The Victorian Railways P class was a class of goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1860 and 1921, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, England.

History Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were numbered 5–9. This was changed in the late 1860s to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the odd numbers 1–9. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class P.

Production The five locomotives were built in 1859 with builder's numbers 115–119 at an average cost of £3779-12-0 for each loco. They arrived in Port Phillip in March 1860.

Regular service In addition to regular goods service, some were loaned to contractors, like Cornish & Bruce, for line construction and ballasting purposes. In 1894, all were allocated to .

Design improvements

Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), and brakes. P1 received a new boiler in December 1894. Then between 1903 and 1906 they were all reboilered with a new boiler pressures of 150psi.

Demise P3 was withdrawn in 1917, P5 and P9 in 1919, P7 in 1920, and P1 in 1921.

Fleet summary Key:In servicePreservedStored or withdrawnScrapped

Locomotive Previous numbers Builder no. Entered service Withdrawn ScrappedStatus Notes P1 6 116 Scrapped Hired to Evans, Merry & Co. - 1860. Reboilered - 13 December 1894. Reboilered - November 1903 P3 8 118 Scrapped Hired to Cornish & Bruce - October 1860. Painted red - 1904 P5 5 115 Scrapped P7 7 117 Scrapped P9 9 119 Scrapped

References

Specific

External links P class locomotive no. 7, circa 1865 P class steam locomotive no. 3 VPRS 12903/P0001, 302/03 - Drawing of P class steam locomotive 0-6-0 c1860 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1038 - P class steam locomotive side view VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2850 - Bendigo Beyer Peacock P class steam locomotive 1883 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 5004 - P class steam locomotive no.3 on Echuca mixed train at Deniliquin 11-1-1902 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1087 - P class steam locomotive no.1 perspective view New Market circa 1916