This was a group of 6 passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company for an early private railway operator in Victoria, and expanded by another 20 locomotives locally built by Robinson Brothers and Phoenix Foundry for the Victorian Railways. They later were known as the Victorian Railways C class.

History Owners The original six 4-4-0WT locomotives built by Stephenson were ordered and operated by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company and later the Victorian Railways.

Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company (M&HBUR) 1871–1878

The first 4-4-0WT locomotive for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company (B/n 1995) arrived in Hobson's Bay aboard the vessel 'Khandeish' on 13 June 1871 at a cost of £2,444 to land (including customs duty) — it is possibly the first bogie engine in Victoria — and is numbered No.20. The ship 'Astracan' reached Melbourne on 6 April 1973 with the next engine No.21 (B/n 2123) entering service soon after, followed by the 'Loch Ness' on 17 January 1974 with the next two engines No.22 & No.23 (B/n 2130 & 2214), although these locomotives didn't enter service until September and October 1875. Around this time, one of these four locomotives was hired by the Victorian Railways for trial observations. The M&HBUR ordered a final two 4-4-0WT's in February 1877, they arrived aboard the 'Hawarden Castle' (B/n 2328) and the 'Melanope' (B/n 2329) both arriving 1 February 1878 and numbered No.25 & No.26.

When the M&HBUR was taken over by the Government in 1878, the six locomotives were transferred on 1 July 1878 to the Government for use on their South Suburban system (see below).

South Suburban System (Victorian Railways) 1878–1886

On the 1 July 1878, the six 4-4-0WT locomotives (No. 20–No. 23, No. 25–No. 26) of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway were transferred to the Government's Victorian Railways. This was separate to the main Government system, and they were able to retain their previous numbers as they were not incorporated into the main Victorian Railways register until the introduction of letter classification in 1886. It was referred to as the Hobson's Bay system from 1879 to 1881, then as the South Suburban system from 1881 to 1886.

In 1880–81, eight were locally built by Robinson Brothers of South Melbourne, and a further twelve were built by Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat in 1882–83.

All twenty-six were added to the main Victorian Railways register (see below).

Victorian Railways (VR) 1886–1906 The South Suburban system was finally incorporated into the Victorian Railways register on 1 January 1886 along with the introduction of the letter classification system. As there were already locomotives with the same numbers, these older locomotives were given the next available numbers; 42, 262–310 (even only) and became known as the C class.

Motor service In 1904, C272, C282, C286, C294, C296, C306 were modified for motor running, while C284 was also converted at a later date. This involved the addition of handrails and footboards to allow guards to return to the engine while the train was moving, as well as cowcatchers.

Design improvements Over the years they were fitted with various alterations to the cabs. There were also various upgrades over the years; with constant improvements to safety — these including things like updates to safety valves (and domes), smokeboxes and chimneys (with spark arrestors), and brakes.

Accidents 2 December 1882 - South Sub 32 collided with R191 at 11 May 1887 - C266 was on the ordinary train involved in the accident 1888 - C288 broke trailing axle 1890 - C310 broke leading axle 16 April 1909 - C310 broke leading axle 1 December 1909 - C286 broke trailing axle at

Demise All were scrapped. The first was withdrawn on 9 April 1904 and the last on 19 February 1916. C266 was used as a washing out engine in 1900, and was at North Melbourne until 7 February 1906 when C310 was similarly equipped and took over.

Fleet summary Key:In servicePreservedStored or withdrawnScrapped‡ = Also M&HBUR system

VR No. SouthSuburbanNo. Builderno. Enteredservice Withdrawn ScrappedStatus Notes C42 38 109 Scrapped Became C42 on the VR C262 1 98 Scrapped Became C262 on the VR C264 2 99 Scrapped Became C264 on the VR C266 3 100 Scrapped Became C266 on the VR. Used as a washing out engine at North Melbourne - 11 June 1904 C268 4 101 Scrapped Became C268 on the VR C270 12 104 Scrapped Became C270 on the VR C272 14 105 Scrapped Became C272 on the VR C274 17 102 Scrapped Became C274 on the VR C276 18 103 Scrapped Became C276 on the VR C278 20‡ 1995 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C278 on the VR C280 21‡ 2123 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C280 on the VR C282 22‡ 2130 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C282 on the VR C284 23‡ 2214 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C284 on the VR C286 25‡ 2328 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C286 on the VR C288 26‡ 2329 Scrapped To South Suburban - 1878. Became C288 on the VR C290 27 1 Scrapped Became C290 on the VR C292 28 2 Scrapped Became C292 on the VR C294 29 3 Scrapped Became C294 on the VR. Used by Construction Branch - 30 September 1912 C296 30 4 Scrapped Became C296 on the VR C298 31 5 Scrapped Became C298 on the VR C300 32 6 Scrapped Became C300 on the VR C302 33 7 Scrapped Became C302 on the VR C304 34 8 Scrapped Became C304 on the VR C306 35 106 Scrapped Became C306 on the VR C308 36 107 Scrapped Became C308 on the VR C310 37 108 Scrapped Became C310 on the VR. Used as a washing out engine at North Melbourne - 7 February 1906

References

Specific

External links VPRS 12903/P0001, 299/10 - Drawing of C class steam locomotive 4-4-0 VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1096 - C class steam locomotive 4-4-0 tank loco side view VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1075 - C class steam locomotive side view VPRS 12800/P0001, H 1073 - C class steam locomotive side view