# Silverton Tramway Y class

The Silverton Tramway Y class was a class of 2-6-0 and 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Silverton Tramway Company, operating between Broken Hill, New South Wales, and the border of South Australia.

## History

Between 1888 and 1907 the Silverton Tramway Company took delivery of eighteen 2-6-0 and two 2-6-2T locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Co, Manchester, and two built by James Martin & Co purchased second-hand from the Tarrawingee Tramway.
The company notionally had 21 Y class locomotives, although three were never operated and only a maximum of 17 were owned at any one time. Their road numbers were recycled.
In 1887, having commenced operations with hired South Australian Railways Y class locomotives, the company ordered four locomotives of the same design from Beyer, Peacock. They were assembled in Gawler, South Australia by James Martin's Phoenix Foundry. Since the company had an option to sell to the South Australian Railways any that it deemed surplus, two of the locomotives ("1st Y3" and "1st Y4") passed without use. Of the other two, which were 2-6-2T (side tank) locomotives but otherwise the same as the 2-6-0 locomotives, one was sold within a few months; the other was given away as compensation for a collision 11 years later.
Westinghouse air brakes were fitted to Y13, Y15 and Y16 from new and Y1 and Y11 were retrofitted. Y1, Y6, Y8 and Y11 to Y17, which originally had a boiler pressure of 145 pounds per square inch (1000 kilopascals; 10.2 kilograms-force per square centimetre), were rebuilt with 180 pounds per square inch (1200 kilopascals; 13 kilograms-force per square centimetre) boilers and lead adhesion slabs were added to the running boards. Three were superheated between 1924 and 1926.
The locomotives were superseded on main line duties by the A class from 1912 onwards, but many were retained for shunting and secondary duties around the Broken Hill yards and mine sidings. The last was withdrawn in 1961.

## Disposition

The locomotives' disposition as of 2015 is shown in the table.
| Number | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Builder's number | Year built | Withdrawn | Notes |
| Y1 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 2971 | 1888 | 12 February 1960 | Semi-bogie tender. Stored at Railway Town, put on display at Sulphide Street Museum in late 1970s. |
| Y2 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 2972 | 1888 | 15 June 1943 | Semi-bogie tender. Sold to BHP, Whyalla 1945. |
| Y3 (1st) | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 2973 | 1888 | N/A | Semi-bogie tender. Sold to South Australian Railways without use November 1888 as Y90. |
| Y3 (2nd) | 2-6-0 | James Martin & Co | 16 | 1891 | 28 February 1931 | Purchased from Tarrawingee Tramway 1892, scrapped 1937 |
| Y4 (1st) | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 2974 | 1888 | N/A | Semi bogie tender. Sold to South Australian Railways without use 7 November 1888 as Y91 |
| Y4 (2nd) | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3397 | 1891 | 1907 | Sold to South Mine Broken Hill 1907, later transferred to BHP Whyalla as 3A |
| Y5 (1st) | 2-6-2T | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3170 | 1890 | 1898 | Forwarded to Sulphide Corporation Central Mine as compensation for one of their locomotives destroyed in a head-on accident with a Silverton locomotive. Transferred to BHP Whyalla as 2A in 1940, withdrawn late 1950s. |
| Y5 (2nd) | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 4391 | 1901 | 8 April 1931 | Scrapped 1938 |
| Y6 (1st) | 2-6-2T | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3357 | 1891 | N/A | Never owned by Silverton: ordered by BHP and landed in Adelaide August 1891 but too heavy for tracks so entered service with South Australian Railways (SAR) in exchange for V class no. 11. In March 1893, the SAR lent it to STC as Y6. Entered service with BHP Broken Hill September 1893, transferred to BHP Whyalla in 1901 as no. 3, withdrawn 1963 and displayed on Whyalla foreshore, moved to Mount Laura Homestead Museum, Whyalla Norrie in 1983. |
| Y6 (2nd) | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3795 | 1895 | 7 October 1960 | Scrapped July 1963 |
| Y7 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3515 | 1892 | 14 October 1929 | Scrapped 1934 or 1937 |
| Y8 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3516 | 1892 | 27 May 1960 | Scrapped July 1963 |
| Y9 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3533 | 1893 | 12 January 1931 | Scrapped 1937 |
| Y10 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3534 | 1893 | 12 January 1931 | Scrapped 1937 |
| Y11 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3535 | 1893 | 16 May 1960 | Stored at Railway Town, donated to Penrose Park Trust, Silverton September 1965 |
| Y12 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3536 | 1893 | 17 July 1961 | Withdrawn 1961, steamed in 1964 for Broken Hill Club picnic special, stored Railway Town, donated to the Mile End Railway Museum in 1965; subsequently on display at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide. |
| Y13 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3796 | 1895 | 28 May 1953 | Fitted with MSL superheater |
| Y14 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3870 | 1896 | 14 December 1955 | Scrapped July 1963 |
| Y15 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 3871 | 1896 | 17 May 1961 | Fitted with MSL superheater |
| Y16 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 5006 | 1907 | 28 February 1953 | Fitted with MSL superheater |
| Y17 | 2-6-0 | Beyer, Peacock & Co | 5007 | 1907 | 30 January 1959 | Scrapped 1961 |

## Preservation

* Y1: at Sulphide Street Museum
* Y6: at Mount Laura Homestead Museum
* Y11: at Penrose Park, Silverton in September 1965
* Y12: at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide