A BRIEF STORY O.N THE NARROW GAUGE "T" CLASS 4-8-0's Designed at the Islington Workshops, the early "T" class steam locomotives were used for working on the Broken Hill railway between Terowie and Petersburg (now Peterborough), and Port Pirie and Cockburn. As originally built, the "T" class weighed 73 tons 5 cwt. in working order and 51 tons 16 cwt.empty. The tender carried 6 tons of coal and 2,500 gallons of water. With a steam pressure of 185 lbs. per square inch, 16in. x 22 in cylinders and 3 ft. 7 in. driving wheels, it rated a tractive effort of 21,904 pounds. The tenders were later converted to carry 8 tons of coal and 2,500 gallons of water. T.180 class, leader of the 78 4-8-0 type steam locomotives of the South Australian Railways, was built at the Islington Workshops and issued to traffic on 21st February, 1903. The construction of an additional two "T" class engines, Nos. 181 and 182, was carried out by James Martin and Company of Gawler and issued to traffic in July and August, 1904, respectively. So successful did these heavy goods engines prove that authority was soon forthcoming for more to be constructed. The Islington Workshops outshopped three more "T" class, Nos. 44,45 and 46, during April and May, 1907. These were followed by ten "T" class built by James Martin and Company all issued to traffic in 1909 with the road numbers 23, 24, 47, 48, 50, 51 and 183 to 186. A further supply of these powerful engines soon became necessary and a contract was placed wth James Martin and Company for the supply of twenty-two. These were given the road numbers 197 to 218 and were issued to traffic between December, 191 I, and December, 1912. An additional twenty "T" class were obtained in 1914 from Walkers Limited of Maryborough Oueensland. These were followed by a further group of twenty from the same firm between November, 1916, and September, 1917. The earlier group of twenty locomotives received the road numbers 219 to 238 and the latter group 239 to 258. CONVERSION TO "TX' CLASS During 1922 and 1923, five "T" class. Nos.183, 199, 220, 243 and 252 were converted at the lslington Workshops to broad gauge, reclassified "TX" and allotted to the Tailem Bend Loco. Depot for working on the light Murray Lands lines where they were used for many years on goods and mixed trains. In 1949 they were all reconverted to narrow gauge at the Islington Workshops and reverted to their former narrow gauge road numbers. TRANSFERS TO COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS During the Second World War many of the "T" class worked over the Central Australian Railway to Alice Springs and at least four, Nos.46, 50, 218 and 256 were transferred to the C.R. locomotive register and reclassified "NMA" Nos. 50, 52, 53 and 54 respectively. These locomotives were subsequently returned to the S.A.R. and reverted to their original S.A.R road numbering. POST WAR YEARS Following the 1939-1945 War, the number of "T" class on the Eyre Peninsula lines increased and they continued in service until early 1970 when the 830 class diesels took over their workings, T.48 and 241 being the last two ot their class to be actively utilised as shuntors at Thevenard and Port Lincoln respectively. The year 1949 saw a mass conversion of the "T" class from coal fired to oil and oil and coal fired locomotives. This work was carried out at the Islington Workshops, Peterborough and Naracoorte Loco. Depots. Apart from the sale of six "T" class to the T.G.R. in 1920-21, the first of the class to be withdrawn from traffic were Nos. 47, 201. 205.215, 254 in 1959, No. 221 in 1963, Nos. 197, 231,233 in 1964, Nos. 203, 210, 212, 216, 229 and 246 in 1946, and T. 180. the class leader, in 1967. The remainder of the "T" class 4-8-0's were withdrawn from traffic between 1968 and 1970. Probably the last of this fine type of narrow gauge steam locomotive to see active service would be T. 181. which was transferred to the Silverton Tramway Company at Broken Hill for use dismantling the narrow gauge railway tracks of that company. RAILWAYS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE] 1970 14 ISEI' rI~;NIBI~;R-OCI'Olll.;R. 1970 South Australian Railways 'T' Class Introduced: 1903. Designer: T. S. Roberts. Built by: S.A.R. Islington Work- shops, S.A. (4); James Martin & Co, Gawler, S,A. (34); Walkers L t d., Maryborough, Queensland. (40). Purpose: Goods traffic. No. of Engines in class: 78. Number series: 23, 24, 44 to 48, 50, 51, 180 to 186, 197 to 258. Wheel arrangement: 4-8-0. Gauge: 3 ft. 6 ins. Length: 54 ft. 0 ins. Weight: Engine: 44 tons 19 cwt. Tender: 33 tons 9 cwt. Total: 78 tons 8 cwt. Driving wheel diameter: 3 ft. 7 ins. Maximum axle load: 9 tons I cwt Cylinders: (2): 16.5 in. d/am. x 22 in stroke. Boiler pressure: 185 Ibs./sq. in. Tractive effort: 21,904 Ibs. Grate area: 17.3 sq. ft. Heating surface: Tubes: 665sq. ft. Superheater: 136 sq, ft. Firebox: 109 sq. ft. Water capacity: 2418 gallons. Fuel capacity: Coal fired: 8 tons. 0il fired: 1050 galls. Coal and oil fired: 3 tons and 1050 gallons. Maximum permissible speed: 35 m.p.h. PRESERVED LOCOMOTIVE at Port Dock Museum Number: 253. Builders number:278 (Walkers). Date in service: 8.8.17. Date condemned: Not condemned as at September 1970. Total mileage: 1,108,143. Entered the Museum on: 24.11.70. Australian Railway Historical Museum Port Dock Adelaide 1970