New South Wales Z26 class locomotive

New South Wales Z26 class
2604 shunting at Bathurst in 1963
Power type	Steam
Builder	Dübs and Company
Total produced	20
Configuration	2-6-2T
UIC classification	1'C1'nt
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter	4 ft 0 in (1.219 m)
Weight on drivers	88,000 lb (40 t)
Locomotive weight	146,000 lb (66 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Boiler pressure	150 psi (1.03 MPa)
Firegrate area	21 sq ft (2.0 m2)
Heating surface: Total	1,345 sq ft (125.0 m2)
Superheater type	None
Cylinders	Two, outside
Cylinder size	18 × 26 in (457 × 660 mm)
Tractive effort	22,380 lbf (99.6 kN)
Factor of adhesion	3.49
Career	New South Wales Government Railways
Class	I17, Z26 from 1924
Disposition	Two preserved, remainder scrapped

The 26 class is a class of steam locomotive built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

History

Dübs and Company were asked to supply 20 large mineral tank locomotives, the design of which included the fitting of a Webb radial axle^[1] at the bunker end. The locomotives were delivered in the early months of 1892.

Originally intended for assisting goods trains in the rear on the Blue Mountains line, they were found unsatisfactory due to insufficient water capacity and inflexibility around tight curves. Several were sent to Waterfall for working, or assisting, coal and blue metal trains. Shunting at Darling Harbour and Alexandria goods yards was the duty of the remainder of those held in Sydney. Others were stationed at the old Hamilton locomotive depot for working trains from the interchange with the South Maitland Railway at East Greta to Newcastle.

Although replaced in 1905 by bigger goods engines, they continued to haul coal hopper wagons to Waterfall and, additionally, they were used to assist northbound trains through the notorious Otford Tunnel. At holiday times, some of these locomotives were transferred to working picnic trains to The National Park.

During the 1920s, most of the class was withdrawn from traffic, but after several years of disuse, were returned to traffic as shunters, particularly at western centres such as Bathurst, Lithgow and Orange. Several were sent to Albury to assist at this busy break-of-gauge station.

From 1942 until 1956, two of the class were engaged in shunting carriage at Sydney Station. They were removed when overhead wiring was installed as using the water columns was a hazard owing to the location of the inlet.

The final two representatives of the class in service were 2604 and 2606, which were to be found at Bathurst until 1970. 2606 is now preserved by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, whilst 2605, which had been sold to a cement works at Portland, is now preserved by the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway.

See also

• class 26

References

Notes

1. ^ See Glossary of Terms

Bibliography

• 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 15 October 2008.