Silverton Tramway Y class

Silverton Tramway Y class
Y1 at Sulphide Street Museum in August 2009
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co James Martin & Co Build date 1888-1907 Total produced 21
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0 (19), 2-6-2T (2) Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 3 ft 3 in (991 mm) Length 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m) Loco weight 2-6-2T: 34 long tons 0 cwt (76,200 lb or 34.5 t) Total weight 2-6-0: 47 long tons 7 cwt (106,100 lb or 48.1 t) Fuel type Coal Water cap 2-6-0: 1,600 imp gal (7,300 l; 1,900 US gal) 2-6-2T: 600 imp gal (2,700 l; 720 US gal) Tender cap. 2-6-0: 4 long tons 10 cwt (10,100 lb or 4.6 t) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 13.6 sq ft (1.26 m2) Boiler pressure 2-6-0: 145 lbf/in2 (1.00 MPa) 2-6-0 rebuilt: 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) 2-6-2T: 140 lbf/in2 (0.97 MPa) Cylinder size 14.25 in × 20 in (362 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 2-6-0: 13,289 lbf (59.11 kN) 2-6-0 rebuilt: 16,500 lbf (73.40 kN) 2-6-2T: 12,154 lbf (54.06 kN) Factor of adh. 3.29
Career Operators Silverton Tramway Company Numbers Y1-Y17 Preserved Y1, Y6, Y11, Y12 Disposition 4 preserved, 17 scrapped

The Silverton Tramway Y class was a class of 2-6-0 and 2-6-2T steam locomotives operated by the Silverton Tramway Company of Australia.

Between 1888 and 1907 the Silverton Tramway Company took delivery of eighteen 2-6-0 and two 2-6-2T locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Co, Manchester. One James Martin & Co built example was purchased second-hand from the Tarrawingee Tramway.

Having commenced operations with hired South Australian Railways Y class locomotives, the Silverton Tramway Company ordered four locomotives of the same design from Beyer, Peacock & Co. It had an option to on sell any that it deemed surplus to the South Australian Railways, hence the original Y3 and Y4 passed without use. The Silverton Tramway Company notionally had 21 locomotives of this type, although three were never operated and only a maximum of 17 were owned at any one time with numbers recycled.

Westinghouse air brakes were fitted to Y13, Y15 and Y16 from new with Y1 and Y11 retrofitted. Y1, Y6, Y8 and Y11 to Y17 were rebuilt with 180psi (originally 145psi) boilers with lead adhesion slabs added to the running boards. Three were superheated between 1924 and 1926.

They were superseded on main line duties by the A class from 1912 onwards, but many were retained for shunting and secondary duties around the Broken Hill yards and mine sidings. The last was withdrawn in 1961.