South Australian Railways R class 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) 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), Water cap. 2,040 imp gal Firebox: • Grate area 17.6 sq ft (1.64 m2 ) (R)2 ) (Rx) Boiler pressure 145 psi (1,000 kPa) (R) Heating surface: • Firebox 98.3 sq ft (9.13 m2 ). (R)2 ) (Rx) • Tubes 1,196 sq ft (111.1 m2 ) (R)2 ) (Rx) Superheater: • Heating area 178 sq ft (16.5 m2 ) (Rx) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in 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138*-153*, 155, 158, 160, 190-203, 206-235 (* originally built as R class) First run 10.2.1886 Last run 5.9.1969 Withdrawn 1927-1969 Preserved Rx 5, Rx 55, Rx 93, Rx, 160, Rx 191, Rx 201, Rx 207, Rx 217, Rx 224 & Rx 231 Scrapped 1928-1974 Disposition Ten preserved, remainder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 engine, later upgraded to Rx Class engine is a class of 4-6-0 steam engines operated by the South Australian Railways .
History
In 1886, Dübs and Company of Glasgow delivered the first six R class of engine. A further 24 engines had been built by James Martin & Co by November 1895. From 1899, all engines were rebuilt with higher powered Belpaire boilers and reclassified as Rx class engines. A further 54 locomotives were built as Rx class by the Islington Railway Workshops , North British Locomotive Company and Walkers Limited with all engines in service by May 1916.[ 1]
The R class engines 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 and passenger trains. 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.[ 1]
Survivors
Several Rx class locomotives, including one original R class engine (Rx93), survive to this day in various states of preservation.
References
^ a b Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s . Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 54. ISBN 0-7301-0005-7 ^ Rx5 Australian Steam^ Rx55 Australian Steam^ Rx93 National Railway Museum^ Rx93 Australian Steam^ Rx160 Australian Steam^ Rx191 Australian Steam^ Rx201 Australian Steam^ Rx207 Australian Steam^ Rx207 Steamranger Heritage Railway^ Rx217 Australian Steam^ Rx224 Australian Steam^ Rx224 Steamranger Heritage Railway^ Rx231 Australian Steam
External links
South Australian Railways R class at Wikimedia Commons
Steam locomotives – 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in ) gauge Steam locomotives – 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in ) gauge Diesel locomotives Railcars Electric multiple units Passenger carriages by class Named or significant trains
