Victorian Railways F class (1874)

The Victorian Railways F class was originally a class of light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1874 and 1929.

History
Classed 'F' in 1886.

Production
The pattern engine was constructed by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1874. An order for 20 more locomotives of this design was placed 2 years later with the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat, with 10 built in 1876–77 and a further 10 in 1879–80. They were originally supplied with four-wheeled tenders, but were eventually provided with larger six-wheeled ones which increased their water capacity to 1710 impgal.

Regular service
In early life they were mainly used on the main lines radiating form Ballarat and Ararat. By 1894, 3 were allotted to Geelong, 5 to Ararat, 3 to Ballarat, 2 to Seymour, 2 to Benalla, 2 to Princes Bridge, and 4 to Sale.

Design improvements
All were reboilered between 1902-12, along with the T class, to a new common, larger boiler type.

2-4-2T motors
In 1910-11, the Victorian Railways decided to convert seven of them into "motor" locomotives for use in outer suburban areas. The tenders were removed and they became 2-4-2 tanks. They kept their numbers 172–184 (evens only).

Accidents

 * 10 November 1878 - F98 ran through the end on the engine shed at Dunolly
 * 26 July 1881 - F98 collided with H160 at Beaufort
 * ? - F142 in collision at Creswick
 * 11 March 1897 - F172 derailed at Cannon Hill near Warrnambool

Withdrawal
The un-rebuilt tender engines were taken off register between 1916 and 1924, and the "motors" were taken off between 1920 and 1929. F184 was sold to Earlston, Cranbourne for £750. One of the 2-4-2T class survives, number 176, having been sold to the Sunshine Harvester Works in 1920 for £1500, where was used as a shunter until 1961. It was then donated to the Newport Railway Museum, and is the oldest surviving Victorian Railway locomotive, having been built in 1880.