South Australian Railways R class: Difference between revisions

 

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|powertype = Steam

|powertype = Steam

|image = South Australian Railways Rx 149, McLaren Vale, South Australia, 1920.jpeg

|image = South Australian Railways Rx 149, McLaren Vale, South Australia, 1920.jpeg

|caption = Rx149 with a load of wine casks at [[McLaren Vale]]

|caption = Rx149 with a load of wine at [[McLaren Vale]]

|designer =

|designer =

|builder = [[Dübs and Company|Dübs & Co]] (6)<br>[[James Martin & Co]] (24)<br>[[Islington Railway Workshops]] (14)<br>[[North British Locomotive Company]] (15)<br>[[Walkers Limited]] (25)

|builder = [[Dübs and Company|Dübs & Co]] (6)<br>[[James Martin & Co]] (24)<br>[[Islington Railway Workshops]] (14)<br>[[North British Locomotive Company]] (15)<br>[[Walkers Limited]] (25)

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==History ==

==History ==

In 1886, [[Dübs and Company]] of [[Glasgow]], {{abbr|UK|United Kingdom}} delivered the first six R class locomotives. A further 24 had been built by [[James Martin & Co]], of [[Gawler]] {{abbr|SA|South Australia}} by November 1895. Starting in 1899, all of the class were rebuilt with [[Belpaire firebox|Belpaire boilers]], achieving a 20&nbsp;per cent increase in tractive effort. They were reclassified as Rx class engines. A further 54 locomotives were built as Rx class by the [[Islington Railway Workshops]], [[North British Locomotive Company]], Glasgow and [[Walkers Limited]], [[Maryborough, Queensland]]. All were in service by May 1916.<ref name=Oberg>{{cite book|last1=Oberg|first1=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s|date=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0-7301-0005-7|page=54}}</ref>

In 1886, [[Dübs and Company]] of [[Glasgow]], {{abbr|UK|United Kingdom}} delivered the first six R class locomotives. A further 24 built by [[James Martin & Co]], of [[Gawler]] {{abbr|SA|South Australia}} by November 1895. Starting in 1899, all of the class were rebuilt with [[Belpaire firebox|Belpaire boilers]], achieving a 20&nbsp;per cent increase in tractive effort. They were reclassified as Rx class engines. A further 54 locomotives were built as Rx class by the [[Islington Railway Workshops]], [[North British Locomotive Company]], Glasgow and [[Walkers Limited]], [[Maryborough, Queensland]]. All were in service by May 1916.<ref name=Oberg>{{cite book|last1=Oberg|first1=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s|date=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0-7301-0005-7|page=54}}</ref>

[[File:Backhead and cab of a South Australian Railways Rx class locomotive after rebuild (HTSA GN06851) – cropped.jpg|thumb|left|300px|alt=Backhead and cab of an Rx class locomotive after rebuild from R class|Backhead and cab of an Rx class locomotive after rebuild from R class]]

At the outset, the locomotives were the predominant class used on broad-gauge mainline services in South Australia. After railways commissioner [[William Alfred Webb|William Webb]] introduced large locomotives of contemporary American design in the early 1920s, their roles were reduced to hauling freight and mixed (passenger and freight) trains on secondary mainlines, Adelaide suburban passenger trains and regional branchline passenger trains; and shunting in freight yards. A large group of Rx class locomotives, mainly early builds, were withdrawn from service in 1934; the remainder continued to serve into the mid-1960s.<ref name=Oberg/><ref name=Rx93>{{cite web|url=https://nrm.org.au/collection/locomotive-rx93/ |title=Locomotive Rx93 |author=<!–Not stated–> |date=2025 |website=[[National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide]] |access-date=6 October 2025}}</ref>

