South Australian Railways U class

South Australian Railways U class
U class locomotive no. 2 in 1891
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock and Company Serial number 1499-1506 Build date 1876 Total produced 8 Number rebuilt 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0  • UIC 2'C 2 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Length 34 ft 6+1⁄2 in (10.528 m) Axle load 5 long tons 3 cwt (11,500 lb or 5.2 t) Total weight 30 long tons 3 cwt (67,500 lb or 30.6 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 2 long tons 6 cwt (5,200 lb or 2.3 t) Water cap. 850 imp gal (1,020 US gal; 3,900 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 9.76 sq ft (0.907 m2) Boiler pressure 130 lb/sq in (896 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 45.4 sq ft (4.22 m2)  • Tubes 492.1 sq ft (45.72 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 12 in × 20 in (305 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 7,532 lbf (33.50 kN)
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class U Number in class 8 Numbers 1-8 First run April 1876 Withdrawn 1904-1929 Scrapped 1904-1955 Disposition All scrapped

The eight members of the South Australian Railways U class were the first narrow-gauge 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) locomotives on the South Australian Railways and the first of many steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock and Company for the railway. They entered service in 1876: four on the Port Wakefield to Hoyleton line and four on the Port Pirie to Crystal Brook line. Subsequently they operated on the Port Wakefield, Port Pirie and Port Augusta lines.

In addition to their SAR operations, several were used by contractors at various times on extending the narrow gauge lines into the hinterland. Their role on main lines did not last long, because of shortcomings in the valve gear and pony truck designs; locomotives of the long-lived W class entered service two years later, after which the U class locomotives were deployed on shunting and further railway construction. In 1915, with the Thevenard gypsum line open and resources no doubt stretched, three were sent to the isolated Port Lincoln Division for three years until the first of the Y class arrived. Their working lives variously lasted 28 years (three locos), 48–53 (four) and 79 (one).