Victorian Railways K class

Infobox Locomotive
name = Victorian Railways K class

---

caption = VR photo of K 103 as built, 1922
powertype = steam
data for = Victorian Railways K class
builder = VR Newport Workshops
whytetype = 2-8-0
numinclass = 53
length = 60 ft 3⅜ in
driversize = 55 in
weight = 62 t 7 c (engine)
42 t 5c (tender)
104 t 12 c (total)
tenderc

weightondrivers = 53 t 2 c
cylindercount = 2
cylindersize = 20×26 in
tractiveeffort = 28,650 lbf at 85% boiler pressure
axleload = 13 t 10 c
totalsurface = 1,680 ft²
boilerpressure = 175 psi
firearea = 25¾ ft²

The K class was a branch line steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1922 to 1979. Although its design was entirely conventional and it specifications unremarkable, the K class was in practice a remarkably versatile and dependable locomotive. It went on to outlast every other class of steam locomotive in regular service on the VR, and no fewer than 21 examples of the 53 originally built have survived into preservation.

History

The K class was the first design from the VR Locomotive Design Section under the stewardship of Alfred E Smith as Chief Mechanical Engineer. [cite web|url=http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history2.html|title=ARHS Railway Museum: History 1900 - 1950|accessdate=2006-11-12|]

The Locomotive Design Section had introduced successful mainline and branchline passenger locomotives with the A2 class and Dd class 4-6-0s, and had recently improved mainline goods services with the C class 2-8-0. They now turned their attention to a requirement for a more powerful branchline goods locomotive, and in 1922 produced a lighter 2-8-0 "Consolidation" locomotive with a 13½ ton axle load and 50 ft wheelbase, able to run on even the lightest lines on the VR broad gauge system.

Regular Service

The K class is credited with working virtually every line in the VR system and hauling almost every kind of train.

A total of ten were built from 1922-23. They were put to work on goods services on steeply graded branch lines where their superior tractive effort (45% higher than that of the Dd class) and high factor of adhesion were put to good use.cite web|url=http://www.vgr.com.au/stocksteam.html|title=Victorian Goldfields Railway Steam Locomotives|accessdate=2006-11-11|]

The design was modified in 1925 into the N class 2-8-2, in response to a new Victorian Railways policy that all new locomotives be capable of conversion from broad to standard gauge in the event of the Victorian Railways network being standardised. (The K, with its firebox mounted between the frames, was unsuitable for standard gauge conversion.)cite web|url=http://www.vgr.com.au/stocksteam.html|title=Victorian Goldfields Railway Steam Locomotives|accessdate=2006-11-11|]

The K class proved to be such a successful locomotive than during World War II when the VR faced a shortage of motive power on the branchline network, it built a further 43 K class locomotives even though the K was not gauge convertible. The decision to build more Ks reflected their greater versatility: they had the same tractive effort as the N class but unlike the longer wheelbase N class the K could be turned on the smallest (53 ft) turntables.

Although originally designed as a goods locomotive, their maximum permissible speed was raised in the 1950s from 45 to 50 mph (72 to 80 km/h) for branchline passenger service, further increasing their versatility. [Pearce et al, p. 14]

The success of the K class was such that even in 1953, when dieselisation was already underway on Victorian Railways, the basic design of the K class was updated into the J class 2-8-0, the final class of steam locomotives to be introduced to the Victorian Railways.cite web|url=http://www.vgr.com.au/stocksteam.html|title=Victorian Goldfields Railway Steam Locomotives|accessdate=2006-11-11|]

Design Improvements

During the mid 1930s, the original batch of ten K class locomotives were equipped with VR's 'Modified Front End' for improved drafting and reduced cylinder back pressure. They also saw other improvements, such as the fitting of cross-compound air compressors, smoke deflectors and a new welded tender tank which incorporated a self-trimming coal bunker.

The last seven of the second order of K class locomotives built in 1940-46 were fitted with Boxpok wheels.

Demise

The introduction of the T class (EMD G8) diesel electric locomotive from 1955 onwards on VR's branchline network spelt the beginning of the end for the K class, with Ks gradually being retired as successive orders of Ts were delivered throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. Even so, their reliable and low-cost operability ensured they remained in service around various yards and depots as shunters and workshop pilots until the Y class (EMD G6B) locomotive eventually superseded them in this role.

North Ballarat Workshops pilot K 162 had the honour of being the last steam locomotive in service on Victorian Railways, withdrawn in March 1979, and was subsequently allocated to Steamrail Victoria.

Preservation

With the rail preservation movement well under way by the late 1960s, many ex-VR locomotives were sold to local councils for display in municipal parks or near railway stations. The K had a further advantage over other classes in this respect: because VR offered the locomotives for the price of their scrap value (plus the cost of freight to their eventual destination), the relatively lightweight K represented a comparatively cheap locomotive purchase. The large number of preserved K class locomotives is in stark contrast to the fate of VR's remaining fleet of 73 larger, heavier N class locomotives, all of which (other than the one example retained for display at the ARHS Railway Museum) were scrapped.

