Victorian Railways F class

The Victorian Railways F class locomotives were built in 1874 (the pattern engine), 1876–77 and 1879–80 by Beyer Peacock and the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat as 2-4-0 tender locomotives. They were normally used on passenger trains. In 1911 the Victorian Railways decided to convert seven of them into "motor" locomotives. These became 2-4-2 tanks. They kept their numbers 172–184 (evens only). The unrebuilt tender engines were taken off register between 1916 and 1922. The "motors" were taken off register between 1920 and 1929. Fortunately, one of the class, number 176, survived after being sold to HV Mackay Sunshine Harvester works in 1920, where it stayed there shunting until 1961. It was then donated to the ARHS in Williamstown and is now the oldest surviving Victorian Railway locomotive, being built in 1880.