Victorian Railways F class (1874)

Victorian Railways F class (2-4-0)
An F Class locomotive in the Central Highlands region, c. 1875
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, England (1) Phoenix Foundry (20) Serial number Beyer, Peacock & Co: 1267 Phoenix: 28, 30, 31, 33-39, 55-64 Build date 1874, 1876-1877, 1879-1880 Total produced 21 Rebuild date New boiler: 1902-1912 2-4-2 motor: 1910-1911 Number rebuilt New boiler: 21 2-4-2 motor: 7 (see below)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm) Tender wheels 3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm) Wheelbase 31 ft 4 in (9.55 m) Length 41 ft 11+1⁄2 in (12.789 m)[1] Height 11 ft 11+5⁄8 in (3.648 m)[1] Axle load Original: 9 long tons 11 cwt (21,400 lb or 9.7 t) Rebuilt: 10 long tons 8 cwt (23,300 lb or 10.6 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity Original: 60 long cwt (6,700 lb or 3,000 kg) Rebuilt: 70 long cwt (7,800 lb or 3,600 kg) Water cap. Original: 1,710 imp gal (7,800 L; 2,050 US gal) Rebuilt: 2,600 imp gal (12,000 L; 3,100 US gal) Boiler pressure Varies between120 psi (827 kPa) & 160 psi (1,103 kPa)[1] Heating surface: ​  • Firebox Original: 71.21 sq ft (6.616 m2) Rebuilt: 72.4 sq ft (6.73 m2)  • Tubes Original: 764.65 sq ft (71.038 m2) Rebuilt: 792.7 sq ft (73.64 m2)  • Total surface Original: 835.86 sq ft (78 m2) Rebuilt: 865.1 sq ft (80 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 15+3⁄4 in × 20 in (400 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort Original: 8,268 lbf (36.78 kN) at 100 psi Rebuilt: 10,584 lbf (47.08 kN) at 80% boiler pressure
Career Operators Victorian Railways Numbers F98, F 126-F144 (even only), F 166-F184 (even only) First run June 1874 Last run 24 June 1924 (50.1 years) Disposition 7 converted, 14 scrapped

Victorian Railways F class motor (2-4-2T)
F Class branch locomotive in the Newport Railway Museum, 2016
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Seipen, VR drawing office Build date 1910-1911 Total produced 7
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-2T Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm) Trailing dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm) Wheelbase 19 ft 7 in (5.97 m) Length 30 ft 7+1⁄4 in (9.328 m)[2] Height 11 ft 11+5⁄8 in (3.648 m)[2] Axle load 11 long tons 6 cwt (25,300 lb or 11.5 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 20 long cwt (2,200 lb or 1,000 kg) Water cap. 1,100 imp gal (5,000 L; 1,300 US gal) Boiler pressure 160 psi (1,103 kPa)[2] Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 72.4 sq ft (6.73 m2)  • Tubes 792.7 sq ft (73.64 m2)  • Total surface 865.1 sq ft (80 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 15+3⁄4 in × 20 in (400 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 10,584 lbf (47.08 kN) at 80% boiler pressure
Career Operators Victorian Railways Numbers F172-F184 (even only) First run 1910 Last run 30 November 1929 (55.5 years) Disposition 1 preserved, 6 scrapped

The Victorian Railways F class was originally a class of 2-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1874 and 1929.

Classed 'F' in 1886.^[3]

The pattern engine was constructed by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1874. An order for 20 more locomotives of this design was placed 2 years later with the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat, with 10 built in 1876–77 and a further 10 in 1879–80. They were originally supplied with four-wheeled tenders, but were eventually provided with larger six-wheeled ones which increased their water capacity to 1,710 imp gal (7,800 L; 2,050 US gal).^[3]

In early life they were mainly used on the main lines radiating form Ballarat and Ararat. By 1894, 3 were allotted to Geelong, 5 to Ararat, 3 to Ballarat, 2 to Seymour, 2 to Benalla, 2 to Princes Bridge, and 4 to Sale.^[3]

All were reboilered between 1902-12, along with the T class, to a new common, larger boiler type.^[3]

In 1910-11, the Victorian Railways decided to convert seven of them into "motor" locomotives for use in outer suburban areas. The tenders were removed and they became 2-4-2 tanks. They kept their numbers 172–184 (evens only).

• 10 November 1878 - F98 ran through the end on the engine shed at Dunolly^[3]
• 26 July 1881 - F98 collided with H160 at Beaufort^[3]
• ? - F142 in collision at Creswick^[3]
• 11 March 1897 - F172 derailed at Cannon Hill near Warrnambool^[3]

The un-rebuilt tender engines were taken off register between 1916 and 1924, and the "motors" were taken off between 1920 and 1929. F184 was sold to Earlston, Cranbourne for £750^[3].
One of the 2-4-2T class survives, number 176, having been sold to the Sunshine Harvester Works in 1920 for £1500,^[3] where was used as a shunter until 1961. It was then donated to the Newport Railway Museum, and is the oldest surviving Victorian Railway locomotive, having been built in 1880.

• Victorian Preserved Steam Locomotives detailed information about all surviving ex-VR steam locos.
• Diagram of 2-4-0 F class locomotive
• Diagram of 2-4-2T F class locomotive
• Picture of F 172
• Pattern engine 98
• F 182

• Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
• Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 65, 70–72, 75–77, 170–173. ISBN 1876677384.