Queensland A10 Fairlie class locomotive
| Queensland A10 Fairlie class 2-4-0 locomotive | |
|---|---|
| Type and origin | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Fairlie Engine Company/Vulcan Foundry |
| Build date | 1877 |
| Specifications | |
| Configuration | 2-4-0 |
| Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Career | |
| Operator(s) | Queensland Railways |
| Class | A10 |
The A10 Fairlie class steam locomotive is a 2-4-0 locomotive of the Queensland Railways (QR).
The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge. The “A”, is used to identify the number of coupled wheels, being four coupled wheels for the A10 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of ten inches.
They were described as "A10 Fairlies" (because they were ordered from the Fairlie Engine Company) but they were not Fairlie articulated locomotives.
Builders
Three locomotives were ordered from the Fairlie Engine Company which sub-contracted the order to the Vulcan Foundry and both companies gave them works numbers.[1]
History
The locomotives were delivered to the Central Railway (Rockhampton) in late 1877, Central Railway gave their numbering to the "A10 Fairlies" being Vulcan's 802 became Central Railway's No.8, Vulcan's No.803 became Central Railway's No.10 and Vulcan's No.804 as Central Railway's No.9. On 10 March 1881, Central Railway's No.10 was sold only to be repurchased on 3 December 1887. On 15 May 1888, Central Railway No.8 was transferred to Normanton Railway and was renumbered No.1, and Central Railway No.10 followed it to Normanton becoming No.2. On the 30 June 1890, Central Railway No.9 was transferred and became Normanton No.3. The Normanton Railway is better known as the Gulflander between Normanton and Croydon.
In 1890, Normanton Nos 1,2 and 3 were integrated into the Queensland Government Railways numbering list as No.202 (Vulcan 802), No. 203 (Vulcan 803) and No. 204 (Vulcan 804) respectively. Two of these locos were condemned at Normanton in 1895, No.203's boiler was separated from the loco at Normanton and sent to the Clarina pump, where it remains derelict, No.204's boiler was scrapped in 1905 but the frames and wheels remained at Normanton. However A10 No.202 was sold to the Pioneer Mill (a gold ore crushing mill) near Croydon in 1906 and last used about 1915.
They A10 "Fairlies" were rated to haul 60 long tons (67 short tons; 61 t) up a 1 in 50 (2%) grade.
| QR no. | Normanton Railway no. | Central Railway no. | Vulcan no. | Fairlie no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | 1 | 8 | 802 | 602 |
| 203 | 2 | 10 | 803 | 604 |
| 204 | 3 | 9 | 804 | 603 |
Preservation
Locos 202, 203, 204 have survived and 202 is being restored to working order.[2]
See also
- Rail transport in Queensland
- List of Queensland steam locomotives
- Lindsay, E. (December 1987). "The A10 Classes of the Q.G.R.". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 266–273.
References
- ↑ http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/steam/a10-fairlie-originally-a-class
- ↑ http://www.australiansteam.com/qgrframe.htm
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