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F 245 Displayed at Gawler Station |
F245 displayed at Gawler station on 27 September 2005.
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The handsome & well proportioned F-class 4-6-2T locomotives were designed for suburban passenger trains around Adelaide, displacing the earlier P-class 2-4-0T locomotives on these duties. With a saturated steam boiler and 5' 3" driving wheels, the F-class engines were capable of 60 mph as they raced around the Adelaide suburbs. Class leader F 167 was built by the South Australian Railways at Islington Workshops in 1902, with the class growing to 44 units by 1922 with further batches supplied by James Martin & Co, Gawler (12 units), S.A.R. Islington Workshops (21 additional units) and Perry Engineering (10 units). The F-class were displaced by the "Redhen" Diesel Multiple Units from the 1950's onwards. Some remained in shunting and trip working until the final class member was condemned by the South Australian Railways in 1969. Preserved loco F 245 was built by James Martin & Co, Gawler as their builder's number 230 of 1915. It was withdrawn by the South Australian Railways in November 1959 having clocked 1,038,203 miles in service but escaped scrapping, instead being placed at Gawler station in December 1960. It moved to Rotary Park, Gawler in 1968 where it remained for 33 years until shifted back to Gawler station in 2002. (Possibly F 245 was selected for preservation at Gawler in recognition of James Martin & Co having been based there. In addition, the F-class probably worked to Gawler on Adelaide suburban workings.) At the time of my visit on 27 September 2005, F 245 was being cosmetically restored at Gawler railway station under a 'work for the dole' scheme, with a weather roof to provide protection from the elements under construction. (A contribution of more recent photographs showing the completed work is welcome!) |
This plaque is attached to F 245 and provides some further history.
F 245 had earlier been plinthed at Rotary Park, Gawler, as seen in this scanned photo of February 1990.
References
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a |
Fluck R. E., Sampson R., & Bird K. J. 'Steam locomotives and Railcars of the South Australian Railways', published by The Mile End Railway Museum (SA) Inc, 1986. |
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b |
Plaque attached to F 245, photographed 27 September 2005 and reproduced above. |
Page updated: 14 September 2014