 1858 (for £2408.13.11) to run from Princes Bridge to Hawthorn, but did not enter service until after the line opened 5 February 1859.

With the extension of the M&SR's line to Hawthorn in 1861, a further 2 locomotives were ordered. The first entered service in October 1861 named Kew (B/n 1377). The other one, builders number 1378, could not be paid for and was sold to Cornish & Bruce, contractors for the Bendigo line.

The company was facing financial trouble and was sold at auction on 31 March 1862 to the Melbourne Railway Company.

St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company (SK&BR) 1861–1865

On 1 February 1861, the St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company hired two engines, Melbourne and Yarra, from the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company, before purchasing them on the 1 February 1862. Working of the SK&BR was later taken over by the Melbourne Railway Company with the stock of the two companies pooled and these two engines passed into the laters control on 1 May 1862 but not into their ownership. The SK&BR was eventually purchased by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company on 1 September 1865, and these two locomotives rejoined the rest of the class.

Melbourne Railway Company (MRC) 1862–1865

MRC's 2-4-0WT (1863)
Specifications
Career Operators Melbourne Railway Company: 1863–1865 Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company: 1865–1878 South Suburban: 1878–1886 Victorian Railways: 1886–1906 Number in class 2 Numbers 12, 13 Windsor, Prahran Delivered 1863 First run October 1863 Last run 7 June 1906 (42.7 years) Disposition 1 sold, 1 became Victorian Railways N class All later scrapped

In March 1862 the Melbourne Railway Company purchased Victoria and Kew as part of the sale of the Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company. Then on 1 May 1862, working of the St Kilda and Brighton Railway was taken over by the MRC with the stock of the two companies pooled and the former companies two engines, Melbourne and Yarra, passed into the MRC's control, but not into their ownership.

Two more locomotives were built in 1863, and entered service in October 1861 named Windsor (B/n 1459) and Prahran (B/n 1460).

When the MRC was amalgamated with the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company on 30 June 1865, the four locomotives of the MRC passed to the newly named Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company.

Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company (M&HBUR) 1865–1878

M&HBUR's 2-4-0WT (1866)
Specifications
Career Operators Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company: 1866–1878 South Suburban: 1878–1886 Victorian Railways: 1886–1905 Number in class 4 Numbers 14–16, 19 Toorak, Victoria Delivered 1866–1971 First run 1866 Last run 30 September 1905 (39.3 years) Disposition 1 sold, 3 became Victorian Railways N class All later scrapped

When the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway was amalgamated with the Melbourne Railway Company on 30 June 1865, the newly named Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company acquired eleven locomotives; Sandridge, St Kilda, Rapid, Meteor, Victoria, Kew, Windsor, Prahran, and the three unnamed locos (B/n 1268–1269, 1458). These were joined on 1 September 1865 by the two locomotives still owned by the St Kilda and Brighton Railway, Melbourne and Yarra. The M&HBUR numbered all their locomotives, except Sandridge which remained out of running service, and retained their original names. They were numbered in the same numerical order as the builder numbers up to No. 13 (Prahran), with a gap of three for the soon to be delivered 2-4-0WT's. The three locomotives, No. 14–No. 16 (B/n 1620, 1802–1803) were put into service 1866–67, with two of them being eventually named; No. 14 as Toorak and No. 15 as Victoria. A final one (B/n 1991) entered service in 1871, taking the next available number 19. This was the last of this type to be supplied for the private companies, bringing their total to eighteen.

Six were disposed of before the M&HBUR was taken over by the Government for their South Suburban system in 1878 (see below), while the nine remaining locomotives were transferred on 1 July 1878 to the Government for use on their South Suburban system; No. 6 (Rapid), No. 7 (Meteor), No. 8, No. 9, No. 11, No. 13 (Prahran), No. 15 (Victoria), No. 16, No. 19.

South Suburban System (Victorian Railways) 1878–1886

On the 1 July 1878, the nine remaining 2-4-0WT locomotives (No. 6–No. 13, No. 15–No. 16, No. 19) of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway were transferred to the Government's South Suburban system. This was separate to the main Government system, and they were able to retain their previous numbers as they were not incorporated into the Victorian Railways register until the introduction of letter classification in 1886. Between 1882 and 1886, the Government sold six to various contractors before being added to the main Victorian Railways register (see below).

Victorian Railways (VR) 1886–1906

The South Suburban system was finally incorporated into the Victorian Railways register on 1 January 1886 along with the introduction of the letter classification system. As there were already locomotives with the same numbers, these older locomotives (No. 6–No. 9, No. 11, No. 13, No. 15–No. 16, No. 19) were given the numbers 242–248, 252–260 (even only) and became known as the N class. Unlike No. 252–No. 258 which were modified for motor service, No. 246 remained unmodified for the rest of its life before finally being withdrawn with the four motors in the early 1900s.

Motor service

Between 1893 and 1895, No. 252–No. 258 were modified for motor running. This involved the addition of a door at the rear of the cab and handrails towards the front to allow guards to return to the engine while the train was moving, extra side tanks to increase the water capacity, as well as cowcatchers.

They were noted as follows:

• N252 in 1890 working trains on the Maldon line, in 1896 on the Outer Circle line, and in early 1900s on the Essendon to Broadmeadows line
• N254 in 1890 working trains on the Buninyong line and later the Essendon to Broadmeadows line
• N256 in 1890 stationed at Princes Bridge presumably for trains on the Outer Circle or Darling lines
• N258 in 1890 working trains on the Outer Circle line between Waverley Road and Camberwell and again in early 1895, while also noted at some point as running on the Lubeck to Rupanyup line

Design improvements

Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), and brakes.

