South Australian Railways 'F' class 4-6-2 (Tank)

Designed by Chief Mechanical Engineer Thomas S. Roberts.
Built at Islington Railway Workshops 1902-1903
James Martin & Co. Gawler 1904-1912.
Perry Engineering Co. Adelaide. 1921-1922.

CYLINDERS (2) 17½ ins X 24 ins (444.5mm x 609.6mm)
COUPLED WHEEL DIAMETER 63 ins (1,600.2mm)
TOTAL HEATING SURFACE 1,344.7 square feet (124.9m²)
GRATE AREA 18 square feet (1.7m²)
BOILER PRESSURE 185 PSI (1,275.6 kpa)
TRACTIVE EFFORT 18,335 lbs (8,316.8kg)
TOTAL WEIGHT 59 tons (60 tonnes)
LENGTH OVER ALL 40 feet 7¼ ins (12,414.5mm)

The 'F' class tank engine was specifically introduced to handle the increase in suburban passenger traffic around Adelaide. They replaced the smaller 'P' class 2-4-0 tanks and proved to be most successful in achieving this task. Other duties included occasional freight transfers and shunting at various locations including the Adelaide carriage yards and Mile End freight depot.

Nicknamed 'Dolly' after a popular song of the time the 'F' class continued to power most of the suburban services until Diesel Railcars began making inroads during the late 1950's. Scrapping commenced shortly afterwards, the last one being condemned in 1968. Happily number 255 is on display at the National Railway Museum Port Adelaide and 251 is fully restored and operational with the Steamranger Tourist Railway at Mount Barker.