South Australian Railways M class (first)

The South Australian Railways M Class (1st) locomotives were originally built by the Avonside Engine Company for the Canterbury Provincial Railways in 1868 to 1874. They were later sent to South Australia in 1878 and were first in service on the South Australian Railways between 1880 and 1881.[1]

South Australian Railways M Class (1st)
South Australian Railways M Class (1st) No. 43
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAvonside Engine Company
Serial number740-741, 855, 964 & 1020
Build date1868-1874
Total produced5
RebuilderIslington Railway Workshops
Rebuild date1887-1915
Number rebuilt5
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-4-2WT
0-4-2T
 • UICB1 T
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Length24 ft 1⁄2 in (7.33 m)
23 ft 3+1⁄2 in (7.10 m)
Axle load8 long tons 3 cwt 2 qr (18,310 lb or 8.31 t)
8 long tons 6 cwt 3 qr (18,680 lb or 8.47 t)
Loco weight22 long tons 10 cwt 2 qr (50,460 lb or 22.89 t)
22 long tons 8 cwt 3 qr (50,260 lb or 22.8 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity0 long tons 19 cwt (2,100 lb or 1 t)
0 long tons 16 cwt 3 qr (1,880 lb or 0.85 t)
Water cap.580 imp gal
(697 US gal; 2,637 L)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		8.4 sq ft (0.78 m2)
Boiler pressure130 psi (900 kPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		454.4 sq ft (42.22 m2)
 • Firebox54 sq ft (5.0 m2)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size12+1⁄2 in × 16 in
(318 mm × 406 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort4,740 lbf (21.1 kN)
Career
OperatorsSouth Australian Railways
ClassM
Number in class5
Numbers43-47
Withdrawn1913-1917
DispositionAll scrapped in 1922

History

The two earlier built locomotives (Nos. 44 & 46) were fitted out with well tanks instead of side tanks, while the other M class locomotives (Nos. 43, 45 and 47) did have side tanks.

On their journey to South Australia, the ship which was carrying the M Class (as well as other locomotives destined for the country) got wrecked off New Zealand. All the locomotives on board were eventually salvaged, and the M Class entered service on the Port line and its branch lines. They also occasionally worked on the privately operated Glanville to Largs Bay railway line. Their duties included shunting on the wharves, and later on in their life they worked trains to Henley Beach, Outer Harbour, Semaphore and on mixed traffic trains on the Northern railway line. The class was extinct by 1922.[2]

References
  1. Drymalik, Chris. "Broad Gauge M-class 0-4-2 tank locomotives". Chris's Commonwealth Railways Information (ComRails). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  2. FLUCK, R. E.; SAMPSON, R.; BIRD, K. J. (1986). STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND RAILCARS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS. South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. p. 58. ISBN 0959 5073 37.
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