Silverton Tramway Y class explained

Silverton Tramway Y class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Beyer, Peacock & Co
James Martin & Co
Builddate:1888–1907
Totalproduction:21
Whytetype: (19 locos), (2 locos)
Driverdiameter:3feet
Length:40feet
Locoweight:2–6–2T:
Locotenderweight:2–6–0:
Fueltype:Coal
Watercap:2–6–0: 1600impgal
2–6–2T: 600impgal
Tendercap:2–6–0:
(2–6–2T had no tender)
Boilerpressure:2–6–0: 1452NaN2
2–6-0 rebuilt: 1802NaN2
2–6–2T: 1402NaN2
Firearea:13.6square feet
Cylindersize:14.25x
Tractiveeffort:2–6–0: 132892NaN2
2–6–0 rebuilt: 165002NaN2
2–6–2T: 121542NaN2
Factorofadhesion:3.29
Operator:Silverton Tramway Company
Fleetnumbers:Y1–Y17
Preservedunits:Y1, Y6, Y11, Y12
Disposition:4 preserved, 17 scrapped

The Silverton Tramway Y class was a class of and steam locomotives of the Silverton Tramway Company, operating between Broken Hill, New South Wales, and the border of South Australia.

History

Between 1888 and 1907 the Silverton Tramway Company took delivery of eighteen and two locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Co, Manchester, and two built by James Martin & Co purchased second-hand from the Tarrawingee Tramway.[1] [2] [3]

The company notionally had 21 Y class locomotives, although three were never operated and only a maximum of 17 were owned at any one time. Their road numbers were recycled.[1] [2] [3]

In 1887, having commenced operations with hired South Australian Railways Y class locomotives, the company ordered four locomotives of the same design from Beyer, Peacock. They were assembled in Gawler, South Australia by James Martin's Phoenix Foundry. Since the company had an option to sell to the South Australian Railways any that it deemed surplus, two of the locomotives ("1st Y3" and "1st Y4") passed without use. Of the other two, which were 2-6-2T (side tank) locomotives but otherwise the same as the 2-6-0 locomotives, one was sold within a few months; the other was given away as compensation for a collision 11 years later.[4]

Westinghouse air brakes were fitted to Y13, Y15 and Y16 from new and Y1 and Y11 were retrofitted. Y1, Y6, Y8 and Y11 to Y17, which originally had a boiler pressure of 145-lb/in2, were rebuilt with 180-lb/in2 boilers and lead adhesion slabs were added to the running boards. Three were superheated between 1924 and 1926.[1]

The locomotives were superseded on main line duties by the A class from 1912 onwards, but many were retained for shunting and secondary duties around the Broken Hill yards and mine sidings. The last was withdrawn in 1961.[1] [3]

Disposition

The locomotives' disposition is shown in the table.

NumberWheel arrangementBuilderBuilder's numberYear builtWithdrawnNotes
Y12-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co2971188812 February 1960Semi-bogie tender. Stored at Railway Town, put on display at Sulphide Street Museum in late 1970s.[5]
Y22-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co2972188815 June 1943Semi-bogie tender. Sold to BHP, Whyalla 1945.
Y3 (1st)2-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co29731888N/ASemi-bogie tender. Sold to South Australian Railways without use November 1888 as Y90.
Y3 (2nd)2-6-0James Martin & Co16189128 February 1931Purchased from Tarrawingee Tramway 1892, scrapped 1937
Y4 (1st)2-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co29741888N/ASemi bogie tender. Sold to South Australian Railways without use 7 November 1888 as Y91
Y4 (2nd)2-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co339718911907Sold to South Mine Broken Hill 1907, later transferred to BHP Whyalla as 3A
Y5 (1st)2-6-2TBeyer, Peacock & Co317018901898Forwarded to Sulphide Corporation Central Mine as compensation for one of their locomotives destroyed in a head-on accident with a Silverton locomotive. Transferred to BHP Whyalla as 2A in 1940, withdrawn late 1950s.
Y5 (2nd)2-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co439119018 April 1931Scrapped 1938
Y6 (1st)2-6-2TBeyer, Peacock & Co33571891N/ANever owned by Silverton: ordered by BHP and landed in Adelaide August 1891 but too heavy for tracks so entered service with South Australian Railways (SAR) in exchange for V class no. 11. In March 1893, the SAR lent it to STC as Y6. Entered service with BHP Broken Hill September 1893, transferred to BHP Whyalla in 1901 as no. 3, withdrawn 1963 and displayed on Whyalla foreshore, moved to Mount Laura Homestead Museum, Whyalla Norrie in 1983.[6] [7]
Y6 (2nd)2-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co379518957 October 1960Scrapped July 1963
Y72-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3515189214 October 1929Scrapped 1934 or 1937
Y82-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3516189227 May 1960Scrapped July 1963
Y92-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3533189312 January 1931Scrapped 1937
Y102-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3534189312 January 1931Scrapped 1937
Y112-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3535189316 May 1960Stored at Railway Town, donated to Penrose Park Trust, Silverton September 1965[8]
Y122-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3536189317 July 1961Withdrawn 1961, steamed in 1964 for Broken Hill Club picnic special, stored Railway Town, donated to the Mile End Railway Museum in 1965; subsequently on display at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.[9]
Y132-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3796189528 May 1953Fitted with MSL superheater
Y142-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3870189614 December 1955Scrapped July 1963
Y152-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co3871189617 May 1961Fitted with MSL superheater
Y162-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co5006190728 February 1953Fitted with MSL superheater
Y172-6-0Beyer, Peacock & Co5007190730 January 1959Scrapped 1961

Preservation

Notes and References

  1. Book: McNicol. Steve. Silverton Tramway Locomotives. 1981. Railmac Publications. Elizabeth Downs. 0 959415 30 0. 7/8.
  2. Book: Oberg, Leon. Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. 2010. Rosenberg Publishing. Dural. 9781921719011. 65/66.
  3. http://www.natrailmuseum.org.au/rollingstockexhibit.php?exhibitID=47 Y1
  4. Book: Rails to wealth . Roberts . Lew . 1995 . Melbourne . Lew E. Roberts . 271 . 0646265873 .
  5. http://www.australiansteam.com/Y1.htm Y1
  6. http://www.comrails.com/sar_locos/r_c_0.html Narrow Gauge no. 0 2-6-2 Tank Locomotive
  7. http://www.australiansteam.com/BHP2.htm BHP Whyalla No.2
  8. http://www.australiansteam.com/Y11.htm Y11
  9. http://www.australiansteam.com/Y12.htm Y12