Steam Locomotive Practice

Particularly noteworthy is the example of Victoria, which developed, entirely with its own resources, a series of 4-6-0 passenger engines (two classes), 4-6-2 suburban tanks, and 2-8-0 goods engines (one class each). Developed at Newport between 1900 and 1914 these engines were all 2-cylinder and (eventually) superheated machines with excellent proportions and performance. They were followed by two equally efficient 2-8-2 and another 2-8-0 goods, and a heavy 3-cylinder 4-6-2 express engine (the latter class later being streamlined for The Spirit of Progress); the designer was A. E. Smith. As the new century progressed, the other Australian systems followed similar patterns of local design and manufacture, to varying extents. Their individual achievements are well documented in the steam locomotive literature.

The various forms of technology introduced included high superheat; 3-cylinder simple expansion propulsion with derived valve motion for the inside cylinder (some quite innovative); American type automatic stoking (steam engine driven screw feed and steam jet distribution); efficient long lap valve events; advanced smokeboxes and draughting; self cleaning smokeboxes; roller bearing axleboxes; one piece cast steel locomotive beds (i.e. chassis -these castings were always imported); and increasingly, devices to minimize depot labour during servicing, and thereby raise availability for traffic. Australia was not the first to use these features, but in all cases the better Australian designs were abreast of the international mainstream in respect of their application. In some cases, Australians were among the first users and well ahead of much larger overseas railways.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering