Queensland PB15 class locomotive

Queensland PB15 class

PB15 No. 448 at Swanbank
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Henry Horniblow and L. W. Piggott.
Builder Evans, Anderson, Phelan & Co. (70,)
North Ipswich Railway Workshops (1),
Kitson & Co. (20),
Toowoomba Foundry (20), Walkers Limited (122)
Build date 1899–1926
Total produced 233
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-0
UIC class 2′C n2
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Leading dia 26 in (660 mm)
Driver diameter 48 in (1,219 mm)
Length 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Axle load 8.1 tonnes (8.0 long tons; 8.9 short tons)
Loco weight 32 tonnes (31.5 long tons; 35.3 short tons)
Tender weight 24 tonnes (23.62096 long tons; 26.45547 short tons)
Loco & tender weight 56 tonnes (55.115566 long tons; 61.729433 short tons)
Fuel type Coal, Water
Fuel capacity 4 tonnes (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons)
Water cap 2,500 imperial gallons (11,000 l; 3,000 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 12 sq ft (1.1 m2)
Boiler pressure 150 psi (1,034 kPa),
later upgraded to
160 psi (1,103 kPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues		 780 sq ft (72 m2)
Superheater None
Cylinders Two outside
Cylinder size 15 in × 20 in (381 mm × 508 mm)
Valve gear Stephenson (locos built 1899–1912)
Walschaerts (locos built 1924–26)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 12,750 lbf (56.71 kN)
Career
Operators Queensland Railways
Numbers 347–362, 385–384, 404–413, 434–509, 518–537, 540–609, 12, 5, 103, 126, 128, 143, 220, 286, 339, 340, 731–751
Nicknames Walschaerts (Walschaert variants only)
Preserved 444, 448, 454, 732, 738
Disposition Five preserved, remainder scrapped

The PB15 class engine is a 4-6-0 engine of the Queensland Railways. These engines have operated on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge.

Overview

The design resulted from a need for more powerful engines for passenger trains. The PB15 Class was designed by Locomotive Engineer, Henry Horniblow and L. W. Piggott. The “P”, which was used to denote “Passenger”, was added to the classification of the new locomotives to distinguish them from the earlier B15 Class, which were primarily goods engines. The “B”, is used to identify the number of coupled wheels, being six coupled wheels for the PB15 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of fifteen inches (381 mm). The PB15s were in essence identical to the B15s.

Variations

The first PB15 engines were delivered by Walkers Ltd, Maryborough in April 1900. The original locomotives delivered between 1900 and 1912 were fitted with Stephensons Valve Gear. Walkers Ltd manufactured a further 30 improved PB15 Class locomotives between 1924 and 1926 and these were fitted with Walschaerts Valve Gear. This earned this variant of the PB15 the nickname Walschaerts. At the height of their service there were approximately 230 locomotives in service in Queensland. Additionally, in May 1918, No. 411 was converted at North Ipswich Railway Workshops into a tank engine, the one off member of the 6D15 class. In March 1922 however, due to poor performance it was converted back to its original tender form.[1]

In 1932, a number of PB 15-class locomotives attached to Ipswich depot were fitted with a second sandbox for rear sanding to assist with shunting work on the colliery branches. These were Nos. 351, 508, 567, 574, 587, 591, and 750, the last mentioned being a Walschaerts or 1924 type PB15. Later, the rear sanding equipment attached to No.591 was removed and PB15 No. 525 was fitted in lieu.

Preservation

PB15 448 is seen on Saturday 18th September 2015 depart Bundamba Racecourse with a excursion to Box Flat at Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway.
No. 732 of the Queensland Rail Heritage Fleet at North Ipswich Railway Workshops in 2011.

Five examples of this PB15 engines have been preserved:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "PB15 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Queensland Rail Interest Group. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.qpsr.net/pb15.shtml
  3. ↑ http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/

External links

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