Victorian Railways O class (1861). The Victorian Railways O class was a class of  goods locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1862 and 1922, built by various builders.

History
Victorian Railways initially numbered passenger and goods locomotives separately, the engines were delivered with numbers 26–31, 52–63, 70–81, 88–89. This system was changed before these locos entered service to odd numbers for goods locomotives and even numbers for passenger locos with these locomotives taking the odd numbers 19–81, 127–149. This odd and even system remained in use until 1912. In 1886, they were allocated to Class O.

Production
The first order for six locomotives was placed with Slaughter, Gruning & Co. (builder's numbers 460–465) in April 1861 and twelve locomotives with Robert Stephenson & Company (B/n 1441–1452) in January 1862. The locomotives built by Slaughter, Grüning (B/n 231–237, 261–266) arrived in Port Phillip June 1862, and the Robert Stephenson ones in October 1862.
In June 1865, an order for six more locomotives was placed with Beyer, Peacock & Company (B/n 553–558) which arrived May 1966. In 1870, a further order for six more locomotives was placed with Yorkshire Engine Company (B/n 153–158) which arrived March 1971. The last imports were ordered from Beyer Peacock, two in July 1871 (B/n 1040–1041) and three in 1878 (B/n 1709–1711). The imported locos had an average cost of £3919-14-10 for each.
Seven locomotives were locally built by the Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1878/9 (B/n 48–54) and a further two by the Victorian Railways at the Williamstown Workshops in 1879 and 1881 at an average cost of £4142-15-0 for each local loco.

Regular service
Before entering regular service, O129 was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880.
In 1894, they were allocated; ten at Melbourne; fourteen at ; ten at  and ten at .

Design improvements
Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxs and chimneys (with spark arrestors), cowcatchers, and brakes.
There were subsequent reboilerings which raised the working pressure to  then to , while their cylinder bore was increased from  when rebuilt after 1896. These changes led to considerably increased tractive effort.

Accidents
 15 October 1862 - O25 derailed after hitting spoil bank at 
 1870 - O57 derailed at 
 1872 - O51 boiler exploded at , locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 20 August 1873 - O23 boiler exploded at , locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 1 September 1876 - O49 derailed at Melbourne Yard
 4 September 1876 - O53 involved in accident at 
 13 February 1877 - O43 derailed between  and  due to floods
 November 1877 - O53 involved in accident at 
 5 January 1879 - O149 ran away Melbourne Yard
 April 1879 - O65 broke leading axle at 
 August 1879 - O65 collided with V17 in Melbourne Yard
 11 July 1881 - O135 involved in accident on North East line
 28 August 1883 - O79 collided with L20 at 
 January 1884 - O27 collided with S215 at Warrenheip Bank
 2 April 1884 - O49 boiler exploded at , locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 9 July 1884 - O35 broke crank axle
 November 1884 - O145 collided with A202 in Melbourne Yard
 February 1885 - O31 collided with R315 in Melbourne Yard
 November 1887 - O51 boiler exploded at Elphinstone, locomotive was repaired and returned to service
 22 August 1894 - O71 collided with R477 at 
 July 1895 - O69 collided with B88 at Spencer Street
 October 1895 - O19 ran off road at 
 15 March 1897 - O141 involved in accident on Mordialloc line
 April 1905 - O67 in shops after accident
 January 1907 - O27 involved in accident at Williamstown
 3 February 1910 - O149 derailed with DD616 at

Demise
Some were used as a stationary engines at Newport Workshops; O31 from 24 December 1908, five (O35, O39, O41, O53, O61) from 19 May 1909, and finally the boiler from O149 was used in a forge at Newport from 21 August 1916.
In 1912, O57's frames were sold to Mr Freeman of  for £423, while it's tender was sold to Kerang & Koondrook Tramway for £60. On 19 May 1909, O63 converted to stationary engine and sold to Mr Arbuthnott of  (along with the boiler of R173) and was used in PS Arbuthnot..
The remainder were withdrawn between 1904 and 1921.
An unknown boiler from either a O or B class was used until 1941 to power refrigeration plant at Spencer Street where ice was made for T vans.

Fleet summary

References

Specific

External links
 VPRS 12903/P0001, 302/01 - Drawing of O class steam locomotive 0-6-0 c1862
 VPRS 12903/P0001, 302/02 - Drawing of O class steam locomotive 0-6-0 c1862
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 4749 - Steam locomotive no. 25, goods 0-6-0 type built by Slaughter, Grunning & Company, Bristol, 1861. Later known as O class locomotive
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1568 - O class steam locomotive no.43 on turntable
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1062 - O class steam locomotive side view
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1756 - O class steam locomotive no.53
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1778 - O class steam locomotive no.143
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 2855 - Old steam locomotive O class no.25
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1105 - O class steam locomotive no.47 at Golden Square station
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 5005 - O class steam locomotive no.81 on goods train at North Melbourne
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1077 - O class steam locomotive perspective view engine no.27
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 3742 - O class steam locomotive goods main line 64tons and 4cwt and 2qrs tractive power 11560lbs 1870
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1943A - O class steam locomotive numbers 69
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1043 - O class steam locomotive no.23 perspective view
 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1249 - Derailment Epsom 13th of February 1877 O class locomotive

0-6-0 locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1861
Scrapped locomotives
Broad gauge locomotives in Australia
O class 1861
Avonside locomotives
Beyer, Peacock locomotives
Phoenix locomotives
Robert Stephenson and Company locomotives
Williamstown Workshops locomotives
YEC locomotives
Freight locomotives