South Australian Railways 'T' class 4-8-0
(Narrow Gauge)

Designed by SAR Chief Mechanical Engineer Thomas S. Roberts.
Built at various locations 1903-1917 by the following:-
Islington Railway Workshops. James Martin & Co Gawler.
Walkers Ltd. Queensland.

CYLINDERS (2) 16½ ins x 22 ins (419mm x 559mm)
COUPLED WHEEL DIAMETER 43 ins (1,092mm)
TOTAL HEATING SURFACE 1,048 square feet (97.4m²)
(including superheater)
GRATE AREA 17.3 square feet (1.6m²)
BOILER PRESSURE 185 PSI (1,275.6 kpa)
TRACTIVE EFFORT 21,904 lbs (9,935.6kg)
TOTAL WEIGHT 78.8 tons (80 tonnes)
LENGTH OVERALL 54 feet (16,459mm)

The 'T' class was introduced to handle increasing ore traffic and heavier loadings on the narrow gauge mainline from Cockburn to Port Pirie. The first one was constructed at Islington and proved so successful another seventy seven were built. They became the main stay of the Northern narrow gauge system until the '400' class Garratts came into service in 1953.

The isolated system on Eyre Peninsular and the narrow gauge sections of the South East track-work from Wolseley to Mt. Gambier, including links to Kingston and Beachport, were operated by these rugged little locomotives. Five of the class were converted to run on the Murray-lands broad gauge system during the 20's, 30's and 40's, reverting back to narrow gauge in 1949.

The 'T' class continued to give outstanding service, finally being replaced by Branch-line '830' class diesel electrics from 1962 onwards, the last one being withdrawn in 1971.

A number of 'T's have been preserved at various locations including 253 at The National Railway Museum Port Adelaide, and fully restored and operational 186 hauling enthusiast trains from Quorn to Stirling North for the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society.