| Victorian 4-4-0WT | |
| Powertype: | Steam |
| Builder: | Robert Stephenson & Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (6) Robinson Brothers, South Melbourne (8) Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat (12) |
| Serialnumber: | Robert Stephenson: 1995, 2123, 2130, 2214, 2328, 2329 Robinson Brothers: 1–8 Phoenix Foundry: 98–109 |
| Builddate: | 1871–1883 |
| Totalproduction: | 26 |
| Axleload: | 1914 diagram: |
| Locoweight: | 1914 diagram: |
| Boilerpressure: | 1904 diagram:
|
| Cylindercount: | 2, outside |
| Tractiveeffort: | at 100 psi 1904 diagram - 140psi: 1914 diagram: |
| Operator: | Victorian Railways |
| Numinclass: | 26 |
| Fleetnumbers: | Numbers at delivery: 26-31, 52-63, 70-81, 88-89 (never ran with these), Numbers in service: 19-81, 127-149 (odd only) |
| Deliverydate: | 1871 |
| Firstrundate: | August 1871 |
| Lastrundate: | 19 February 1916 |
| Withdrawndate: | 1883 - 1916 |
| Disposition: | All scrapped |
This was a group of 6 passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company for an early private railway operator in Victoria, and expanded by another 20 locomotives locally built by Robinson Brothers and Phoenix Foundry for the Victorian Railways. They later were known as the Victorian Railways C class.
The original six 4-4-0WT locomotives built by Stephenson were ordered and operated by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company and later the Victorian Railways.
| M&HBUR's 4-4-0WT (1871) | |
| Operator: |
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| Numinclass: | 6 |
| Fleetnumbers: | M&HBUR / South Suburban: 20–23, 25–26 VR: C278–C288 (even only) |
| Deliverydate: | 1871–1878 |
| Firstrundate: | August 1871 |
| Lastrundate: | 17 December 1913 |
| Disposition: | All became Victorian Railways C class All later scrapped |
The first 4-4-0WT locomotive for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company (B/n 1995) arrived in Hobson's Bay aboard the vessel 'Khandeish' on 13 June 1871 at a cost of £2,444 to land (including customs duty) — it is possibly the first bogie engine in Victoria — and is numbered No.20.[1] The ship 'Astracan' reached Melbourne on 6 April 1973 with the next engine No.21 (B/n 2123) entering service soon after, followed by the 'Loch Ness' on 17 January 1974 with the next two engines No.22 & No.23 (B/n 2130 & 2214), although these locomotives didn't enter service until September and October 1875.[2] Around this time, one of these four locomotives was hired by the Victorian Railways for trial observations. The M&HBUR ordered a final two 4-4-0WT's in February 1877, they arrived aboard the 'Hawarden Castle' (B/n 2328) and the 'Melanope' (B/n 2329) both arriving 1 February 1878 and numbered No.25 & No.26.[3]
When the M&HBUR was taken over by the Government in 1878, the six locomotives were transferred on 1 July 1878 to the Government for use on their South Suburban system (see below).
| VR's 4-4-0WT (1880) | |
| Operator: |
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| Numinclass: | 20 |
| Fleetnumbers: | South Suburban: 1–4, 12, 14, 17, 18, 27–38 VR: C42, C262–C276, C290–C310 (even only) |
| Deliverydate: | 1880–1883 |
| Firstrundate: | August 1880 |
| Lastrundate: | 19 February 1916 |
| Disposition: | All became Victorian Railways C class All later scrapped |
On the 1 July 1878, the six 4-4-0WT locomotives (No. 20–No. 23, No. 25–No. 26) of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway were transferred to the Government's Victorian Railways. This was separate to the main Government system, and they were able to retain their previous numbers as they were not incorporated into the main Victorian Railways register until the introduction of letter classification in 1886. It was referred to as the Hobson's Bay system from 1879 to 1881, then as the South Suburban system from 1881 to 1886.[3]
In 1880–81, eight were locally built by Robinson Brothers of South Melbourne, and a further twelve were built by Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1882–83.
