New South Wales C34 class locomotive

New South Wales C34 class locomotive
New South Wales C34 class
3401 rests at Port Kembla station prior to its return to Sydney with an ARHS special on 30 March 1957.
Power type Steam
Builder NSWGR Eveleigh Workshops
Build date 1909–1910
Total produced 5
Configuration 4-6-0
UIC classification 2'Ch
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter 5 ft 9 in (1.753 m)
Weight on drivers 110,000 lb (50 t)
Locomotive weight 148,000 lb (67 t)
Fuel type Coal
Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Firegrate area 27 sq ft (2.5 m2)
Heating surface:
Total		 1,625 sq ft (151.0 m2)
Superheater area 435 sq ft (40.4 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 21.5 × 26 in (546 × 660 mm)
Tractive effort 26,650 lbf (118.5 kN)
Factor of
adhesion		 4.13
Career New South Wales Government Railways
Class N928, C34 from 1924
Disposition All scrapped

The C34 class was a class of steam locomotive built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

History

These five locomotives were a not very successful attempt at producing a larger, more powerful and faster version of the C32 class locomotives. Built by the NSWGR Eveleigh Workshops, they entered service between 1909 and 1910. They were rostered to haul express trains between Sydney and Junee, replacing their smaller cousins.

About 1912, three of the class were transferred to Junee to work the section of the Main South line from there to Albury where they turned in a reasonable performance over this easy section. The other two were sent to Armidale for working the Brisbane Mail from Werris Creek to Wallangarra, however this move proved unsuccessful and, they too, were sent to Junee.

Some mechanical improvements were made in 1919 and they continued working south of Junee until the new C36 class locomotives began to work these trains from Sydney all the way to Albury. At this stage, about 1928, they were transferred to Taree to work on the North Coast line. Their rough riding characteristics proved them unsuitable on the almost continuously curved route and they were returned to Junee in 1935 where they were assigned to assisting expresses to Wagga Wagga and working the South West Mail from Junee to Hay.

The later years of their lives were not successful and all were scrapped as their boilers were condemned. The last to go was 3402, which was withdrawn in August 1957, although it was not cut up until 1962 after some unsuccessful attempts to retain it for posterity.

Further reading


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