Victorian Railways G class (1877)

For the 1925 NG steam locomotives, see Victorian Railways G class. For the 1984 diesel locomotives, see V/Line G class.

Victorian Railways G class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Meikle Builder Williamstown Workshops Build date 1877 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Victorian broad gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (952 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 0 in (1,220 mm) Tender wheels 4 ft 0 in (1,220 mm) Wheelbase 34 ft 4+1⁄2 in (10.478 m) Length 42 ft 8+1⁄2 in (13.018 m)[1] Height 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)[1] Axle load 10 long tons 14 cwt (24,000 lb or 10.9 t) Loco weight 30 long tons 7 cwt (68,000 lb or 30.8 t) Tender weight 20 long tons 15 cwt (46,500 lb or 21.1 t) Total weight 51 long tons 2 cwt (114,500 lb or 51.9 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 60 long cwt (6,700 lb or 3,000 kg) Water cap. 1,698 imp gal (7,720 L; 2,039 US gal) Boiler pressure No. 38 (1904):120 psi (827 kPa) No. 44 (1904):130 psi (896 kPa)[1] Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 82.40 sq ft (7.655 m^2)  • Tubes 794.85 sq ft (73.844 m^2)  • Total surface 877.25 sq ft (81 m^2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 8,437 lbf (37.53 kN) at 100 psi
Career Operators Victorian Railways Numbers G38, G44 First run January 1877 Last run 13 August 1904 (27.6 years) Disposition 2 scrapped

The Victorian Railways G class was a class of 4-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1877 and 1904.

History

Numbered 38 and 44, numbers vacated by two withdrawn Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company engines. Classed 'G' in 1886.^[2]

Production

Built by the Williamstown Workshops in 1877. Design was similar to the 1874 K class in both power and weight. The four-wheel bogie instead of a fixed axle at the front reduced the maximum wheel load a little and improved lateral stability. All Meikle engines had been fitted with almost standard four-wheeled tenders, differing only in minor details, but this new design had a wheelbase of 8 feet compared with 7 feet and had a larger capacity.^[2]

Regular service

Based at Castlemaine in the 1890s presumably for the Maldon line.^[2]

Design improvements

Both reboilering in 1882. No.38 fitted with an extended smokebox.^[2]

Withdrawal

Both the locomotives were scrapped in 1904.^[2]

Fleet summary

Key:	In Service	Preserved	Stored or Withdrawn	Scrapped

Locomotive	Builder No.	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status	Notes
G38		February 1877	8 August 1904		Scrapped	[2]
G44		January 1877	13 August 1904		Scrapped	[2]

References

• Dee; et al. (1981). Power Parade. Melbourne: VicRail Public Relations Division. ISBN 0-7241-3323-2.
• Cave, Norman; Buckland, John; Beardsell, David (2002). Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways. Vol. 1: The First Fifty Years. Melbourne, Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 72–77. ISBN 1876677384.

Specific

1. Victorian Railways Rolling Stock Branch: Diagrams & Particulars of Locomotives, Cars, Vans & Trucks (1904 ed.). Vic: Victorian Railways. 1904. p. 3.
2. Cave, Buckland & Beardsell 2002