Silverton Tramway Y class

Silverton Tramway Y class
Y1 preserved at Sulphide Street Museum, 2009
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co James Martin & Co Build date 1888–1907 Total produced 21
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0 (19 locos), 2-6-2T (2 locos) Gauge 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 3 ft 3 in (991 mm) Length 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m) Loco weight 2–6–2T: 34 long tons 0 cwt (76,200 lb or 34.5 t) Total weight 2–6–0: 47 long tons 7 cwt (106,100 lb or 48.1 t) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 2–6–0: 1,600 imp gal (7,300 L; 1,900 US gal) 2–6–2T: 600 imp gal (2,700 L; 720 US gal) Tender cap. 2–6–0: 4 long tons 10 cwt (10,100 lb or 4.6 t) (2–6–2T had no tender) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 13.6 sq ft (1.26 m2) Boiler pressure 2–6–0: 145 lbf/in2 (1.00 MPa) 2–6-0 rebuilt: 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) 2–6–2T: 140 lbf/in2 (0.97 MPa) Cylinder size 14.25 in × 20 in (362 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 2–6–0: 13,289 lbf (59.11 kN) 2–6–0 rebuilt: 16,500 lbf (73.40 kN) 2–6–2T: 12,154 lbf (54.06 kN) Factor of adh. 3.29
Career Operators Silverton Tramway Company Numbers Y1–Y17 Preserved Y1, Y6, Y11, Y12 Disposition 4 preserved, 17 scrapped

The Silverton Tramway Y class was a class of 2-6-0 and 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Silverton Tramway Company, operating between Broken Hill, New South Wales, and the border of South Australia.

History[edit]

Between 1888 and 1907 the Silverton Tramway Company took delivery of eighteen 2-6-0 and two 2-6-2T locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Co, Manchester, and two built by James Martin & Co purchased second-hand from the Tarrawingee Tramway.^[1][2][3]

The company notionally had 21 Y class locomotives, although three were never operated and only a maximum of 17 were owned at any one time. Their road numbers were recycled.^[1][2][3]

In 1887, having commenced operations with hired South Australian Railways Y class locomotives, the company ordered four locomotives of the same design from Beyer, Peacock. They were assembled in Gawler, South Australia by James Martin's Phoenix Foundry. Since the company had an option to sell to the South Australian Railways any that it deemed surplus, two of the locomotives ("1st Y3" and "1st Y4") passed without use. Of the other two, which were 2-6-2T (side tank) locomotives but otherwise the same as the 2-6-0 locomotives, one was sold within a few months; the other was given away as compensation for a collision 11 years later.^[4]

Westinghouse air brakes were fitted to Y13, Y15 and Y16 from new and Y1 and Y11 were retrofitted. Y1, Y6, Y8 and Y11 to Y17, which originally had a boiler pressure of 145 pounds per square inch (1000 kilopascals; 10.2 kilograms-force per square centimetre), were rebuilt with 180 pounds per square inch (1200 kilopascals; 13 kilograms-force per square centimetre) boilers and lead adhesion slabs were added to the running boards. Three were superheated between 1924 and 1926.^[1]

The locomotives were superseded on main line duties by the A class from 1912 onwards, but many were retained for shunting and secondary duties around the Broken Hill yards and mine sidings. The last was withdrawn in 1961.^[1][3]

Disposition[edit]

The locomotives' disposition as of 2015^[update] is shown in the table.

Preservation[edit]

• Y1: at Sulphide Street Museum^[5]
• Y6: at Mount Laura Homestead Museum^[6]
• Y11: at Penrose Park, Silverton in September 1965^[8]
• Y12: at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide^[3][9]

References[edit]