Victorian Railways K class
Encyclopedia
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 its 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.
The Locomotive Design Section had introduced successful mainline and branchline passenger locomotives with the A2 class
and Dd class 4-6-0
s, 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.
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.
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.)
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) turntable
s.
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.
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.
The last seven of the second order of K class locomotives built in 1940-46 were fitted with Boxpok
wheels.
(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.
On January 20, 1965 locomotive K 188 was used in a public ending of steam on the Victorian Railways, when it was used in the demolition of the North Melbourne Locomotive Depot
, pulling down the front wall with a steel rope before a crowd of onlookers. 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
.
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.
Four K class locomotives are currently in operation:
Museum at North Williamstown.
In addition, K class locomotives are also preserved on public display at various locations:
Until 2002, K 183 was also operated by Steamrail Victoria. On 13 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. The locomotive was extensively damaged and is currently stored out of service.
In addition, K 151, 157, 159, 176, and 184 are currently stored. While some 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.
An N scale kit version is available from badgerbits using a MicroAce 9600 as a basis.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
that ran on Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
from 1922 to 1979. Although its design was entirely conventional and its 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.The Locomotive Design Section had introduced successful mainline and branchline passenger locomotives with the A2 class
Victorian Railways A2 class
The A2 class was an express passenger locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1907 to 1963. A highly successful design entirely the work of Victorian Railways' own design office, its long service life was repeatedly extended as economic depression and war delayed the introduction of more...
and Dd class 4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
s, and had recently improved mainline goods services with the C class
Victorian Railways C class
The C class was a mainline goods locomotive of the 2-8-0 'Consolidation' type that ran on the Victorian Railways between 1918 and 1962. Although its original design had some key shortcomings, a number of improvements were made over the class' long career on the VR, many of which were subsequently...
2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
. They now turned their attention to a requirement for a more powerful branchline goods locomotive, and in 1922 produced a lighter 2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
"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
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
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
Victorian Railways Dd class
The Dd class was a passenger and mixed traffic steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1902 to 1974...
) and high factor of adhesion were put to good use.
The design was modified in 1925 into the N class
Victorian Railways N class
The N class was a branch line steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1925 to 1966. A development of the successful K class 2-8-0, it was the first VR locomotive class designed for possible conversion from 5 ft 3 in broad gauge to 4 ft 8½ in standard gauge.-History:In 1923, in...
2-8-2
2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
, in response to a new Victorian Railways policy that all new locomotives be capable of conversion from broad to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this 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.)
The K class proved to be such a successful locomotive than during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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) turntable
Turntable (railroad)
A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
s.
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.
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
Victorian Railways J class
The J class was a branch line steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1954 to 1972. A development of the successful Victorian Railways K class 2-8-0, it was the last new class of steam locomotive introduced on the VR...
2-8-0, the final class of steam locomotives to be introduced to the Victorian Railways.
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
Boxpok
A Boxpok is a steam locomotive wheel that gains its strength through being made of a number of box sections rather than having traditional solid spokes . Being hollow, they allow better counterbalancing than conventional drivers, which is important for fast locomotives...
wheels.
Demise
The introduction of the T classVictorian Railways T class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways T class diesel electric locomotive are a small branch line and shunting unit built by Clyde Engineering . They were the most numerous class of diesel locomotives in the state....
(EMD G8
EMD G8
The EMD G8 was a General Motors-built diesel locomotive of which 382 were built between 1954 and 1965 for both export and domestic use. They were built by both Electro-Motive Division in the United States and by General Motors Diesel Division in Canada for use in ten countries, being equipped to...
) 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
Victorian Railways Y class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways Y class diesel electric locomotive is a small branch line and shunting unit built by Clyde Engineering . Three separate orders were delivered...
(EMD G6B) locomotive eventually superseded them in this role.
On January 20, 1965 locomotive K 188 was used in a public ending of steam on the Victorian Railways, when it was used in the demolition of the North Melbourne Locomotive Depot
North Melbourne Locomotive Depot
North Melbourne Locomotive Depot was the main location for maintenance of the Victorian Railways steam locomotive fleet based in Melbourne. Located in the middle of the Melbourne Yard precinct in the suburb West Melbourne near North Melbourne railway station, the site is now occupied by the...
, pulling down the front wall with a steel rope before a crowd of onlookers. North Ballarat Workshops
Ballarat North Workshops
Ballarat North Workshops is a railway workshop located in the provincial city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. They are located in the suburb of North Ballarat on Creswick Road, and occupy 5.5 hectares of land beside the junction of the Mildura and Serviceton railway lines.-History:The 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
Steamrail Victoria
Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to the restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the railways in Victoria, Australia. The main depot of the group is at the Newport Railway Workshops in suburban Melbourne...
.
Preservation
Australian Railway Historical Society
The Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
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
- 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 limited service (pending maintenance and repairs) on the preserved Victorian Goldfields RailwayVictorian Goldfields RailwayThe Victorian Goldfields Railway is a broad gauge tourist railway in Victoria, Australia. It operates along a formerly disused branch line between the towns of Maldon and Castlemaine.-History:...
