Victorian Railways O class (1861)

The Victorian Railways O class was a class of goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1862 and 1922, built by various builders.

History
Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 26–31, 52–63, 70–81, 88–89. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the odd numbers 19–81, 127–149. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class O.

Production
The first order for six locomotives was placed with Slaughter, Gruning & Co. (builder's numbers 460–465) in April 1861 and twelve locomotives with Robert Stephenson & Company (B/n 1441–1452) in January 1862. The locomotives built by Slaughter, Grüning (B/n 231–237, 261–266) arrived in Port Phillip June 1862, and the Robert Stephenson ones in October 1862. In June 1865, an order for six more locomotives was placed with Beyer, Peacock & Company (B/n 553–558) which arrived May 1966. In 1870, a further order for six more locomotives was placed with Yorkshire Engine Company (B/n 153–158) which arrived March 1971. The last imports were ordered from Beyer Peacock, two in July 1871 (B/n 1040–1041) and three in 1878 (B/n 1709–1711). The imported locos had an average cost of £3919-14-10 for each. Seven locomotives were locally built by the Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1878/9 (B/n 48–54) and a further two by the Victorian Railways at the Williamstown Workshops in 1879 and 1881 at an average cost of £4142-15-0 for each local loco.

Regular service
Before entering regular service, O129 was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. In 1894, they were allocated; ten at Melbourne; fourteen at Bendigo; ten at Ballarat and ten at Benalla.

Design improvements
Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), cowcatchers, and brakes. There were subsequent reboilerings which raised the working pressure to 140 psi then to 160 psi, while their cylinder bore was increased from 17 to 17.5 in when rebuilt after 1896. These changes led to considerably increased tractive effort.

Accidents

 * 15 October 1862 - O25 derailed after hitting spoil bank at Elphinstone
 * 1870 - O57 derailed at Harcourt
 * 1872 - O51 boiler exploded at North Melbourne, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 * 20 August 1873 - O23 boiler exploded at Geelong, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 * 1 September 1876 - O49 derailed at Melbourne Yard
 * 4 September 1876 - O53 involved in accident at Riddells Creek
 * 13 February 1877 - O43 derailed between v and v due to floods
 * November 1877 - O53 involved in accident at v
 * 5 January 1879 - O149 ran away Melbourne Yard
 * April 1879 - O65 broke leading axle at Gisborne
 * August 1879 - O65 collided with V17 in Melbourne Yard
 * 11 July 1881 - O135 involved in accident on North East line
 * 28 August 1883 - O79 collided with L20 at m
 * January 1884 - O27 collided with S215 at Warrenheip Bank
 * 2 April 1884 - O49 boiler exploded at m, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 * 9 July 1884 - O35 broke crank axle
 * November 1884 - O145 collided with A202 in Melbourne Yard
 * February 1885 - O31 collided with R315 in Melbourne Yard
 * November 1887 - O51 boiler exploded at Elphinstone, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 * 22 August 1894 - O71 collided with R477 at Baddaginnie
 * July 1895 - O69 collided with B88 at Spencer Street
 * October 1895 - O19 ran off road at Williamstown
 * 15 March 1897 - O141 involved in accident on Mordialloc line
 * April 1905 - O67 in shops after accident
 * January 1907 - O27 involved in accident at Williamstown
 * 3 February 1910 - O149 derailed with DD616 at Trawalla

Demise
Some were used as a stationary engines at Newport Workshops; O31 from 24 December 1908, five (O35, O39, O41, O53, O61) from 19 May 1909, and finally the boiler from O149 was used in a forge at Newport from 21 August 1916. In 1912, O57's frames were sold to Mr Freeman of for £423, while it's tender was sold to Kerang & Koondrook Tramway for £60. On 19 May 1909, O63 converted to stationary engine and sold to Mr Arbuthnott of (along with the boiler of R173) and was used in PS Arbuthnot. . The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1921. An unknown boiler from either a O or B class was used until 1941 to power refrigeration plant at Spencer Street where ice was made for T vans.