# Victorian Railways F class (1874)

The Victorian Railways F class was originally a class of 2-4-0 light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1874 and 1929.

## History

Classed 'F' in 1886.

### Production

The pattern engine was constructed by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1874. An order for 20 more locomotives of this design was placed 2 years later with the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat, with 10 built in 1876–77 and a further 10 in 1879–80. They were originally supplied with four-wheeled tenders, but were eventually provided with larger six-wheeled ones which increased their water capacity to 1,710 imp gal (7,800 L; 2,050 US gal).

### Regular service

In early life they were mainly used on the main lines radiating form Ballarat and Ararat. By 1894, 3 were allotted to Geelong, 5 to Ararat, 3 to Ballarat, 2 to Seymour, 2 to Benalla, 2 to Princes Bridge, and 4 to Sale.

### Design improvements

All were reboilered between 1902-12, along with the T class, to a new common, larger boiler type.

#### 2-4-2T motors

In 1910-11, the Victorian Railways decided to convert seven of them into "motor" locomotives for use in outer suburban areas. The tenders were removed and they became 2-4-2 tanks. They kept their numbers 172–184 (evens only).

### Accidents

* 10 November 1878 - F98 ran through the end on the engine shed at Dunolly
* 26 July 1881 - F98 collided with H160 at Beaufort
* ? - F142 in collision at Creswick
* 11 March 1897 - F172 derailed at Cannon Hill near Warrnambool

### Withdrawal

The un-rebuilt tender engines were taken off register between 1916 and 1924, and the "motors" were taken off between 1920 and 1929. F184 was sold to Earlston, Cranbourne for £750. One of the 2-4-2T class survives, number 176, having been sold to the Sunshine Harvester Works in 1920 for £1500, where was used as a shunter until 1961. It was then donated to the Newport Railway Museum, and is the oldest surviving Victorian Railway locomotive, having been built in 1880.

## Fleet summary

| Key: | In Service | Preserved | Stored or Withdrawn | Scrapped |
| Locomotive | Builder No. | Entered service | Converted to 2-4-2T | Withdrawn | Status |
| F98 | 1267 | June 1874 | - | 13 March 1919 | Scrapped |
| F126 | 28 | 9 August 1876 | - | 7 August 1916 | Scrapped |
| F128 | 30 | 16 October 1876 | - | 27 June 1916 | Scrapped |
| F130 | 31 | 19 October 1876 | - | 7 June 1919 | Scrapped |
| F132 | 33 | 10 January 1877 | - | 8 November 1916 | Scrapped |
| F134 | 34 | 11 January 1877 | - | 24 January 1916 | Scrapped |
| F136 | 35 | 1 February 1877 | - | 8 July 1922 | Scrapped |
| F138 | 36 | 30 January 1877 | - | 24 June 1924 | Scrapped |
| F140 | 37 | 6 February 1877 | - | 15 July 1922 | Scrapped |
| F142 | 38 | 10 March 1877 | - | 10 June 1922 | Scrapped |
| F144 | 39 | 27 March 1877 | - | 8 July 1922 | Scrapped |
| F166 | 55 | April 1879 | - | 15 July 1922 | Scrapped |
| F168 | 56 | June 1879 | - | 25 January 1917 | Scrapped |
| F170 | 57 | July 1879 | - | 24 January 1916 | Scrapped |
| F172 | 58 | November 1879 | 1910-11 | 7 November 1928 | Scrapped |
| F174 | 59 | December 1879 | 1910-11 | 30 November 1929 | Scrapped |
| F176 | 61 | January 1880 | 1910-11 | 28 May 1920 | Sold to Sunshine Harvester Works. Donated to Museum. Display |
| F178 | 62 | January 1880 | 1910-11 | 29 June 1926 | Scrapped |
| F180 | 63 | February 1880 | 1910-11 | 29 June 1926 | Scrapped |
| F182 | 60 | December 1879 | 1910-11 | 12 September 1925 | Scrapped |
| F184 | 64 | March 1880 | 1910-11 | 29 February 1926 | Sold to Earlston, Cranbourne |