Tasmanian Government Railways R class

The Tasmanian Government Railways R class was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.

Tasmanian Government Railways R class
R class departing Hobart station circa 1940
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Perry Engineering Serial number 243-246 Build date 1923 Total produced 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Leading dia. 2 ft 4+1⁄2 in (724 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm) Trailing dia. 3 ft (914 mm) Wheelbase 27 ft 3 in (8,306 mm) engine, 9 ft 9 in (2,972 mm) coupled, 50 ft 10+1⁄4 in (15,500 mm) total Length 60 ft 2+1⁄4 in (18,345 mm) Height 12 ft 3+3⁄8 in (3,743 mm) Axle load 12+3⁄4 long tons (13.0 t; 14.3 short tons) Loco weight 58+3⁄4 long tons (59.7 t; 65.8 short tons) Tender weight 39 long tons (39.6 t; 43.7 short tons) Total weight 97+3⁄4 long tons (99.3 t; 109.5 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6 long tons (6.1 t; 6.7 short tons) Water cap. 3,500 imp gal (16,000 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 32.5 sq ft (3.02 m2) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 134 sq ft (12.45 m2)  • Tubes and flues 1,420 sq ft (131.92 m2)  • Total surface 1,554 sq ft (144.37 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Schmidt  • Heating area 320 sq ft (29.73 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 20 in × 24 in (508 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Piston 9 in (229 mm) diameter Loco brake Steam Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Tractive effort 23,738 lbf (105.59 kN) Factor of adh. 3.59
Career Operators Tasmanian Government Railways Number in class 4 Numbers R1-R4 Disposition All scrapped

History

In 1923, the Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of four 4-6-2 locomotives from Perry Engineering, Gawler as replacements for the A class. They operated on the Western, Derwent Valley, Main and Fingal lines.^[1][2][3]

In 1938, R3 and R4 were fitted with streamlining similar to the Victorian Railways S class for operation of Hobart to Launceston expresses.^[4][5][6] This was removed in the late 1940s. All were withdrawn in 1956/57.

All were scrapped in the early 1960s.^[1][2]