New South Wales C30 class locomotive

New South Wales C30 class
Class 30 locomotive on a service to Camden in 1962
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) Driver dia. 4 ft 7 in (1.397 m) Adhesive weight 86,000–95,000 lb (39–43 t) Loco weight 161,000 lb (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

The C30 class (formerly S.636) was a class of steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock and Company and Eveleigh Railway Workshops for the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

These 4-6-4T 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.

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 at their Eveleigh Railway Workshops.

The electrification of the inner suburban lines resulted in a surplus of the class 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.

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. They were also used on suburban services in Newcastle and Wollongong.