At the outset, the locomotives were the predominant class used on broad-gauge mainline services in South Australia. After railways commissioner [[William Alfred Webb|William Webb]] introduced large locomotives of contemporary American design in the early 1920s, their roles were reduced to hauling freight and mixed (passenger and freight) trains on secondary mainlines, Adelaide suburban passenger trains and regional branchline passenger trains; and shunting in freight yards. A large group of Rx class locomotives, mainly early builds, were withdrawn from service in 1934; the remainder continued to serve into the mid-1960s.<ref name=Oberg/><ref name=Rx93>{{cite web|url=https://nrm.org.au/collection/locomotive-rx93/ |title=Locomotive Rx93 |author=<!–Not stated–> |date=2025 |website=[[National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide]] |access-date=6 October 2025}}</ref>

Class of broad-gauge 4-6-0 locomotives

South Australian Railways R & Rx class
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 (2′C 3) (2′C 2′2′) Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Leading dia. 2 ft 11 in (889 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) Length 49 ft 11 in (15.215 m) Height 13 ft 4 in (4,064 mm) Axle load 9 long tons 17 cwt (22,100 lb or 10 t) (R) 11 long tons 8 cwt (25,500 lb or 11.6 t) (Rx) Adhesive weight 28.50 long tons 0 cwt (63,800 lb or 29 t) Loco weight 40 long tons (45 short tons; 41 t) (R) Tender weight 22 long tons (25 short tons; 22 t) (R) Total weight 65 long tons (73 short tons; 66 t) (R), 88 long tons (99 short tons; 89 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons 18 cwt (11,000 lb or 5 t) (R), 7 long tons 16 cwt (17,500 lb or 7.9 t) (Rx), 6 long tons 17 cwt (15,300 lb or 7 t) (Rx 6 wheel tender) Water cap. 2,040 imp gal (2,450 US gal; 9,300 L) (R) 3,750 imp gal (4,500 US gal; 17,000 L) (Rx), 3,200 imp gal (3,800 US gal; 15,000 L) (Rx 6 wheel tender) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 17.6 sq ft (1.64 m2) (R) 20.37 sq ft (1.892 m2) (Rx) Boiler pressure 145 psi (1,000 kPa) (R) 175 psi (1,207 kPa) (Rx) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 98.3 sq ft (9.13 m2). (R) 105 sq ft (9.8 m2) (Rx)  • Tubes 1,196 sq ft (111.1 m2) (R) 1,208 sq ft (112.2 m2) (Rx) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 178 sq ft (16.5 m2) (Rx) (not fitted to some locos) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Allan Straight Link Valve type Piston
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class R/Rx Number in class 84 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) First run 10 February 1886 Last run 5 September 1969 Withdrawn 1927–1969 Preserved Rx 5, Rx 55, Rx 93, Rx, 160, Rx 191, Rx 201, Rx 207, Rx 217, Rx 224 & Rx 231 Scrapped 1928-1974 Disposition Ten preserved, remainder scrapped

The South Australian Railways R class was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways. The initial 30 of the class were upgraded and reclassified as the Rx class; the 54 later acquisitions were built to Rx specifications.

In 1886, Dübs and Company of Glasgow, UK delivered the first six R class locomotives. A further 24 were built by James Martin & Co, of Gawler SA by November 1895. Starting in 1899, all of the class were rebuilt with Belpaire boilers, achieving a 20 per cent increase in tractive effort. They were reclassified as Rx class engines. A further 54 locomotives were built as Rx class by the Islington Railway Workshops, North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow and Walkers Limited, Maryborough, Queensland. All were in service by May 1916.^[1]

At the outset, the locomotives were the predominant class used on broad-gauge mainline services in South Australia. After railways commissioner William Webb introduced large locomotives of contemporary American design in the early 1920s, their roles were reduced to hauling freight and mixed (passenger and freight) trains on secondary mainlines, Adelaide suburban passenger trains and regional branchline passenger trains; and shunting in freight yards. A large group of Rx class locomotives, mainly early builds, were withdrawn from service in 1934; the remainder continued to serve into the mid-1960s.^[1][2]

Ten members of the class remain in various states of preservation.

 Media related to South Australian Railways R class at Wikimedia Commons