V 9

Plinthed at Naracoorte

 

This scanned photo of 21 July 2001 shows V 9 plinthed under a substantial weather roof in Pioneer Park, Naracoorte.

An oval ring on the cabside shows where the builder's plate had recently been... hopefully not lost to theft.

 

Builder

Beyer Peacock & Co,

Manchester

Builder’s Number & Year

1597 of 1877

Wheel Arrangement

0-4-4

No. in class

8

 

This locomotive was built by Beyer Peacock & Co, Manchester for the South Australian Railways (SAR), being the first of four V-class locomotives imported in 1877 to operate the Kingston-Naracoorte line. These locomotives proved unsuited for line work, but were successful in shunting roles and a further four were built locally by James Martin & Co, Gawler in 1893.

V 9 finished its service career as the shunter at Peterborough roundhouse, where it was known as the Rat. It was the last of the V-class in SAR service when retired in 1955 and was plinthed in Pioneer Park, Naracoorte in that year. (Wx 18 was also plinthed alongside V 9 at that stage.) Today V 9 remains plinthed at Naracoorte and is now displayed under a substantial shelter that provides good protection against the elements - but makes photography rather hard! V 9 is also the oldest preserved South Australian steam locomotive.

The V-class are quite like the Forney 0-4-4 locomotives which were once common on the elevated city railways of the USA, and may be an English version of this general design. Forney locos were optimised for short-range passenger work and achieved high acceleration with the ability to traverse tight curves. Apparently, the type was sure-footed due to the constant weight on the driving wheels, unlike common suburban tank locomotive designs which had side tanks mounted above the driving wheels – and hence varied in traction as the weight of water fluctuated.

A second view of V 9 at Naracoorte. 21 July 2001.

This view is from the John Hurst collection and shows V 9 at Naracoorte in 1978.

The builder's plate can be seen attached to the cabside.

(The 4-wheel tender of Wx 18 can also just be seen behind V 9.)

References

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.

b

L. Oberg, 'Locomotives of Australia',

published by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, Brookvale NSW.

1982 reprint (pp.260)

c

Wikipedia entry for SAR V Class locos:

South Australian Railways V class - Wikipedia

retrieved 2 September 2025

Page updated: 2 September 2025

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