Accidents

• 8 May 1862 - Melbourne collided with Hercules at Botanic Gardens
• 2 August 1895 - N252 in accident at Maldon Junction

Demise

Six were disposed of before the M&HBUR was taken over by the Government in 1878:

• No. 1 (Melbourne) and Sandridge were sold in 1878 as portable steam plants for operating a steam powered wool press.
• No. 2 (Victoria) sold to Cain, Dalrymple and Holtom in June 1872.
• No. 3 (Yarra) sold to Neil McNeil in September 1873.
• No. 4 (St Kilda) sold in 1874.
• No. 14 (Toorak) sold to Millar and James in 1876 for construction of the line between Sale and Morwell. It was bought back in February 1877 by the Government for service on this isolated section until 1879 when it was connected to the rest of the system. The subsequent history of No. 14 with the VR is obscure, and it may have been sold without being placed back on the register.

Two were disposed of by the South Suburban system and another four around the time they were incorporated with the Victorian Railway register in 1886:

• N242 (No. 6/Rapid) sold to Langlands Siding Co. for £650 in July 1886.
• N244 (No. 7/Meteor) sold to Jonathan Falkenham for £800 in May 1886
• N248 (No. 9) sold to Nichol, Gray and Tamlyn for £850 in 1886.
• No. 10 (Kew) and No. 12 (Windsor) were sold to Mark Gardiner and Sons in 1882.
• N260 (No. 19) sold to Nichol, Gray and Tamlyn for £800 in 1886.

The remaining five; N246 (No. 8), N252 (No. 11), N254 (No. 13/Prahran), N256 (No. 15/Victoria), and N258 (No. 16); were finally withdrawn between 1904 and 1906 after around 45 years of service:

Fleet summary

Key:	In service	Preserved	Stored or withdrawn	Scrapped	‡ = Operator not owner

No.	Name	Builder no.	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status	Owners	Notes
1	Melbourne	954	25 December 1854			Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1854), St Kilda & Brighton Railway (1861)‡, St Kilda & Brighton Railway (1862), Melbourne Railway Company (1862)‡, Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865)	Sold for wool pressing - 1878
-	Sandridge	955	5 January 1855	1863		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1855)	Sold for wool pressing - 1878
2	Victoria	956	March 1855			Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1855), Melbourne & Suburban Railway (1858), Melbourne Railway Company (1862), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865)	Sold to Cain, Dalrymple & Holtom - June 1872
3	Yarra	957	April 1855			Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1855), St Kilda & Brighton Railway (1861)‡, St Kilda & Brighton Railway (1862), Melbourne Railway Company (1862)‡, Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865)	Sold to Neil McNeil - September 1873
4	St Kilda	1080	July 1857			Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1857), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865)	Sold - 1874
6 N242	Rapid	1183	November 1858	July 1886		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1858), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N242 on the VR. Sold to Langlands Siding Co. (£650) - July 1886
7 N244	Meteor	1184	November 1858	1886		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1858), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N244 on the VR. Sold to Jonathan Falkenham (£800) - May 1886
8 N246	-	1268	March 1860	April 1904		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1860), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N246 on the VR
9 N248	-	1269	March 1860	1886		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1860), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N248 on the VR. Sold to Nichol, Gray and Tamlyn (£850) - 1886
10	Kew	1377	October 1861			Scrapped	Melbourne & Suburban Railway (1861), Melbourne Railway Company (1862), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878)	Sold to M. Gardiner and Sons - 1882
-	-	1378	-			Scrapped	-	Could not be paid for and sold to Cornish & Bruce
11 N252	-	1458	August 1863	26 May 1906		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway (1863), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N252 on the VR
12	Windsor	1459	October 1863			Scrapped	Melbourne Railway Company (1863), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878)	Sold to M. Gardiner and Sons - 1882
13 N254	Prahran	1460	October 1863	7 June 1906		Scrapped	Melbourne Railway Company (1863), Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1865), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N254 on the VR
14	Toorak	1620	1866			Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1866)	Sold to Miller & James - 1876
15 N256	Victoria	1802	1867	8 August 1904		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1867), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N256 on the VR
16 N258	-	1803	1867	30 September 1905		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1867), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N258 on the VR
19 N260	-	1991	February 1871	1886		Scrapped	Melbourne & Hobson's Bay United Railway (1871), South Suburban (1878), Victorian Railways (1886)	Became N260 on the VR. Sold to Nichol, Gray and Tamlyn (£800) - 1886

References

• Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. p. 13. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
• Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 2". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 3–17. ISBN 1876677384.
• Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 11". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 95–96, 102–104. ISBN 1876677384.
• Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). "Chapter 17". Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 168–169. ISBN 1876677384.

External links

• VPRS 12903/P0001, 301/08 - Drawing of N class steam locomotives
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 4164 - 7th November 1873 old 2-4-0WT steam locomotive on way to Picnic and Hawthorn at Richmond
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1120 - Sandridge station yard 2-4-0 tank engine, Melbourne and Hobsons Bay Railway Company
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2818 - N class steam locomotive
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 3543 - N class steam locomotive 1858-70
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2389 - Engine No. 252 broadmeadows Essendon 1899
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1071 - N class steam locomotive No. 252 perspective view derailed
• VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1716 - N class steam locomotive No. 252 at Rupanyup 1901