By the time VR announced the cessation of steam locomotive scrapping in 1978, no fewer than 21 of an original 53 K class locomotives remained in existence, making them in preservation the most numerous class of VR steam locomotives. However, none of the original batch of ten locomotives survives.

Operational

Four K class locomotives are currently in operation:
* K 153 and K 190 are operated by Steamrail Victoria, hauling special excursion trains to various destinations on the Victorian broad gauge railway network.
* K 160 is in regular service on the preserved Victorian Goldfields Railway, hauling passenger services between Castlemaine and Maldon in Central Victoria.
* K 163 is in regular service on the preserved Mornington Railway, hauling passenger services between Moorooduc and Mornington.

Interestingly and controversially; K 154 is currently being converted to an 1st series N class 2-8-2 by the Locomotive Restoration Group Inc which is based at Newport, Victoria. K154 was previously located at Moe, Victoria in the "Old Moe Town" Historical Park. This project is not a restoration as no 1st series N class locomotives survived into preservation, but is considered as being recreation or a new steam locomotive - possibly the last to be built at the Newport Railway Workshops.Fact|date=September 2008

In addition, K 174 to be numbered as 'K 177' is to be restored in the long term to operation by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society.Fact|date=September 2008 K 191 is under restoration by the society, the locomotive will be made up of various major compenents stored on the railway and K191's boiler.Fact|date=September 2008

Until 2002, locomotive K 183 was also operated by Steamrail Victoria. On 13th October 2002 this locomotive was involved in a serious level crossing accident with a B-double semi-trailer near Benalla, Victoria, derailing after impact. Tragically, three people on the footplate died in the collision. [cite web|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2002/RAIR/rair2002003.aspx|title= Australian Transport Safety Bureau - Collision between steam passenger Train 8382 & Loaded B-double truck|accessdate=2006-10-16|] The locomotive was extensively damaged and is currently stored out of service.

Static

K 165 is preserved at the Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at North Williamstown. In addition, K class locomotives are also preserved on public display at various locations: [cite web|url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=K&orgstate=V&type=Steam|title=VICSIG - Locomotives - K Class Steam|accessdate=2006-10-16|]
* K 162: Yarragon, Victoria (confusingly numbered 'K 183' - the two locomotives were swapped in 1982 when K 183 commenced restoration to working order, although K 183's tender remains.) [cite web|url=http://www.steamrail.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=47|title=Steamrail - K class Steam Locomotives|accessdate=2006-11-17|]
* K 167: Wycheproof, Victoria
* K 169: Coal Creek Heritage Village, Korumburra, Victoria
* K 177: Hamilton, Victoria (chassis or frame, wheels and most of the motion gear on the loco at Hamilton belong to K 177. The boiler is ex-K 174 and tender is K 159's.Fact|date=September 2008 Swapped for K 159 by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society circa 1999.)Fact|date=September 2008
* K 175: Mildura, Victoria
* K 181: Numurkah, Victoria
* K 192: State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi, Victoria (Previously retro-numbered as 'K 170' due to local ties with that particular locomotive.Fact|date=September 2008 The locomotive has since reverted to its proper identity of K 192.)

In addition, K 151, 157, 159, 176, 183, 184, and 191 are currently stored. Some such as K 191 are potential restoration projects, others such as K 151 and K 157 are utilised as sources of spare parts to restore or maintain other K class locomotives.

Model Railways

The VR K Class locomotive was previously available in HO Scale as a brass and Whitemetal kit, by Broad Gauge Models. There were also a limited production run of brass "Ready-to-Run" models produced by Precision Scale Models in the mid 1990's. Finally, Eureka Models has announced an HO scale plastic model, due in 2009. (http://eurekamodels.com.au/news13th.htm)

References

* Dee et al, "Power Parade", VicRail Public Relations Division, Melbourne, 1981, ISBN 0-7241-3323-2

* Pearce et al, "North Williamstown Railway Museum", ARHS, Melbourne, 1980, ISBN 0-85849-018-8

*Leon Oberg, "Locomotives of Australia", Reed, Sydney, 1975. ISBN 0-589-07173-4

*Michael Schrader, "Recording Railway History - Victoria", in "Photographer Profile", Train Hobby Publication, Studfield, 2001. ISBN 1-876249-54-4 (incls pictures of K Class locos in action)

;Specific

External links

* [http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/ksteam.html victorianrailways.net K class locomotive page] Details and further photographs of K class locomotives
* [http://www.steamrail.com.au Steamrail Victoria] operators of K 153 and K 190
* [http://www.vgr.com.au Victorian Goldfields Railway] operators of K 160
* [http://www.morningtonrailway.org.au Mornington Railway] operators of K 163