The South Australian Railways 700 class was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways.

South Australian Railways 700 Class
South Australian Railways 700 Class Locomotive No. 700, 1926
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Fred Shea Builder Armstrong Whitworth Serial number 643-652 Build date 1925 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 1′D1′ 2′2′ Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Leading dia. 2 ft 9 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) Trailing dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Length 73 ft 2 in (22.30 m) Height 13 ft 6+1⁄2 in (4,127.5 mm) Axle load 18 long tons 7 cwt (20.6 short tons; 18.6 t) Adhesive weight 70.15 long tons (78.57 short tons; 71.28 t) Loco weight 96.10 long tons (107.63 short tons; 97.64 t) Tender weight 75.95 long tons (85.06 short tons; 77.17 t) Total weight 171 long tons 15 cwt (384,700 lb or 174.5 t) 166 long tons 6 cwt 2 qr (372,570 lb or 168.99 t) 166 long tons 6 cwt 2 qtr (186.28 short tons; 168.99 t) original Fuel type Coal Oil Fuel capacity 17 long tons (19 short tons; 17 t) 14+1⁄2 long tons (16.2 short tons; 14.7 t) on 60 lb/yd (29.8 kg/m). rail 2,950 imp gal (3,540 US gal; 13,400 L) oil Water cap. 5,900 imp gal (7,100 US gal; 27,000 L) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 47 sq ft (4.4 m2) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1,379 kPa) Heating surface:  • Tubes and flues 2,400 sq ft (220 m2)  • Firebox 195 sq ft (18.1 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 619 sq ft (57.5 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 22 in × 28 in (559 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts valve gear Valve type Piston
Performance figures Tractive effort 40,418 lbf (179.79 kN) Factor of adh. 4.11
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class 700 Number in class 10 Numbers 700-709 First run 27/4/1926 Withdrawn 1959-1967 Preserved 702 Scrapped 1962-1968 Disposition 1 preserved, 9 scrapped

History

As part of William Webb's rehabilitation of the South Australian Railways, ten 2-8-2 steam locomotives were delivered by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle upon Tyne in March 1926. They were designed to operate across all broad gauge branch lines. In 1928, they were followed by ten nearly identical 710 class locomotives built at Islington Railway Workshops. Coal shortages after World War II saw a number converted to burn oil. All were later converted back to coal burners. The first two were withdrawn in June 1959 with the remainder replaced as 830 diesel locomotives entered service. The last was withdrawn in June 1968.[1][2]

The National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide has preserved 702.[3]

References

External links

Media related to South Australian Railways 700 class (steam) at Wikimedia Commons