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New South Wales class P.6
later class C32
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Australia | 1892
191 produced
No. 3265 at Taree Station centenary in July 2013
No. 3265 at Taree Station centenary in July 2013
Hugh Peterswald

The P.6 was a class of 191 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotives built for the New South Wales Government Railways between 1892 and 1911. They were similar to the Commonwealth Railways class G and are also known under their class designation C32 which they got in 1924. 106 were built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. at Manchester, what was the cause for their nickname “Manchester Engines”. 45 identical locomotives were built in Australia by Clyde Engineering and 20 more at the NSWGR's Eveleigh shops. 20 more came from Baldwin which differed in some details.

With a driver diameter of only five feet (1,524 mm), they could haul a train of 170 tonnes up a 2.5 percent incline at a speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). Despite their limited speed, their pulling power meant that they were also used for express and mail trains at the beginning. But since there were already more powerful and faster locomotives for these tasks at the time when the last ones left the factory, their tasks were soon limited to slower trains.

Two were rebuilt with compound cylinders, but since the tests didn't show satisfying results, they were soon rebuilt back into their original state. After the first 50 locomotives had been delivered with six-wheel tenders, the rest was delivered with eight-wheel bogie tenders to increase their range. Some of the first 50 later also got bogie tenders, but others still retained their original tenders to allow operation on 50-foot turntables. After the last locomotive had been built with a superheated boiler, all others were superheated, too between 1914 and 1939.

Later in their career, they were used for most types of trains. These included commuter, suburban and fast freight trains, as well as mixed and goods trains on branch lines. Sometimes they were even used as shunters. After it became evident that their original frames were too weak, 69 locomotives got new frames between 1937 and 1947. Withdrawals started in 1957 and were completed in 1971. On July 24, 1971 No. 3246 hauled the last scheduled steam-hauled passenger train in New South Wales. Four have been preserved, with 3237 and 3265 being operational today.

Variantstandard variantBaldwinsuperheated
General
Built1892-191119051914-1939
ManufacturerBeyer, Peacock & Co., Clyde Engineering, EveleighBaldwinEveleigh
Axle config4-6-0 (Ten-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase25 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 10 in
Total wheelbase48 ft 11 in51 ft 2 3/4 in51 ft 8 in
Service weight131,060 lbs127,600 lbs137,200 lbs
Adhesive weight93,772 lbs81,100 lbs98,336 lbs
Total weight224,020 lbs217,000 lbs236,740 lbs
Axle load32,816 lbs27,035 lbs34,412 lbs
Water capacity4,341 us gal4,380 us gal
Fuel capacity13,440 lbs (coal)15,000 lbs (coal)22,400 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area28 sq ft27 sq ft28 sq ft
Firebox area130 sq ft
Tube heating area1,786 sq ft1,694 sq ft1,357 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,916 sq ft1,824 sq ft1,487 sq ft
Superheater area429 sq ft
Total heating area1,916 sq ft1,824 sq ft1,916 sq ft
Variantstandard variantBaldwinsuperheated
Power Plant
Driver diameter60 in
Boiler pressure160 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 20 x 26 intwo, 21 x 26 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power720 hp (537 kW)700 hp (522 kW)1,000 hp (746 kW)
Starting effort23,573 lbf25,990 lbf
Calculated Values
Optimal speed19 mph25 mph
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
last changed: 11/2024
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