Queensland PB15 class locomotive

Queensland PB15 class

PB15 No. 448 at Swanbank
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Henry Horniblow and L. W. Piggott.
Builder Evans, Anderson, Phelan & Co. (70,)
Ipswich workshops (1),
Kitson & Co. (20),
Toowoomba Foundry (20), Walkers Limited (122)
Build date 1899–1926
Total produced 233
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-0
UIC classification 2′C n2
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Leading wheel
diameter		 26 in (660 mm)
Driver diameter 48 in (1,219 mm)
Length 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Axle load 8.1 tonnes (8.0 long tons; 8.9 short tons)
Locomotive weight 32 tonnes (31.5 long tons; 35.3 short tons)
Tender weight 24 tonnes (23.62096 long tons; 26.45547 short tons)
Locomotive and tender
combined weight		 56 tonnes (55.115566 long tons; 61.729433 short tons)
Fuel type Coal, Water
Fuel capacity 4 tonnes (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons)
Water capacity 2,500 imperial gallons (11,000 l; 3,000 US gal)
Boiler pressure 150 psi (1,034 kPa),
later upgraded to
160 psi (1,103 kPa)
Firegrate area 12 sq ft (1.1 m2)
Heating surface:
– Tubes and flues		 780 sq ft (72 m2)
Superheater type None
Cylinders Two outside
Cylinder size 15 in × 20 in (381 mm × 508 mm)
Valve gear Stephenson (locos built 1899–1912)
Walschaerts (locos built 1924–26)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 12,750 lbf (56.71 kN)
Career
Operator(s) Queensland Railways
Number(s) 347–362, 385–384, 404–413, 434–509, 518–537, 540–609, 12, 5, 103, 126, 128, 143, 220, 286, 339, 340, 731–751
Nicknames Walschaerts (Walschaert variants only)
Preserved 444, 448, 454, 732, 738
Disposition Five preserved, remainder scrapped

The PB15 class locomotive was a 4-6-0 locomotive of the Queensland Railways. The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge.

Overview

The design resulted from a need for more powerful engines for passenger trains. The PB15 Class was designed by Locomotive Engineer, Henry Horniblow and L. W. Piggott. The “P”, which was used to denote “Passenger”, was added to the classification of the new locomotives to distinguish them from the earlier B15 Class, which were primarily goods engines. The “B”, is used to identify the number of coupled wheels, being six coupled wheels for the PB15 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of fifteen inches (381 mm). The PB15s were in essence identical to the B15s.

Variations

The first PB15 engines were delivered by Walkers Ltd, Maryborough in April 1900. The original locomotives delivered between 1900 and 1912 were fitted with Stephensons Valve Gear. Walkers Ltd manufactured a further 30 improved PB15 Class locomotives between 1924 and 1926 and these were fitted with Walschaerts Valve Gear. This earned this variant of the PB15 the nickname Walschaerts. At the height of their service there were approximately 230 locomotives in service in Queensland. Additionally, in May 1918, No. 411 was converted at Ipswich Workshops into a tank engine, the one off member of the 6D15 class. In March 1922 however, due to poor performance it was converted back to its original tender form.[1]

In 1932, a number of PB 15-class locomotives attached to Ipswich depot were fitted with a second sandbox for rear sanding to assist with shunting work on the colliery branches. These were Nos. 351, 508, 567, 574, 587, 591, and 750, the last mentioned being a Walschaerts or 1924 type PB15. Later, the rear sanding equipment attached to No.591 was removed and PB15 No. 525 was fitted in lieu.

Preservation

Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway's PB15, 448.
No. 732 of the Queensland Rail Heritage Fleet at Ipswich Railway Workshops in 2011.

Five have been preserved:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "PB15 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Queensland Rail Interest Group. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.qpsr.net/pb15.shtml
  3. ↑ http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queensland PB15 class locomotives.