South Australian Railways 700 class (steam)

South Australian Railways 700 class
709 at Mile End
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Fred Shea Builder Armstrong Whitworth Serial number 643-652 Build date 1926 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) Length 73 ft 2 in (22.30 m) Total weight 171 long tons 15 cwt (384,700 lb or 174.5 t) Fuel type Coal Oil Boiler pressure 200 psi (1,379 kPa) Cylinder size 22 in × 28 in (559 mm × 711 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 40,418 lbf (179.79 kN)
Career Operators South Australian Railways Numbers 700-709 Preserved 702 Disposition 1 preserved, 9 scrapped

The South Australian Railways 700 class was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways.

History

As part of William Webb's rehabilitation of the South Australian Railways, ten 2-8-2 steam locomotives were delivered by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle upon Tyne in March 1926. They were designed to operate across all broad gauge branch lines. In 1928, they were followed by ten nearly identical 710 class locomotives built at Islington Railway Workshops. Coal shortages after World War II saw a number converted to burn oil. All were later converted back to coal burners. The first two were withdrawn in June 1959 with the remainder replaced as 830 diesel locomotives entered service. The last was withdrawn in June 1968.

The National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide has preserved 702.

External links

Media related to South Australian Railways 700 class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons