New South Wales Z20 class locomotive

New South Wales Z20 class
2029 passing the former Enfield South Signalbox
Power type	Steam
Builder	Beyer, Peacock & Co. (12, new)
Serial number	BP 3202–3207, 3289–3294 (new)
Build date	1890–1891 (new)
Total produced	12 new, 21 rebuilt from Z19 class
Configuration	2-6-4T
UIC classification	1'C2'nt
Driver diameter	4 ft 0 in (1.219 m)
Weight on drivers	E(10): 77,000 lb (35 t); A/E: 84,000 lb (38 t)
Locomotive weight	E(10): 126,000 lb (57 t); A/E: 137,000 lb (62 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Boiler pressure	150 psi (1.03 MPa)
Firegrate area	18 sq ft (1.7 m2)
Heating surface: Total	E(10): 1,380 sq ft (128 m2); A/E: 1,320 sq ft (123 m2)
Superheater type	None
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	18 × 24 in (457 × 610 mm)
Tractive effort	20,655 lbf (91.9 kN)
Career	New South Wales Government Railways
Class	New: E(10), rebuilds: A/E; both later Z20
Disposition	One A/E preserved, remainder scrapped.

The Z20 class is a class of steam locomotive built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

History

2007 at Kurrajong

2029 on the Moorebank branch

There was a total of 33 members of this class of 2-6-4T mixed traffic side tank locomotives. There were three differing types.

Twelve were classified E(10) class under the pre-1924 recording. These locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company and delivered in 1891. They proved very successful in suburban goods and coal traffic, but were unsuited to main line passenger traffic. When displaced by more powerful locomotives, many were used as shunters. Their final services were on short light branch lines, such as Richmond-Kurrajong, Carlingford, Camden, Rogans Hill and Morpeth. A number were also to be found shunting the industrial sidings at Port Kembla. All of this variety have now been scrapped.

In 1902 there was a shortage of tank locomotives. Six members of the then A(93) class 0-6-0 tender engines were converted to a new A/E class tank locomotive. A further eight conversions were made in 1909–10. In 1911, seven new locomotives were constructed. In 1924, these 21 locomotives were grouped with the twelve E(10) class to form the (Z)20-class.

Later Years

As more tender locomotives became available for suburban goods traffic, the surplus locomotives of the combined class were scrapped or sold. Some of the locomotives which were sold to industrial interests include:

• 2002 went to the N.S.W. Public Works Department (renumbered PWD80)
• 2003, 2004 and 2012 to Australian Iron and Steel (AI&S), the Port Kembla operation of BHP
• 2008 to the Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Company at Port Kembla
• 2013 to Widemere Quarry (Fairfield)
• 2014 to Bunnerong Power House
• 2031 to Bulli Colliery.

The last member of the class in service with the New South Wales Government Railways was 2029 which had been retained for working the Liverpool to Moorebank branch. This locomotive has been cosmetically restored, and is now on static display at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum.

References

• Grunbach, Alex. (1989), A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives, Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division, ISBN 0-909650 27 6 
• Smith, J.D.H. "New South Wales Government Railways steam locomotives". http://orion.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/slaunsw.htm. Retrieved 12 October 2008.