Queensland C16 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The C16 class steam locomotive is a 4-8-0
locomotive of the Queensland Railways QR. The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge. The “C”, is used to identify the number of coupled wheels, being eight coupled wheels for the C16 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of sixteen inches. This resulted in the C16 class locomotive.
engine with the exception of the Garratt
classes to be fitted with a screw reverser. After successful trials, an order for a further 20 was placed in 1906 and construction began in earnest. The first engines had an unusual combined number and builder’s plate mounted on the sides of the cab. In early years, the class was often referred to as “Ipswich C16″ to distinguish them from the Baldwin
built C16 engines of the previous century.
Three engines were specially turned out for a time to haul the heavy Sydney
Mail train until larger locomotives took over this duty. Engines constructed during World War I
were given indiscriminate numbers by re-using brass
number plates off scrapped locomotives. This commenced a trend that was used on many engines of other classes constructed during the 1920s and early 1930s.
was trialled on ten engines. Operation of these superheated engines proved costly despite tests proving savings in coal
and water consumption. The principal problem was lubrication
of slide valves with the higher temperatures. This caused wear and cutting of the valve and port faces with resultant steam leaks. The original cast iron valves were replaced with bronze ones but produced little improvement. In 1929, it was decided to not to superheat any more slide valve engines and those so fitted reverted to saturated steam as boiler renewals became necessary. Eleven engines were loaned to Commonwealth Railways in 1942. All were later returned when the traffic situation worsened in Queensland.
As saturated engines they were soon replaced on more important duties by their successor, the C17 Class
. The engines that survived until the last decade of steam were mainly used for heavy shunting in yards such as Rockhampton where the loads were beyond the capacity of the PB15 class
es commenced being fitted to members of the class in 1945. This greatly improved their performance. All engines remaining in service, except N°106, were similarly altered. These modified engines could be distinguished by their tapered stove pipe chimney.
4-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. The type was nicknamed the Mastodon or Twelve-wheeler in North America....
locomotive of the Queensland Railways QR. The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge. The “C”, is used to identify the number of coupled wheels, being eight coupled wheels for the C16 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of sixteen inches. This resulted in the C16 class locomotive.
Construction
The prototype, N°395, was the first engine to be built by the then new Ipswich Railway Workshops. It was the only Queensland RailQueensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
engine with the exception of the Garratt
Garratt
A Garratt is a type of steam locomotive that is articulated in three parts. Its boiler is mounted on the centre frame, and two steam engines are mounted on separate frames, one on each end of the boiler. Articulation permits larger locomotives to negotiate curves and lighter rails that might...
classes to be fitted with a screw reverser. After successful trials, an order for a further 20 was placed in 1906 and construction began in earnest. The first engines had an unusual combined number and builder’s plate mounted on the sides of the cab. In early years, the class was often referred to as “Ipswich C16″ to distinguish them from the Baldwin
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
built C16 engines of the previous century.
Three engines were specially turned out for a time to haul the heavy Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Mail train until larger locomotives took over this duty. Engines constructed during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
were given indiscriminate numbers by re-using brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
number plates off scrapped locomotives. This commenced a trend that was used on many engines of other classes constructed during the 1920s and early 1930s.
Superheating trial
In 1920s, superheatingSuperheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
was trialled on ten engines. Operation of these superheated engines proved costly despite tests proving savings in coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and water consumption. The principal problem was lubrication
Lubrication
Lubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each another, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces to carry or to help carry the load between the opposing surfaces. The interposed...
of slide valves with the higher temperatures. This caused wear and cutting of the valve and port faces with resultant steam leaks. The original cast iron valves were replaced with bronze ones but produced little improvement. In 1929, it was decided to not to superheat any more slide valve engines and those so fitted reverted to saturated steam as boiler renewals became necessary. Eleven engines were loaned to Commonwealth Railways in 1942. All were later returned when the traffic situation worsened in Queensland.
As saturated engines they were soon replaced on more important duties by their successor, the C17 Class
Queensland C17 class locomotive
The C17 class locomotive was a 4-8-0 locomotive of the Queensland Railways. . The locomotives operated on narrow gauge.The design was so successful that 227 locomotives were built from 1920 when the first engine N° 15 entering service through until 1953 when N° 1000 was delivered. The 22 NM...
. The engines that survived until the last decade of steam were mainly used for heavy shunting in yards such as Rockhampton where the loads were beyond the capacity of the PB15 class
Modifications
The class received a number of modifications during their lives. The early engines had sandboxes on the running boards rather than mounted on the boiler. All, except the class leader, had these replaced by a “standard” Baldwin style sandbox on their boilers. A. A. R. Master Mechanics smokeboxSmokebox
A smokebox is one of the major basic parts of a Steam locomotive exhaust system. Smoke and hot gases pass from the firebox through tubes where they pass heat to the surrounding water in the boiler. The smoke then enters the smokebox, and is exhausted to the atmosphere through the chimney .To assist...
es commenced being fitted to members of the class in 1945. This greatly improved their performance. All engines remaining in service, except N°106, were similarly altered. These modified engines could be distinguished by their tapered stove pipe chimney.