, hauling passenger services between CastlemaineCastlemaine, VictoriaCastlemaine is a city in Victoria, Australia, in the Goldfields region of Victoria about 120 kilometres northwest by road from Melbourne, and about 40 kilometres from the major provincial centre of Bendigo. It is the administrative and economic centre of the Shire of Mount Alexander. The...
and MaldonMaldon, VictoriaMaldon is a town in Victoria, Australia, in the Shire of Mount Alexander local government area. It has been designated "Australia's first notable town" and is celebrated for its 19th-century appearance, maintained since gold-rush days...
in Central Victoria. - K 163 is in regular service on the preserved Mornington RailwayMornington RailwayThe Mornington Railway is a heritage railway near Mornington, a town on the Mornington Peninsula, near Melbourne, Victoria. The line is managed by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society and operates on part of the former Victorian Railways branch line which ran from Baxter to Mornington.-...
, hauling passenger services between MoorooducMoorooduc, VictoriaMoorooduc is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.The Moorooduc Highway runs through the locality, being the main route between Melbourne and the Peninsula....
and MorningtonMornington, VictoriaMornington is a sea side town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, located 57 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula....
. K163 was used as the locomotive on train scene in part 3 of The Pacific. As of February 7, 2010, K163 is being overhauled by Mornington Railway Preservation Society. K163 returned into service for the MRPS as of November 21, 2010.
Static display
K 165 is preserved at the Australian Railway Historical SocietyAustralian Railway Historical Society
The Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
Museum at North Williamstown.
In addition, K class locomotives are also preserved on public display at various locations:
- K 162: Yarragon, VictoriaYarragon, VictoriaYarragon is a small town in the West Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The town lies on the Princes Highway and the main Gippsland Railway line approximately halfway between the major towns of Warragul and Moe...
(numbered 'K-183': the two locomotives were swapped in 1982 when K 183 commenced restoration to working order, although K 183's tender remains.) - K 167: Wycheproof, VictoriaWycheproof, VictoriaWycheproof is a small regional locality in the centre of the Shire of Buloke, in north western Victoria, Australia. As of the 2006 census, it had a population of 686...
- K 169: Coal CreekCoal Creek, VictoriaCoal Creek is a small town in the South Gippsland area of Victoria, Australia, now essentially a suburb of Korumburra.Coal was discovered in the area in 1872, and the region subsequently developed an important coal mining industry. The mine at Coal Creek operated from the 1880s to the 1958, when...
Heritage Village, Korumburra, VictoriaKorumburra, VictoriaKorumburra is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. It is located on the South Gippsland Highway, kilometres south-east of Melbourne, in the South Gippsland Shire local government area.... - K 177: Hamilton, VictoriaHamilton, VictoriaHamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
. This locomotive, swapped with K 159 by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society, is a composite of worn out parts salvaged from K 159, 174 and 177, with the frames, wheels and most of the motion gear being from K 177. - K 175: Mildura, VictoriaMildura, VictoriaMildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
- K 181: Numurkah, VictoriaNumurkah, VictoriaNumurkah is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Goulburn Valley Highway, north of Shepparton, in the Shire of Moira. At the 2006 census, Numurkah had a population of 4,643.- History :...
- K 192: State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi, VictoriaWonthaggi, VictoriaWonthaggi is a town located south east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland and Bass Highways, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia...
Stored or under restoration
The following K class locomotives are the subject of current restoration projects:- K 154 was previously on display in the "Old Moe Town" Historical Park. This locomotive is now the focus of the N441 - Steam Locomotive ProjectN441 - Steam Locomotive ProjectThe N441 project intends to build a Victorian Railways N class steam locomotive out of the frame of a K class locomotive. The project is being carried out by the Locomotive Restoration Group based out of the Newport railway workshops in Victoria, Australia.- Locomotive Restoration Group Inc...
to convert the locomotive into a 1st series N class 2-8-2 by the Locomotive Restoration Group based at Newport Workshops. - The Mornington Railway Preservation Society is well into the restoration of a locomotive to be numbered K 177, which will comprise frames salvaged from K 174, K 177's original boiler, driving wheels from K 175 and a tender made up of K 174's frames and K 177's tender tank.
- K 191, previously on static display in Wangaratta, VictoriaWangaratta, VictoriaWangaratta is a cathedral city of almost 17,000 people in the northeast of Victoria, Australia, about from Melbourne along the Hume Highway, with Benalla to the southwest, and Albury-Wodonga to the northeast. It is located at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers which flow from the...
, has been stripped down into its component parts for inspection and preliminary work as a restoration project by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society.
Until 2002, K 183 was also operated by Steamrail Victoria. On 13 October 2002 this locomotive was involved in a serious level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
accident with a B-double semi-trailer
Semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
near Benalla, Victoria
Benalla, Victoria
Benalla is a city of just over 9,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about southwest of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.- Overview :...
, derailing after impact. Tragically, three people on the footplate
Footplate
The footplate of a steam locomotive is a large metal plate that rests on top of the frames and is normally covered with wooden floorboards. It is usually the full width of the locomotive and extends from the front of the cab to the rear of cab or coal bunker just above the buffer beam. The...
died in the collision. The locomotive was extensively damaged and is currently stored out of service.
In addition, K 151, 157, 159, 176, and 184 are currently stored. While some 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-1990s.An N scale kit version is available from badgerbits using a MicroAce 9600 as a basis.
External links
- victorianrailways.net K class locomotive page Details and further photographs of K class locomotives
- Steamrail Victoria operators of K 153 and K 190
- Victorian Goldfields Railway operators of K 160
- Mornington Railway operators of K 163
- Victorian Preserved Steam Locomotives detailed information about all surviving ex-VR steam locos