Tasmanian Government 4-8-2 Locomotives in Australia


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class H (Locobase 8579)

Data from [], [], and [], all accessed 14 July 2007.

These small Mountains (Hills?) were works #5949-5956. They had cast-steel SCOA-P drivers and roller bearings on every axle including the four under the tender, the main (connecting) rod, and the side (coupling) rods. As delivered, the superheater measured 372 sq ft, but the diagram prepared by the Tasmanian's chief mechanical engineer H Townsend showed substantially less area and slightly more firebox area. Locobase adopted Townsend's numbers because they were taken from locomotives in service.


Class Q (Locobase 9559)

Data from TGR locomotive diagram hosted by [], last accessed 6 September 2008. See also "The Railways of Tasmania", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXVIII [28] (14 October 1922), pp. 88-91 and (15 November 1922), pp. 323-326.

As delivered, these "heavy goods" (freight) engines had somewhat small boilers with Belpaire fireboxes. Along the way, most of them were fitted with 2 Nicholson thermic syphons that improved their steaming capability.

This class was supplied in several batches from several Australian builders throughout the country. Perry Engineering of Gawler, South Australia delivered the first 6 in 1922 (along with 4 R-class 4-6-2). The TGR turned to Walkers Engineering across the continent in Queensland for the next 3 in 1929. And Clyde Engineering of New South Wales finished off the class with 6 in the late 1930s and 4 more in 1940. Two of the latter were delivered in 1944 while parts for the last two were sent to the TGR, which assembled them in 1945.

According to the Tasmanian Transport Museum's Q5 exhibit page ([], last accessed 6 September 2008), these locomotives "...the class handled the majority of mainline goods trains around the state." Locobase notices that not even the Vulcan H class had cylinders as large, nor did they have thermic syphons.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

ClassHQ
Locobase ID8579 9559
RailroadTasmanian GovernmentTasmanian Government
CountryAustraliaAustralia
Whyte4-8-24-8-2
Number in Class819
Road NumbersH1-H8Q1-Q19
Gauge3'6"3'6"
Number Built819
BuilderVulcan Foundryseveral
Year19511922
Valve GearWalschaertStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)13.28 / 4.0512.87 / 3.92
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)31.80 / 9.6929.87 / 9.10
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.42 0.43
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)55.46 / 16.9053.48 / 16.30
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)29,120 / 13,20927,720 / 12,574
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)112,000 / 50,802108,752 / 49,329
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)152,992 / 69,396145,488 / 65,992
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)94,976 / 43,08087,360 / 39,626
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)247,968 / 112,476232,848 / 105,618
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4800 / 18.184200 / 15.91
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 6.60 / 6 6.60 / 6
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)47 / 23.5045 / 22.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)48 / 121948 / 1219
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 13.80160 / 11
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 24" / 457x61020" x 24" / 508x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)27,540 / 12491.9527,200 / 12337.73
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.07 4.00
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)109 - 2" / 51189 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)20 - 5.5" / 14018 - 5.25" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)16.52 / 5.0415.75 / 4.80
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)176 / 16.36166 / 15.43
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)34 / 3.1632.50 / 3.02
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1624 / 150.931272 / 118.22
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)298 / 27.70320 / 29.74
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1922 / 178.631592 / 147.96
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume229.75145.76
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation68005200
Same as above plus superheater percentage78886240
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area40,83231,872
Power L111,7397307
Power MT924.29592.51

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