V Class Steam Locomotive
V 1220
| Builder: Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd under subcontract to Beyer Peacock & Co | |
| Coupled wheel diameter 4' 3" | |
| Total weight 134 tons 18 cwt | |
| Tractive effort 33,630 lbs | |
| Coal capacity 7 tons | |
| Water capacity 5390 gallons | |
| Total number in service 24 | |
The V class steam locomotives were part of the post war regeneration plan for the WAGR, intended for the heavy coal traffic between the Collie coal fields and Perth. Twenty four locomotives were ordered in 1951 from Beyer Peacock in Manchester. The locomotives were built under subcontract by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd at their Darlington works. The locomotives entered service between April 1955 and November 1956.
The locomotive was of a modern design with a high superheat, a large combustion chamber and a thermic syphon in the firebox. Roller bearings were used on all the locomotive and tender wheels. When introduced the V class was the largest rigid wheelbase locomotive on the WAGR system, exceeded only by the ASG Garratt. The rated load capacity was 1320 tons between Brunswick Junction and Armadale, compared to 1135 tons for the S class and 850 tons for the Fs class. By all accounts the V class were a reliable and free steaming locomotive.
V 1220 entered service on 25 June 1956 and spent most of its early career hauling goods trains along the Eastern Railway from East Perth-Merredin. Following periods on the Great Southern and South Western Railway's it was withdrawn from Bunbury depot on 7 July 1971. It was returned to service to haul two tour trains and one of these was the 'Farewell to Steam' tour from Brunswick Junction-Collie on 25 June 1972. V 1220 entered the Rail Museum on 2 December 1972.
In addition to V 1220 at the Museum V1213 has been restored to working order at Pemberton, V 1215 is at Collie and V 1209 was sold to the Geelong Steam Preservation Society in Victoria.