Silverton Tramway A class

{{Infobox locomotive

|name = Silverton Tramway A class

|powertype = Steam

|image = Silverton A21, NRM, 2014.JPG

|caption =

|designer =

|builder = Beyer, Peacock & Co

|ordernumber =

|serialnumber =

|buildmodel =

|builddate = 1912, 1915

|totalproduction = 4

|rebuilder =

|rebuilddate =

|numberrebuilt =

|whytetype = 4-6-0

|gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

|leadingdiameter =

|driverdiameter = {{convert|4|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|trailingdiameter =

|minimumcurve =

|wheelbase =

|length =

|width =

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|axleload =

|weightondrivers =

|locoweight =

|tenderweight =

|locotenderweight = {{long ton|59|2|lk=on}}

|tendertype =

|fueltype = Coal

|fuelcap =

|watercap =

|tendercap = {{long ton|3|0}}

|sandcap =

|boiler =

|boilerpressure = {{convert|185|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on}}

|feedwaterheater =

|firearea =

|tubearea =

|fluearea =

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|totalsurface =

|superheatertype =

|superheaterarea =

|cylindercount =

|cylindersize = Original: {{convert|16.5|x|20|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
Rebuilt: {{convert|16.5|x|22|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|frontcylindersize=

|rearcylindersize =

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|valvegear =

|valvetype =

|valvetravel =

|valvelap =

|valvelead =

|transmission =

|maxspeed =

|poweroutput =

|tractiveeffort = Original: {{convert|15801|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}
Rebuilt: {{convert|17381|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}

|factorofadhesion = 3.52

|trainheating =

|locobrakes =

|locobrakeforce =

|trainbrakes =

|safety =

|operator = Silverton Tramway Company

|operatorclass =

|powerclass =

|numinclass =

|fleetnumbers = A18-A21

|officialname =

|nicknames =

|axleloadclass =

|locale =

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|preservedunits = A21

|restoredate =

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|disposition = 1 preserved, 3 scrapped}}

The Silverton Tramway A class was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives operated by the Silverton Tramway Company.

History

The Silverton Tramway Company took delivery of two 4-6-0 locomotives in 1912 from Beyer, Peacock & Co, Manchester followed by another two in 1915.{{cite book|last=Oberg|first=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010|year=2010|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|location=Dural|isbn=9781921719011|pages=145–146}}{{cite web |url=http://nrm.org.au/collections/31-search-our-collections/159-steam-locomotive-a21|title=Steam locomotive A21 |author=|date=2020 |website= National Railway Museum |publisher=National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide |access-date=2 September 2020 }}

They were built with small tenders so as to keep them within the limits imposed by the fifty foot turntables and operated both passenger and freight services on the Silverton Tramway. Between 1924 and 1926, all were fitted with superheaters.{{cite book|last1=McNicol|first1=Steve|title=Silverton Tramway Locomotives|date=1981|publisher=Railmac Publications|location=Elizabeth Downs|isbn=0-959415-30-0|pages=17/18}}

After the arrival of the W class in 1951, they were relegated to trip working between the various mines in Broken Hill. During World War II and again in the 1950s, they were leased to the South Australian Railways for shunting duties at Peterborough. The last was withdrawn in January 1961.

A21 has been preserved at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.