Victorian Railways F class (1874)
The Victorian Railways F class was originally a class of  light line passenger locomotives operated by the Victorian Railways between 1874 and 1929. History
Classed 'F' in 1886. Production
The pattern engine was constructed by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1874. An order for 20 more locomotives of this design was placed 2 years later with the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat, with 10 built in 1876–77 and a further 10 in 1879–80. They were originally supplied with four-wheeled tenders, but were eventually provided with larger six-wheeled ones which increased their water capacity to . Regular service
In early life the were mainly used on the main lines radiating form Ballarat and Ararat. By 1894, 3 were allotted to Geelong, 5 to Ararat, 3 to Ballarat, 2 to Seymour, 2 to Benalla, 2 to Princes Bridge, and 4 to Sale. Design improvements
All were reboilered between 1902-12, along with the T class, to a new common, larger boiler type. 2-4-2T motors
In 1910-11, the Victorian Railways decided to convert seven of them into "motor" locomotives for use in outer suburban areas. The tenders were removed and they became 2-4-2 tanks. They kept their numbers 172–184 (evens only). Accidents
10 November 1878 - F98 ran through the end on the engine shed at Dunolly
26 July 1881 - F98 collided with H160 at Beaufort
? - F142 in collision at Creswick
11 March 1897 - F172 derailed at Cannon Hill near Warrnambool

Withdrawal
The un-rebuilt tender engines were taken off register between 1916 and 1924, and the "motors" were taken off between 1920 and 1929. F184 was sold to Earlston, Cranbourne for £750. One of the 2-4-2T class survives, number 176, having been sold to the Sunshine Harvester Works in 1920 for £1500, where was used as a shunter until 1961. It was then donated to the Newport Railway Museum, and is the oldest surviving Victorian Railway locomotive, having been built in 1880. Fleet summary

External links
 Victorian Preserved Steam Locomotives detailed information about all surviving ex-VR steam locos. Diagram of 2-4-0 F class locomotive
 Diagram of 2-4-2T F class locomotive
 Picture of F 172
 Pattern engine 98
 F 182

References

Specific

2-4-0 locomotives
2-4-2T locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1874
Victorian Railways F class steam (1874)
F class steam (1874)
Beyer, Peacock locomotives
Phoenix locomotives