The C30 class tank engine (formerly S.636 tank engine) is an old class of steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock and Company and Eveleigh Railway Workshops for the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.[1][2][3]

New South Wales C30 class
No.3137 at the New South Wales Railway Museum, Thirlmere
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock and Company (95) Eveleigh Railway Workshops (50) Serial number BP 4444–4478, 5034–5038, 5084–5088, 5140–5149, 5235–5244, 5971–5820 Build date 1903–1917 Total produced 145
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-4T  • UIC 2'C2'nt Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm) Adhesive weight 86,000–95,000 lb (39,009–43,091 kg; 39–43 t) Loco weight 161,000 lb (73,028 kg; 73 t) Fuel type Coal Firebox:  • Firegrate area 24 sq ft (2.2 m2) Boiler pressure 160 psi (1.10 MPa) Heating surface 1,450 sq ft (135 m2) Superheater None Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 18.5 in × 24 in (470 mm × 610 mm) or 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 20,311–21,424 lbf (90.3–95.3 kN) Factor of adh. 4.22 or 4.42
Career Operators New South Wales Government Railways Class S636, C30 from 1924 Retired 1957 - 1973 Preserved 3013, 3046, 3085, 3112, 3137 Disposition 77 converted to C30T class, 5 preserved, 63 scrapped

These 4-6-4 tank engine wheel arrangement locomotives were specifically designed to haul Sydney's ever increasing suburban traffic, particularly over the heavy grades on the Northern, North Shore and Illawarra lines.

Service

The first batch of 35 locomotives were built Beyer, Peacock and Company entering service in 1903/04. Between 1905 and 1917 Beyer, Peacock built a further 60 engines while the New South Wales Government Railways built 50 engines at their Eveleigh Railway Workshops.

The electrification of the inner suburban lines resulted in a surplus of the class of engines too valuable to scrap. Accordingly, between August 1928 and July 1933, 77 of these locomotives were converted to C30T tender 4-6-0 type locomotives by Clyde Engineering and Eveleigh Railway Workshops to replace older locomotives on country branch lines.[2]^: 142–5[4]

The remaining tank locomotives were mostly employed on Sydney suburban services to Cowan, Penrith and Campbelltown as well as branches to Carlingford, Richmond and Camden.[5] They were also used on suburban services in Newcastle and Wollongong.[4]

A few drifted to the country areas, working on sections where no turntable was readily available, such as Casino to Border Loop on the North Coast line, Leeton and Merriwa and shunting at yards such as Bathurst. The daily passenger trains on the extremely steep Unanderra to Moss Vale line were operated by 30 class locomotives until February 1967.[2]

Following the electrification of the country platforms at Sydney Central station, the 30 class engine replaced the 26 class locomotives used to shunt carriages in the yard, they being not so dangerous engines to water under the traction wiring.[2]

Demise and preservation

The first engine was withdrawn in February 1957, by July 1965 the fleet of engines was down to 33 engines and by mid-1971 down to three engines.[4] The last engine No., 3085, was withdrawn on 22 February 1973.[6][7] It was the second last steam locomotive in service on the NSWGR. Five tank engines of the class survive into preservation.

Gallery

• 
  Tank Engine No. 3013 at Hexham in June 1973

See also

• NSWGR steam locomotive classification
• Music video by The Seekers featuring Tank Engine No. 3024 in 1967 at Mulgrave NSW.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to New South Wales C30 class locomotives.