21 tonnes (20.66834 long tons; 23.14854 short tons)* (loco built 1918-1926) 33.4 tonnes (32.87250 long tons; 36.81720 short tons)*(loco fitted with C16 tender 1926–1950)
Total weight
75.15 tonnes (73.96312 long tons; 82.83870 short tons)* (loco built 1918-1926) 87.55 tonnes (86.16728 long tons; 96.50736 short tons)*(loco fitted with C16 tender 1926–1950)
The B16½ class locomotive was a 2-6-2 locomotive of the Queensland Railways. The locomotive operated on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge.
Overview
The design resulted from an experimental locomotive to burn coke in an attempt to reduce smoke nuisance caused by coal in Brisbane suburban tunnels. The “B”, is used to identify the number of coupled wheels, being six coupled wheels for the B16½ class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of sixteen and a half inches (419 mm).The B16½ class locomotive was the only one in this class of locomotive ever produced as an experimental engine with new design features and the locomotive No. 204 was the engine number given to this class of locomotive. There wa no other Queensland Government Railways locomotives which had 16½ inch cylinders.
Variations
Locomotive No. 204 was the only Queensland Government Railways locomotive to be produced with Southern Valve Gear and “Prairie” wheel arrangement. To provide enough heating surface to generate sufficient steam through its projected use the firebox was made wider for greater burning capacity. The two wheel trailing truck enabled the fitting of a wide firebox, necessary for a coke burning locomotive. The engine was originally fitted with the surplus tender from PB15 N° 411 after it was converted to a one off member of the 6D15 class. The tender was later changed to a standard C16 Class locomotive tender to increase its potential range. The engine spent its working life on the Brisbane to Ipswich line working coal trains. It was withdrawn from traffic in February 1950 as the post war engine shortage was being overcome and written off the books in September of that year.
