A scene from the Len Mathews collection of a Toowoomba-bound passenger train and fairly obviously this was a special excursion--workaday engines never looked as clean as this! You probably wonder where the the ¼ came from -- 18¼ was the cylinder bore in inches, another Australian classic...
The BB18¼ class, of which 55 were built, was like the predecessor class B18¼, a 4-6-2 type. Some modifications to the original design were suggested by builder Vulcan Foundry (in Newton-le-Willows, England) and subsequently adopted. A number of features, including the mounting of Westinghouse pump on fireman’s side, stainless steel rather than brass boiler bands, SCOA-P coupled wheels, pressed steel sand box and a larger tender giving an increased coal and water capacity. Engines constructed by Walkers Limited used electricity for the light on the rear of the tender for side lamps and to illuminate the motion. All were fitted with Roller Bearings and chime whistles. The engines were painted green when introduced.
Of the 55 total, 35 numbered from 1011 to 1045, were built in 1950 by Vulcan. Another batch of 20, numbered from 1070 to 1089, were built locally by Walkers of Maryborough between 1955 and 1958. No. 1089 was the last steam engine placed into service on a mainline Australian railway. They were withdrawn from 1967 to 1970.
More specifications
Length: 60 ft 2 in (18.34 m)
Height: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Axle load: 12.1 tons
Locomotive weight: 58.0 tons + Tender weight 43.2 tons = 101.2 tons
Fuel capacity: 10.3 tons
Water capacity: 3,500 imperial gallons (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal)
Boiler pressure: 170 psi (1,200 kPa)
Firegrate area: 25 sq ft (2.3 m2)
Heating surface:
Total: 1,858 sq ft (172.6 m2)
Cylinder size: 18.25 × 24 in (464 × 610 mm)
Valve gear: Walschaerts
Tractive effort: 22,648 lb-ft (100.7 kN)
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