NSWGR Z16 Class

The NSWGR Z16 Class was an amalgamation of two similar classes of 4-4-0 tender type locomotives:

• The 261 Class and
• The 334 Class

The 261 Class comprised 24 locomotives built by Dubs Ltd. They entered service between October 1883 and April 1884 for use on the main lines leading out of Sydney however they were found to be lacking in the power department thanks to the 183cm driving wheels and the lengthy 1 in 40 grades that they were expected to tackle.

These locomotives were grouped with the subsequent 335 Class in the Z16 Class when the locomotive class and numbering system was overhauled in 1924.

The 334 Class came into existence when the Railways went back to Dubs in 1884 with an order fo17 locomotives similar to the 261 Class but with a longer Adams-type leading truck for increased stability, Joy valve gear in place of the inside Stephenson’s link used in the 261 Class.

Between 1901 and 1909 the class underwent a rebuilding programme but by 1927 withdrawals had commenced. 340 / 1635 was the first of the class to be withdrawn in October 1927 while 344 / 1638 was the last locomotive in the class to remain in service till it was withdrawn in March 1930.

For many years the 334 Class was used on mail and passenger trains on the main north and main south lines but after the introduction of P / 32 Class the 334 Class was relegated to lesser duties that included providing assistance to those same trains that they once hauled by themselves.

Two locomotives 336 / 1625 and 342 / 1630 were sold to the Nepean Sand and Gravel Company and remained in service there for some years until subsequently scrapped

All other locomotives in the class were scrapped around the dates shown below.

Specifications:
Alterations made during the rebuild of these locos are shown in italics alongside the relevant entry. All other specifications remained the same after the rebuild

Cylinders – 18 x 26in (46 x66cm)

Boiler pressure – 140lb (965kPa)

Coupled wheels – 6ft 0in (183cm) 6ft 1in (185cm)

Tractive Effort – 13,104lb (58.3kN) (12924lb (57.5kN)

Total weight – 65.4 tons (66.7 tonnes) 66.4 tons(67.5 tonnes)

History

Please note: the exact scrapping dates are hard to pinpoint so most of the dates shown here are the month and year that a loco was handed over to a contractor for scrapping.

The mileage figures shown for each loco are traffic mileages only. Any mileage worked while the locomotive was on hire to contractors etc. or worked within depot areas is not included.

Bibliography

Forsyth, John. Locomotive Data Sheets, unnumbered edition, produced by the NSW Governement Railways, Sydney.

Grunbach, Alex. A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives, 1989. Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. Australian Print Group, Maryborough Vic

Oberg, Leon. Locomotives of Australia 1850s ~ 1900s, Third Edition, 1996. Kangaroo Press, Australia. Colorcraft Ltd, Hong Kong.

This entry was last updated on 15 Oct, 2022