The Victorian Railways O class was a class of goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1862 and 1922, built by various builders.

History Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 26–31, 52–63, 70–81, 88–89. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the odd numbers 19–81, 127–149. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class O.

Production The first order for six locomotives was placed with Slaughter, Gruning & Co. (builder's numbers 460–465) in April 1861 and twelve locomotives with Robert Stephenson & Company (B/n 1441–1452) in January 1862. The locomotives built by Slaughter, Grüning (B/n 231–237, 261–266) arrived in Port Phillip June 1862, and the Robert Stephenson ones in October 1862.<

In June 1865, an order for six more locomotives was placed with Beyer, Peacock & Company (B/n 553–558) which arrived May 1866. In 1870, a further order for six more locomotives was placed with Yorkshire Engine Company (B/n 153–158) which arrived March 1871. The last imports were ordered from Beyer Peacock, two in July 1871 (B/n 1040–1041) and three in 1878 (B/n 1709–1711). The imported locos had an average cost of £3919-14-10 for each.

Seven locomotives were locally built by the Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1878/9 (B/n 48–54) and a further two by the Victorian Railways at the Williamstown Workshops in 1879 and 1881 at an average cost of £4142-15-0 for each local loco.

Regular service Before entering regular service, O129 was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. In 1894, they were allocated; ten at Melbourne; fourteen at ; ten at and ten at .

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), cowcatchers, and brakes.

There were subsequent reboilerings which raised the working pressure to then to , while their cylinder bore was increased from when rebuilt after 1896. These changes led to considerably increased tractive effort.

Accidents 15 October 1862 - O25 derailed after hitting spoil bank at 1870 - O57 derailed at 1872 - O51 boiler exploded at , locomotive was repaired and returned to service 20 August 1873 - O23 boiler exploded at , locomotive was repaired and returned to service 1 September 1876 - O49 derailed at Melbourne Yard 4 September 1876 - O53 involved in accident at 13 February 1877 - O43 derailed between and due to floods November 1877 - O53 involved in accident at 5 January 1879 - O149 ran away Melbourne Yard April 1879 - O65 broke leading axle at August 1879 - O65 collided with V17 in Melbourne Yard 11 July 1881 - O135 involved in accident on North East line 28 August 1883 - O79 collided with L20 at January 1884 - O27 collided with S215 at Warrenheip Bank 2 April 1884 - O49 boiler exploded at , locomotive was repaired and returned to service 9 July 1884 - O35 broke crank axle November 1884 - O145 collided with A202 in Melbourne Yard February 1885 - O31 collided with R315 in Melbourne Yard November 1887 - O51 boiler exploded at Elphinstone, locomotive was repaired and returned to service 22 August 1894 - O71 collided with R477 at July 1895 - O69 collided with B88 at Spencer Street October 1895 - O19 ran off-road at 15 March 1897 - O141 involved in accident on Mordialloc line April 1905 - O67 in shops after accident January 1907 - O27 involved in accident at Williamstown 3 February 1910 - O149 derailed with DD616 at

Demise Some were used as a stationary engines at Newport Workshops; O31 from 24 December 1908, five (O35, O39, O41, O53, O61) from 19 May 1909, and finally the boiler from O149 was used in a forge at Newport from 21 August 1916. In 1912, O57's frames were sold to Mr Freeman of for £423, while its tender was sold to Kerang & Koondrook Tramway for £60. On 19 May 1909, O63 converted to stationary engine and sold to Mr Arbuthnott of (along with the boiler of R173) and was used in PS Arbuthnot.. The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1921.

An unknown boiler from either an O or B class was used until 1941 to power the refrigeration plant at Spencer Street where ice was made for T vans.

Fleet summary Key:In servicePreservedStored or withdrawnScrapped

Locomotive Previous numbers Builder no. Entered service Withdrawn ScrappedStatus Notes O19 70 553 Scrapped O21 71 554 Scrapped Reboilered - 29 July 1884 O23 26 460 Scrapped New chimney - July 1896 O25 27 461 Scrapped New chimney - July 1886 O27 28 462 Scrapped O29 29 463 Scrapped Reboilered - 6 January 1882. New chimney - January 1882 O31 30 464 Scrapped Painted brown - March 1903. Stationary boiler at Newport - 24 December 1908 O33 31 465 Scrapped O35 52 1441 Scrapped Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909 O37 53 1442 Scrapped O39 54 1443 Scrapped New boiler and chimney - 6 May 1882. Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909 O41 55 1444 Scrapped Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909 O43 56 1445 Scrapped O45 57 1446 Scrapped O47 58 1447 Scrapped Reboilered - 28 July 1883. New chimney - 28 April 1887 O49 59 1448 Scrapped O51 60 1449 Scrapped O53 61 1450 Scrapped New chimney - 31 January 1877. New chimney - 15 February 1887. Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909 O55 62 1451 Scrapped O57 63 1452 Scrapped Frames sold to Mr Freeman of Echuca (£423). Tender sold to Kerang & Koondrook Tramway (£60) O59 72 555 Scrapped O61 73 556 Scrapped New chimney - 10 July 1885. Stationary engine at Newport - 19 May 1909 O63 74 557 Scrapped New chimney - 24 September 1885. Converted to stationary engine and sold to Mr Arbuthnott of Koondrook with boiler of R173 - 19 May 1909. Boiler used in PS Arbuthnot O65 75 558 Scrapped O67 88 1040 Scrapped O69 89 1041 Scrapped O71 76 153 Scrapped O73 77 154 Scrapped O75 78 155 Scrapped O77 79 156 Scrapped O79 80 157 Scrapped Tender fitted to O149 - 10 February 1910 O81 81 158 Scrapped O127 - - Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 17 May 1888 O129 - - Scrapped Exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition - 1880 O131 - 48 Scrapped Tender fitted to O149 - 9 February 1907 O133 - 49 Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 15 July 1891 O135 - 50 Scrapped New chimney - 17 February 1887 O137 - 51 Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 6 June 1891 O139 - 52 Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 29 November 1890 O141 - 53 Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 16 April 1891 O143 - 54 Scrapped O145 - 1709 Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 6 September 1890 O147 - 1710 Scrapped Cowcatcher fitted - 3 August 1888. New chimney - 4 August 1888 O149 - 1711 Scrapped New cab - 10 March 1891. Tender from O131 fitted - 9 February 1907. Tender from O79 fitted - 10 February 1910. Boiler in forge at Newport - 21 August 1916

References

Specific

External links VPRS 12903/P0001, 302/01 - Drawing of O class steam locomotive 0-6-0 c1862 VPRS 12903/P0001, 302/02 - Drawing of O class steam locomotive 0-6-0 c1862 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 4749 - Steam locomotive no. 25, goods 0-6-0 type built by Slaughter, Grunning & Company, Bristol, 1861. Later known as O class locomotive VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1568 - O class steam locomotive no.43 on turntable VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1062 - O class steam locomotive side view VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1756 - O class steam locomotive no.53 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1778 - O class steam locomotive no.143 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2855 - Old steam locomotive O class no.25 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1105 - O class steam locomotive no.47 at Golden Square station VPRS 12800/P0001, H 5005 - O class steam locomotive no.81 on goods train at North Melbourne VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1077 - O class steam locomotive perspective view engine no.27 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 3742 - O class steam locomotive goods main line 64tons and 4cwt and 2qrs tractive power 11560lbs 1870 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1943A - O class steam locomotive numbers 69 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1043 - O class steam locomotive no.23 perspective view VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1249 - Derailment Epsom 13 February 1877 O class locomotive