South Australian Railways R class

South Australian Railways
R class and Rx Class

South Australian Railways Rx 149

Rx 149 with a load of wine casks at McLaren Vale, South Australia.
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder
Build date 1886–1916
Total produced 84
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-0
UIC class 2′C
Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1.372 m)
Length 49 ft 11 in (15.215 m)
Loco weight 40 long tons (40,642 kg) (R)
Tender weight 22 long tons (22,353 kg) (R)
Total weight 65 long tons (66,043 kg) (R), 88 long tons (89,412 kg)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 4 tons 18 cwt (R), 7 tons 16 cwt (Rx), 6 tons 17 cwt (Rx 6 wheel tender)
Water cap 2,040 gallons (R) 3,750 gallons (Rx), 3,200 gallons (Rx 6 wheel tender)
Boiler pressure 145 psi (1,000 kPa) (R) 175 psi (1,207 kPa) (Rx)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		 1,195.68 square feet (R), 1,208 square feet (Rx)
Cylinders Two,
Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort 17,700 lbf (78.73 kN) (R) 21,420 lbf (95.28 kN)
Career
Operators South Australian Railways
Numbers 5, 9, 10, 15, 20*, 25*, 48, 55, 56, 91* - 96*, 102* - 107*, 138* - 153*, 155, 158, 160, 190 - 203, 206 - 235 (* originally built as R class)
Delivered 1886- (R Class), 1909 (Rx Class)
Retired 1966
Scrapped 1928–1974
Disposition 10 preserved, remainder scrapped

The South Australian Railways R class, later upgraded to Rx Class is a broad gauge 4-6-0 steam locomotive operated by South Australian Railways.

The class comprised 84 engines in total. 30 were built as R class locomotives by Dübs and Company of Glasgow, Scotland (6) and later James Martin & Co of Gawler, South Australia (24). Many of these engines were later upgraded to Rx class with larger boilers and other improvements. A further 54 locomotives were built as Rx class by the S.A.R. Islington Railway Workshops, North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow, Scotland and Walkers Limited of Maryborough, Queensland.[1]

R class were the predominant locomotive used on broad gauge main line services in South Australia from their introduction. After the introduction of the large Webb engines they were relegated to secondary lines and services such as shunting and hauling goods trains.[2]

A large group of Rx class locomotives, mainly early builds, were withdrawn from service in 1934, however the remainder continued to serve into the mid 1960s. One locomotive, Rx93, had been in service for 80 years.[3] Rx 207 which remains in operation with SteamRanger Heritage Railways has been operated for over 100 years.

Survivors

Several Rx class locomotives and one R class survive to this day in various states of preservation.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 'comrails.com'
  2. ↑ 'National Railway Museum'
  3. ↑ 'comrails.com'
  4. ↑ 'railsa.org'
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