South Australian Railways F class (1902)
F240 in 1952
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder |
Islington Railway Workshops (21) James Martin & Co (12) Perry Engineering (10) |
| Build date | 1902-1922 |
| Total produced | 44 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 4-6-2T |
| Gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) |
| Driver dia. | 5 ft 3 in (1.600 m) |
| Length | 40 ft 7.25 in (12.376 m) |
| Loco weight | 59 long tons (59,947 kg) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 2.25 long tons (2,286 kg) |
| Water cap | 1,160 gallons |
| Boiler pressure | 185 psi (1,276 kPa) |
| Cylinders | 2 |
| Cylinder size | 17 1⁄2 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm) |
| Valve gear | Stephenson |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Tractive effort | 18,335 lbf (81.56 kN) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | South Australian Railways |
| Numbers | F167-F189, F236-F255 |
| Preserved | F249, F251, F255 |
| Disposition | 3 preserved, 41 scrapped |
The South Australian Railways F class was a class of 4-6-2T steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways.
The F class hauled the majority of Adelaide's suburban passenger trains from its introduction in 1902. The first 22 were built by the Islington Railway Workshops. James Martin & Co built 12 units, with the remaining 10 built by Perry Engineering, the last enterng service in October 1922.
The type replaced the smaller P class 2-4-0T engines, which were struggling with the increasing sizes of suburban passenger trains. From the 1930s, F class locomotives were replaced by 55 and 75 class Brill railcars on lightly patronized routes. They continued to see extensive service on popular routes until their displacement in 1955/56 by Redhen diesel multiple units. Some engines were retained for shunting duties at Port Adelaide and Mile End with F225, the final member of the class being condemned in 1969.
The locomotives had saturated steam boilers and were considered attractive. While slow to accelerate away from stations, the locomotives were capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 mph (100 km/h). They were a capable locomotive, they faced few restrictions, except for the Belair line operations which were limited to three carriages.
Three members of the class have been preserved:
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