Victorian Railways A2 class

Victorian Railways A2 Class (Walschaerts)
VR photograph of A2 986 in 1916, in original form
Type and origin Power type steam Builder VR Newport, Ballarat & Bendigo Workshops Total produced 185
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Driver dia. 73 in (1.854 m) Length 63 ft 3 3⁄4 in (19.30 m) Axle load 17 long tons 10 cwt (39,200 lb or 17.8 t) Adhesive weight 52 long tons 2 cwt (116,700 lb or 52.9 t) Total weight 121 long tons 7 cwt (271,800 lb or 123.3 t) Tender cap. (after conversion to oil firing) 1,500 imp gal (6,800 l; 1,800 US gal) oil, 4,700 imp gal (21,000 l; 5,600 US gal) water Firebox:  • Firegrate area 29 sq ft (2.7 m2) Boiler pressure 185 psi (1,276 kPa) Heating surface 2,040 sq ft (190 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson (125) Walschaerts (60)
Performance figures Tractive effort 27,480 lbf (122.24 kN) at 85% boiler pressure
Career First run 1907 Last run 1963

The A2 class was an express passenger locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1907 to 1963. A highly successful design entirely the work of Victorian Railways' own design office, its long service life was repeatedly extended as economic depression and war delayed the introduction of more modern and powerful replacement locomotives.

The introduction of the A2 class marked a turning point in Victorian Railways locomotive design, as it was entirely designed by VR engineers of the newly established Locomotive Design Section and the entire class built in-house at Victorian Railways workshops.

Based on the success of the prototype A2 572, a total of 125 Stephenson valve gear A2 locomotives were built between 1907 and 1915. The design was then altered to incorporate larger diameter cylinders, a higher pressure boiler and Walschaerts valve gear, and a further 60 locomotives of this design were produced between 1915 and 1922.

For over forty years, the A2 was the main express passenger locomotive on the VR, hauling intrastate and interstate services. With a maximum permitted speed of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) the A2 was instrumental in the acceleration of timetables on many lines in the years following its introduction. They famously ran the Geelong Flier service (the first "named" train in Victoria) slashing journey times between Melbourne and Geelong from 90 minutes to 63 and finally 55 minutes, a time not significantly improved upon until the introduction of 160 km/h Regional Fast Rail services in 2006.

A2s were also used to haul a number of special services, such as the Royal Trains for the Prince of Wales' and the Duke of York's Australian tours in 1920 and 1927 respectively. Towards the end of their lives, A2 995 and 996 also had the distinction of hauling the last broad gauge Spirit of Progress service into Melbourne on 16 April 1962.