All twenty-six were added to the main Victorian Railways register (see below).
The South Suburban system was finally incorporated into the Victorian Railways register on 1 January 1886 along with the introduction of the letter classification system. As there were already locomotives with the same numbers, these older locomotives were given the next available numbers; 42, 262–310 (even only) and became known as the C class.
In 1904, C272, C282, C286, C294, C296, C306 were modified for motor running, while C284 was also converted at a later date. This involved the addition of handrails and footboards to allow guards to return to the engine while the train was moving, as well as cowcatchers.
Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), and brakes.
All scrapped. The first was taken off the register on 9 April 1904 and the last on 19 February 1916.
C266 was fitted up as a washing out engine in 1900, and was at North Melbourne until 7 February 1906 when C310 was similarly equipped and took over. — The boilers of engines needed frequent washing out to remove sediments around the firebox which if allowed to remain would interfere with the circulation of water and lead to overheating of the firebox plates. Before boilers could be washed out with cold water, several hours were needed for the boiler to cool slowly, thus avoiding stress arising from rapid and unequal contractions. Washing out with hot water greatly reduced this delay.
| Key: | In service | Preserved | Stored or withdrawn | Scrapped | ‡ = Also M&HBUR system |
|---|
| VR No. | South Suburban No. | Builder no. | Entered service | Withdrawn | Scrapped | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C42 | 38 | 109 | Scrapped | Became C42 on the VR | ||||
| C262 | 1 | 98 | Scrapped | Became C262 on the VR | ||||
| C264 | 2 | 99 | Scrapped | Became C264 on the VR | ||||
| C266 | 3 | 100 | Scrapped | Became C266 on the VR. Used as a washing out engine at North Melbourne - 11 June 1904 | ||||
| C268 | 4 | 101 | Scrapped | Became C268 on the VR | ||||
| C270 | 12 | 104 | Scrapped | Became C270 on the VR | ||||
| C272 | 14 | 105 | Scrapped | Became C272 on the VR | ||||
| C274 | 17 | 102 | Scrapped | Became C274 on the VR | ||||
| C276 | 18 | 103 | Scrapped | Became C276 on the VR | ||||
| C278 | 20‡ | 1995 | Scrapped | To South Suburban - 1878. Became C278 on the VR | ||||
| C280 | 21‡ | 2123 | Scrapped | To South Suburban - 1878. Became C280 on the VR | ||||
| C282 | 22‡ | 2130 | Scrapped | To South Suburban - 1878. Became C282 on the VR | ||||
| C284 | 23‡ | 2214 | Scrapped | To South Suburban - 1878. Became C284 on the VR | ||||
| C286 | 25‡ | 2328 | Scrapped | To South Suburban - 1878. Became C286 on the VR | ||||
| C288 | 26‡ | 2329 | Scrapped | To South Suburban - 1878. Became C288 on the VR | ||||
| C290 | 27 | 1 | Scrapped | Became C290 on the VR | ||||
| C292 | 28 | 2 | Scrapped | Became C292 on the VR | ||||
| C294 | 29 | 3 | Scrapped | Became C294 on the VR. Used by Construction Branch - 30 September 1912 | ||||
| C296 | 30 | 4 | Scrapped | Became C296 on the VR | ||||
| C298 | 31 | 5 | Scrapped | Became C298 on the VR | ||||
| C300 | 32 | 6 | Scrapped | Became C300 on the VR | ||||
| C302 | 33 | 7 | Scrapped | Became C302 on the VR | ||||
| C304 | 34 | 8 | Scrapped | Became C304 on the VR | ||||
| C306 | 35 | 106 | Scrapped | Became C306 on the VR | ||||
| C308 | 36 | 107 | Scrapped | Became C308 on the VR | ||||
| C310 | 37 | 108 | Scrapped | Became C310 on the VR. Used as a washing out engine at North Melbourne - 7 February 1906 |