Victorian Railways O class (1861)

The Victorian Railways O class was a class of goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1862 and 1922, built by various builders.

History

Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 26–31, 52–63, 70–81, 88–89. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the odd numbers 19–81, 127–149. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class O.

Production

The first order for six locomotives was placed with Slaughter, Gruning & Co. in April 1861 and twelve locomotives with Robert Stephenson & Company in January 1862. The locomotives built by Slaughter, Grüning arrived in Port Phillip June 1862, and the Robert Stephenson ones in October 1862.<
In June 1865, an order for six more locomotives was placed with Beyer, Peacock & Company which arrived May 1966. In 1870, a further order for six more locomotives was placed with Yorkshire Engine Company which arrived March 1971. The last imports were ordered from Beyer Peacock, two in July 1871 and three in 1878. The imported locos had an average cost of £3919-14-10 for each.
Seven locomotives were locally built by the Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1878/9 and a further two by the Victorian Railways at the Williamstown Workshops in 1879 and 1881 at an average cost of £4142-15-0 for each local loco.

Regular service

Before entering regular service, O129 was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880.
In 1894, they were allocated; ten at Melbourne; fourteen at ; ten at and ten at.

Design improvements

Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves, smokeboxs and chimneys, cowcatchers, and brakes.
There were subsequent reboilerings which raised the working pressure to then to, while their cylinder bore was increased from when rebuilt after 1896. These changes led to considerably increased tractive effort.

Accidents

15 October 1862 - O25 derailed after hitting spoil bank at
1870 - O57 derailed at
1872 - O51 boiler exploded at, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
20 August 1873 - O23 boiler exploded at, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
1 September 1876 - O49 derailed at Melbourne Yard
4 September 1876 - O53 involved in accident at
13 February 1877 - O43 derailed between and due to floods
November 1877 - O53 involved in accident at
5 January 1879 - O149 ran away Melbourne Yard
April 1879 - O65 broke leading axle at
August 1879 - O65 collided with V17 in Melbourne Yard
11 July 1881 - O135 involved in accident on North East line
28 August 1883 - O79 collided with L20 at
January 1884 - O27 collided with S215 at Warrenheip Bank
2 April 1884 - O49 boiler exploded at, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
9 July 1884 - O35 broke crank axle
November 1884 - O145 collided with A202 in Melbourne Yard
February 1885 - O31 collided with R315 in Melbourne Yard
November 1887 - O51 boiler exploded at Elphinstone, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
22 August 1894 - O71 collided with R477 at
July 1895 - O69 collided with B88 at Spencer Street
October 1895 - O19 ran off-road at
15 March 1897 - O141 involved in accident on Mordialloc line
April 1905 - O67 in shops after accident
January 1907 - O27 involved in accident at Williamstown
3 February 1910 - O149 derailed with D^D616 at

Demise

Some were used as a stationary engines at Newport Workshops; O31 from 24 December 1908, five from 19 May 1909, and finally the boiler from O149 was used in a forge at Newport from 21 August 1916. In 1912, O57's frames were sold to Mr Freeman of for £423, while its tender was sold to Kerang & Koondrook Tramway for £60. On 19 May 1909, O63 converted to stationary engine and sold to Mr Arbuthnott of and was used in PS Arbuthnot.
.
The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1921.
An unknown boiler from either an O or B class was used until 1941 to power the refrigeration plant at Spencer Street where ice was made for T vans.

Fleet summary

Locomotive	Previous numbers	Builder no.	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status	Notes
O19	70	553				Scrapped
O21	71	554				Scrapped	Reboilered - 29 July 1884
O23	26	460				Scrapped	New chimney - July 1896
O25	27	461				Scrapped	New chimney - July 1886
O27	28	462				Scrapped
O29	29	463				Scrapped	Reboilered - 6 January 1882. New chimney - January 1882
O31	30	464				Scrapped	Painted brown - March 1903. Stationary boiler at Newport - 24 December 1908
O33	31	465				Scrapped
O35	52	1441				Scrapped	Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909
O37	53	1442				Scrapped
O39	54	1443				Scrapped	New boiler and chimney - 6 May 1882. Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909
O41	55	1444				Scrapped	Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909
O43	56	1445				Scrapped
O45	57	1446				Scrapped
O47	58	1447				Scrapped	Reboilered - 28 July 1883. New chimney - 28 April 1887
O49	59	1448				Scrapped
O51	60	1449				Scrapped
O53	61	1450				Scrapped	New chimney - 31 January 1877. New chimney - 15 February 1887. Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909
O55	62	1451				Scrapped
O57	63	1452				Scrapped	Frames sold to Mr Freeman of Echuca. Tender sold to Kerang & Koondrook Tramway
O59	72	555				Scrapped
O61	73	556				Scrapped	New chimney - 10 July 1885. Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909
O63	74	557				Scrapped	New chimney - 24 September 1885. Converted to stationary engine and sold to Mr Arbuthnott of Koondrook with boiler of R173 - 19 May 1909. Boiler used in PS Arbuthnot
O65	75	558				Scrapped
O67	88	1040				Scrapped
O69	89	1041				Scrapped
O71	76	153				Scrapped
O73	77	154				Scrapped
O75	78	155				Scrapped
O77	79	156				Scrapped
O79	80	157				Scrapped	Tender fitted to O149 - 10 February 1910
O81	81	158				Scrapped
O127	-	-				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 17 May 1888
O129	-	-				Scrapped	Exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition - 1880
O131	-	48				Scrapped	Tender fitted to O149 - 9 February 1907
O133	-	49				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 15 July 1891
O135	-	50				Scrapped	New chimney - 17 February 1887
O137	-	51				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 6 June 1891
O139	-	52				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 29 November 1890
O141	-	53				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 16 April 1891
O143	-	54				Scrapped
O145	-	1709				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 6 September 1890
O147	-	1710				Scrapped	Cowcatcher fitted - 3 August 1888. New chimney - 4 August 1888
O149	-	1711				Scrapped	New cab - 10 March 1891. Tender from O131 fitted - 9 February 1907. Tender from O79 fitted - 10 February 1910. Boiler in forge at Newport - 21 August 1916