Victorian Railways NA class

Victorian Railways NA class
NA locomotive No. 12 at Belgrave on the Puffing Billy Railway.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works (2) VR Newport Workshops (15) Model BLW simple: 10-20 ¼ D BLW compound: 10-13/26 ¼ D Build date 1898–1915 Total produced 17
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-2T  • UIC 1′C1′ t Gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Loco weight 36 long tons (37 t; 40 short tons) Cylinder size simple bore: 13 in (330 mm) compound hp bore: 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) compound lp bore: 16 in (406 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 12,170 lbf (54.1 kN)
Career Preserved 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14 Disposition 6 preserved, 11 scrapped

The Victorian Railways NA class was a 2-6-2 tank locomotive built for their 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge branch lines.

Baldwin Locomotive Works in the United States supplied the first two 2-6-2 tank locomotives, as well as parts for a further two locos. One each of the supplied locos and the parts kits was a simple loco, and the other a compound. These Locos were never officially classed other than Narrow Gauge Loco, the A was there to indicate they were the second Loco to use the Number, the NA reference came about though workshop staff becoming Lazy when referring to Narrow Gauge Loco #A. The Victorian Railways Newport workshops assembled the parts to give an additional two locos, and subsequently built a further 13 of the simple cylinder version. The last one, number 17, was built in 1915.

By the mid-1920s these small locomotives were not able to handle the increasing traffic, and two G class Garratt locomotives were purchased to supplement the fleet.

The locomotives weigh 36.58 long tons (37.17 t; 40.97 short tons) and produce a tractive effort of 12,170 lbf (54.1 kN), allowing them to haul loads of 90 long tons (91 t; 100 short tons) up grades of 1 in 30 (3.33%). Numbers 6, 7, 8, 12, and 14 have been restored and operate on the Puffing Billy Railway, and No. 3 is also on the Puffing Billy Railway, awaiting eventual restoration. The remaining locomotives have all been scrapped.

Gallery

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  12A
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  6A
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  8A
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  NA at Walhalla in 1910