3112

3112
3112 at the Hunter Valley Steamfest in April 2007
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co Serial number 5807 Build date 1914
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-4T  • UIC 2′C2′ nt Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 7 in (1.397 m) Loco weight 161,000 lb (73.0 t) Fuel type Coal Firebox:  • Firegrate area 24 sq ft (2.2 m2) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Heating surface 1,450 sq ft (135 m2) Superheater None Cylinders Two, outside
Career Operators New South Wales Government Railways Class S636/C30

Locomotive 3112 is a two-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, saturated, coal-fired ‘Baltic’ type, 4-6-4 steam C30 class tank locomotive for the New South Wales Government Railways built in 1914 by Beyer, Peacock and Company.

Built in 1914 by Beyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester, 3112 was one of 145 locomotives of the S636 class of 4-6-4T tank locomotives built specifically to handle the increasing volume of suburban traffic in Sydney, particularly on the steeply graded Northern, North Shore and Illawarra lines. The S636 class was later reclassified as the C30 class in 1924 and given new running numbers in the 30xx series.

Following the electrification of the Sydney suburban network, 77 of the C30 class locomotives, were converted into C30T 4-6-0 tender locomotives between 1928 and 1933 and which were used to replace older and largely obsolete locomotives then working on the lightly-laid country branch lines throughout New South Wales. The remaining 68 engines not converted were used on outer suburban services in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, while others ended up assisting on local trains in suburban areas and short country trips.

Entering service in 1914 as S1240, 3112 was used initially on suburban duties around Sydney. It received its present number of 3112 in 1924 as part of the reclassification of the S636 locomotives into the C30 class. Following the displacement of the C30 class from Sydney suburban service by the new electric trains, 3112 was employed on local suburban services from Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

From 1956 onwards 3112 and others were also employed in carriage-shunting duties at Sydney Central along with other members of its class. Previously, two Z26 class 2-6-2ST saddle tank locomotives had been employed on this duty, but electrification of the carriage sidings at Sydney Central in 1956 meant that it was too risky to use them since the water inlet on the engines' water tanks was on top of the saddle tank. As side tank locomotives, the C30 class had no such safety restrictions, and so they also took up these additional duties.