Commonwealth 2-8-0 Locomotives in Australia

Class K (Locobase 2733)

Data from"Consolidation Locomotives, Trans-Continental Ry of Australia", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXII [22] (15 June 1916), pp. 108-109; and from [], last accessed 18 January 2019. Works numbers were 21230-21237 in 1916.

Virtually identical to New South Wales D50 engines of similar dimensions, but used on the 1,100-mile section of the Transcontinental that was standard gauge. Photos show the prominent Belpaire firebox and unusual tapered section between the front of the firebox and the boiler course ahead.

Four of the class--K27-K28 and K32-K33--were withdrawn in 1942 (K33 in October) and Summer 1943. The others were replaced by diesels in 1951-1952.

Class KA (Locobase 3318)

Note: The weight on drivers is undoubtedly too high, being derived by a straight multiplication of the maximum axle load.

These were slight modifications of the earlier K class. The first 20 were produced by Walker Engineering in Maryborough, Queensland and entered service between August 1919 and June 1920. Apparently none of these was ever superheated and most were withdrawn from service in the early 1940s.

The last six, manufactured by Perry Engineering at Gawler, were introduced first from September 1918 to September 1919. All were superheated in 1943. These operated until the late 1940s.

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