| Victorian Railways K class |
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VR photo of K 103 as built, 1922 |
| Type and origin |
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| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | VR Newport Workshops |
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| Build date | 1922-1946 |
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| Total produced | 53 |
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| Specifications |
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Configuration:
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| • Whyte | 2-8-0 |
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| Gauge | 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) |
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| Driver dia. | 55 in (1,397 mm) |
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| Length | 60 ft 3+1⁄2 in (18.38 m) |
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| Axle load | 13 long tons 10 cwt (30,200 lb or 13.7 t) |
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| Adhesive weight | 53 long tons 2 cwt (118,900 lb or 54 t) |
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| Loco weight | 62 long tons 7 cwt (139,700 lb or 63.4 t) |
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| Tender weight | 42 long tons 5 cwt (94,600 lb or 42.9 t) |
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| Total weight | 104 long tons 12 cwt (234,300 lb or 106.3 t) |
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| Fuel type | Coal |
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| Fuel capacity | 5 long tons 0 cwt (11,200 lb or 5.1 t) |
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| Water cap. | 4,200 imp gal (19,000 L; 5,000 US gal) |
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| Firebox: | |
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| • Grate area | 25+3⁄4 sq ft (2.39 m2) |
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| Boiler pressure | 175 psi (12.1 bar; 1,210 kPa) |
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| Heating surface | 1,680 sq ft (156 m2) |
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| Cylinders | 2 |
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| Cylinder size | 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm) |
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| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
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| Valve type | Piston valves |
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| Career |
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| Operators | Victorian Railways |
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| Number in class | 53 |
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| Numbers | 100-109 (later 140-149), 150-192. |
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| Delivered | 1922 |
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| First run | 22 August 1922 |
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| Last run | 13 March 1982 |
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| Retired | 13 March 1982 |
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| Withdrawn | 1958-1982 |
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| Preserved | 151, 153, 154, 157, 159, 160, 162, 163, 165, 167, 169, 174, 175, 176, 177, 181, 183, 184, 190, 191, 192. |
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| Current owner | Various heritage groups |
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| Disposition | 21 preserved, 32 scrapped |
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The K class is a branch line steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways in Australia from 1922 to 1979. Although its design was entirely conventional and its specifications unremarkable, the K class was in practice a remarkably versatile and dependable locomotive. It went on to outlast every other class of steam locomotive in regular service on the VR, and no fewer than 21 examples of the 53 originally built have survived into preservation.
