The O class

A series of 66 4-6-2 locomotives built in four batches by North British. They had 8-wheel bogie tenders.

These were built by the North British Locomotive Company and delivered in 4 batches between 1938 and 1948. Originally known as O¹ Class, the first batch of 11 was delivered in 1938 and numbered 60 - 70. In 1939 a second, identical, batch of 6 was delivered as O² class and numbered 71-76. The third batch of 11, known as O³ and numbered 77 - 87, was delivered in 1940 and differed in that the cylinder diameter was increased by ½" with a consequent increase in tractive effort. In 1946 a fourth batch, to be known as O⁴, was ordered but a new numbering scheme was introduced before delivery and they became the 564 class, the earlier locomotives becoming 561, 562 and 563 classes respectively. 40 of these were delivered between 1946 and 1948 and differed from the 563 (O³) class in having an extended tender front sheeting and roof providing an all-weather cab and slightly increasing length and weight. See the table below for details.

The pictures above show 561.11 dumped behind Kuala Lumpur depot in 1973, 562.06 crossing the Singapore causeway with a north-bound express in 1962, 6 class 56's at Kuala Lumpur depot in 1972 and 564.25 at Taiping Centenary Museum in 1985.

Current status: 564.36 is stored at Gemas, having last been used about 1997. Another was plinthed on the platform at Gemas and carried both 564.20 and 564.21 (with a plate from 564.12!) on the tender but no identification on the loco. This has now been moved to Port Dickson. The Taiping museum has since closed and 564.25 is now on display at Butterworth. 564.33 was preserved privately but its whereabouts are unknown, as are those of 562.04 which was destined for Taiping museum in 1985. 564.34 is at the Sultan's Palace Sports ground in Pekan, Pahang. It has been rumoured that two steam locomotives are in secure store at Port Klang yard, but I could see no sign of them in 2005. Recent visits have given no indication of any steam locomotives left at Sentul.

Maker	Number	Date	Original Railway / No		MR No.	Name	Notes
North British	24419	1938	F.M.S.R.	60	561.01	Johore Bahru
North British	24420	1938	F.M.S.R.	61	561.02	Kota Tinggi
North British	24421	1938	F.M.S.R.	62	561.03	Jasin
North British	24422	1938	F.M.S.R.	63	561.04	Kulim
North British	24423	1938	F.M.S.R.	64	561.05	Muar
North British	24424	1938	F.M.S.R.	65	561.06	Batu Pahat
North British	24425	1938	F.M.S.R.	66	561.07	Kluang
North British	24426	1938	F.M.S.R.	67	561.08	Mersing
North British	24427	1938	F.M.S.R.	68	561.09		Scrapped after WWII
North British	24428	1938	F.M.S.R.	69	561.10	Pasir Mas
North British	24429	1938	F.M.S.R.	70	561.11	Kuala Langgat
North British	24508	1939	F.M.S.R.	71	562.01		Scrapped after WWII
North British	24509	1939	F.M.S.R.	72	562.02	Bentong
North British	24510	1939	F.M.S.R.	73	562.03	Kamaman
North British	24511	1939	F.M.S.R.	74	562.04	Dungun	stored for museum?
North British	24512	1939	F.M.S.R.	75	562.05	Rembau
North British	24513	1939	F.M.S.R.	76	562.06	Kuala Trengganu
North British	24570	1940	F.M.S.R.	77	563.01	Besut
North British	24571	1940	F.M.S.R.	78	563.02	Ulu Kelantan
North British	24572	1940	F.M.S.R.	79	563.03	Pasir Puteh
North British	24573	1940	F.M.S.R.	80	563.04	Bachok
North British	24574	1940	F.M.S.R.	81	563.05	Kota Bahru
North British	24575	1940	F.M.S.R.	82	563.06	Machang
North British	24576	1940	F.M.S.R.	83	563.07	Ipoh
North British	24577	1940	F.M.S.R.	84	563.08	Marang
North British	24578	1940	F.M.S.R.	85	563.09	Penang
North British	24579	1940	F.M.S.R.	86	563.10	Changi
North British	24580	1940	F.M.S.R.	87	563.11	Langkawi
North British	25756	1946			564.01	Kangar
North British	25757	1946			564.02	Kubang Pasu
North British	25758	1946			564.03	Alor Star
North British	25759	1946			564.04	Padang Terap
North British	25760	1946			564.05	Kuala Muda
North British	25761	1946			564.06	Segamat
North British	25762	1946			564.07	Lumut
North British	25763	1946			564.08	Bandar Bahru
North British	25764	1946			564.09	Pontian
North British	25765	1946			564.10	Bukit Mertajam
North British	25766	1946			564.11	Nibong Tebal
North British	25767	1946			564.12	Alor Gajah
North British	25768	1946			564.13	Larut
North British	25769	1946			564.14	Matang
North British	25770	1946			564.15	Katong
North British	25771	1946			564.16	Kuala Kangsar
North British	25772	1946			564.17	Kinta
North British	25773	1946			564.18	Seletar
North British	25774	1946			564.19	Tanglin
North British	25775	1946			564.20	Batang Padang
North British	25776	1946			564.21	Selama	Preserved Port Dickson
North British	25777	1946			564.22	Kuala Selangor
North British	25778	1946			564.23	Ulu Selangor
North British	25779	1946			564.24	Klang
North British	25780	1946			564.25	Kuala Lumpur	Preserved Butterworth
North British	25781	1946			564.26	Ulu Langat
North British	25782	1946			564.27	Krian
North British	25783	1946			564.28	Seremban
North British	25784	1946			564.29	Pangkor
North British	25785	1946			564.30	Kuala Pilah
North British	25786	1946			564.31	Tampin
North British	25787	1946			564.32	Baling
North British	25788	1946			564.33	Jelebu	stored for museum?
North British	25789	1946			564.34	Pekan	Preserved Pekan, Pahang
North British	25790	1946			564.35	Kuantan
North British	25791	1946			564.36	Temerloh	Preserved Gemas
North British	25792	1946			564.37	Tumpat
North British	25793	1946			564.38	Raub
North British	25794	1946			564.39	Lipis
North British	25795	1946			564.40	Malacca

Variable particulars:
Introduced	Class	Numbers	Cylinders (3)	Tractive effort	Loco weight	Tender weight	Overall length
1938	O¹ (561)	60-70 561.01 - 561.11	12½" x 24"	22,130	58.0	42.9	56' 4"
1939	O² (562)	71-76 562.01 - 562.06	12½" x 24"	22,130	58.0	42.9	56' 4"
1940	O³ (563)	77-87 563.01 - 563.11	13" x 24"	23,940	58.85	43.8	56' 6"
1946	O⁴ (564)	- 564.01 - 564.40	13" x 24"	23,940	59.5	44.3	57' 4"

Leading particulars:
Wheel arrangement:	4-6-2 with 8-wheel bogie tender.	Boiler pressure:	250 lbs, superheated.
Fire grate:	27.0 sq. feet.	Heating surface:	1,109 sq. feet.
Fuel capacity:	10 tons.	Water capacity:	3,430 gallons.
Max. axle load:	12.75 tons.	Fixed wheel-base:	10 feet.

Unclassified	A & B classes	A² class	C¹ class
Burma E and O	C² class	D class	E class
F class	G class	H class	I class
J class	K¹ class	K² class	L class
M class	O class	P class	Mallet
Q class	R class	S class	T class
	Sentinel	WD class