Tag: K Class

2026, Melbourne, Railway 0 comments on Newport 2026 – R707

Newport 2026 – R707

Newport 2026 - R707

A view of the other side of R707 City of Melbourne at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. R707 is resplendent in her black and red Victorian Railways livery alongside the grey undercoat of K160. The 70-strong 4-6-4 VR R class were designed for express passenger services, with deliveries from North British Locomotive Co. starting in 1951. Despite their technological advances like mechanical stokers and bar frames they were quickly supplanted by the new B Class diesel-electrics. At least two of them, R715 and R716 had a service life of only 4 years.

  • Aperture: ƒ/1.68
  • Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
  • Taken: 7 March, 2026
  • Focal length: 6.9mm
  • ISO: 20
2026, Details, Railway 0 comments on Newport 2026 – K183 Valve Gear

Newport 2026 – K183 Valve Gear

Newport 2026 - K183 Valve Gear

A close-up of the valve gear on K183. The Victorian Railways K Class are fitted with Walschaerts valve gear seen here.  The valve gear allows the driver to set the the cut-off to choose between high-power output and economical running. K183 was in light steam at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.

  • Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
  • Taken: 7 March, 2026
  • ISO: 21
2026, Melbourne, Railway 3 comments on Newport 2026 – K183

Newport 2026 – K183

Newport 2026 - K183

Victorian Railways K Class, K183, is in light steam outside of the locomotive balancing table shed during the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. K183 was one of the second batch of K Class locomotives built during World War 2 entering service in 1943.

K183 has had quite a life. She remained in service until 1976, and on withdrawal was plinthed at Yarragon. In 1982 Steamrail swapped K162 whose boiler had been condemned for K183. Steamrail began the restoration process in 1985, and she returned to steam in 1992. In 2002 K183 was involved in a collision in Benalla with a truck that failed to clear a level crossing in time. Unfortunately three footplate crew lost their lives. After sitting unserviceable for 18 years, Steamrail announced their intention to restore K183 to mainline condition. A year later and K183 returned to the mainline running Sandringham shuttles.

  • Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
  • Taken: 7 March, 2026
  • ISO: 22
2026, Melbourne, Railway 1 comment on Newport 2026 – K190

Newport 2026 – K190

Newport 2026 - K190

Victorian Railways K Class, K190, seen in front of S301 outside of the West Block and Clock Tower at the Newport Workshops Open Day 2026. K190 is in a lined red livery – a tribute to the London, Midland and Scotland Railway (LMS).

K190 has had a few appearances on CannibalRabbit before: running a Mooroolbark-Mitcham shuttle in 2009, again in 2010, and finally when we were on-board for the Tait Shuttle between Flinders Street and Essendon in 2017.

The K Class was a light-weight 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam locomotive, designed for branch line freight working. From an initial batch of 9 there were eventually 53 engines in operation, with 21 still in existence. The J Class was a convertible (5′ 3″ to 4′ 8½” gauge) update to the K Class

  • Aperture: ƒ/1.68
  • Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
  • Taken: 7 March, 2026
  • Focal length: 6.9mm
  • ISO: 20