Commonwealth Railways Locomotive Information NFB 43 to 49, 51, 88 to 97Comrails Logo

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NFB 43 to 49, 51, 88 to 97

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NFB 43 NFB 44 NFB 45 NFB 46 NFB 47 NFB 48 NFB 49 NFB 51 NFB 88
NFB 89 NFB 90 NFB 91 NFB 92 NFB 93 NFB 94 NFB 95 NFB 96 NFB 97

Locomotives in the "NFB" class were obtained in two group, all being ex South Australian Railways "Yx" class. The first group (43 to 49, 51) were obtained from Port Lincoln in 1941-42. The others (88 to 97) were obtained in 1942 to help with the hugh increase in war time traffic.

On 8.8.1941 the purchase of four "Yx" class engines from the South Australian Railways was arranged, with the option for an additional two at a later date. The engines were located on the Port Lincoln Division and were to be shipped direct to Fremantle, then up the west coast to Darwin. The first two engines were shipped on 5.9.1941 direct to Fremantle. The next two were forwarded to Fremantle on 15.11.1941 by way of Adelaide.

In January 1942, two more "Yx" class engines were purchased. These engines, "Yx 126" and "Yx 138" were shipped from Port Lincoln to Adelaide and then forwarded to Fremantle. Before despatch from Fremantle the first air raid on Darwin occurred, closing the western route and forcing all shipping to proceed by Sydney. No definite advice was obtained regarding the movements of the ship containing "Yx 126" and "Yx 138" so it was decided to transfer another two "Yx" class engines from Port Lincoln. These were shipped direct to Port Augusta and then overland to Darwin.

In the meantime the two missing engines had turned up and been unloaded in Sydney. They were then broken down into parts and shipped overland to Darwin.

By July 1943 it was obvious that further locomotive power was required on the North Australia Railway, so approaches were made to the South Australian Railways who advised that a further 11 "Yx" class locomotives could be purchased if required. The Department of Army also advised in Ocotober 1943 that they expected traffic on the North Australia Railway to increase by 66% over the previous year's mileage, which would have resulted in a severe shortage of locomotive power. To handle the increased workload an estimated 26 engines would be required to the North Australia Railway. At that time only 24 engines were in service, but as most required overhaul, it was decided to purchase the additional "Yx" class engines offered.

After some investigation it was decided that the most effective method of transferring "NFB 88 to 97" was to dismantle the engines at the South Australian Railways Workshops at Islington, and freight them to Alice Springs for transfer to road vehicles for overland transport to the North Australia Railway railhead at Larrimah. The question of the haulage of the locomotives dead to Alice Springs has also been examined, but this was considered unsuitable as it involved the sending of mechanical staff to Alice Springs to await the arrival of the engines. By being dismantled at Islington it also gave the South Australian Railways a chance to do any reconditioning required work on the engines before dispatch.

Originally 11 locomotives were required, but in October 1944, following advice from the Department of the Army that traffic on the North Australia Railway would decrease, the Commonwealth Railways informed the the South Australian Railways that the eleventh locomotive, then being reconditioned at the Islington Workshops, would not be required.

Engines "NFB 43" to "59" and "51" all appear to have run under their South Australian Railways codes until the North Australia Railway recoding of all rollingstock in 1943 when the allotted Commonwealth Railways classifications were applied. Some of these engines were actually shipped before being officially sold. Most likely this is due to Commonwealth initially intending to hire the engines rather than purchase them outright.

Class:NFB
Builder:James Martin, Gawler S.A.

South Australian Railways, Islington Workshops

Introduced:1941
Number in Class:18
Wheel Arrangement:2-6-0
Driving Wheel Diameter:3 ft. 3 in.
Cylinders:Number:2
-Position on frame:Outside
-Diameter x stroke:14½ in. x 20 in.
Valve Gear:Stephenson
Heating Surface:Tubes:730 square feet
-Firebox:76.2 square feet
-Grate Area:13.67 square feet
Boiler Pressure:185 lbs
Tractive Effort:16,955 lbs
Coal Capacity:4 tons 10 cwt
Water Capacity:1600 gallons
Weight in Working Order:49 tons 19 cwt
Maximum Axle Load:8 tons
Overall Length39 ft. 3 in.

Y/Yx 116 -- NFB 43 -- F 3

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

19.3.1891Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 116". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.15.
16.11.1923Rebuilt to "Yx".
16.11.1923To Port Lincoln [nrm]
5.9.1941Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln for £2500.
5.9.1941Shipped to Fremantle aboard SS Allara.
10.10.1941Transhipped to MV Koolama.
23.10.1941Arrived at Darwin.
11.1941Entered service North Australia Railway as "Yx 116".
1943Recoded "NFB 43".
9.1948Written off
3.1949Sold to Tasmanian Railways to become "F3".
1.8.1962Withdrawn.

Y/Yx 166 -- NFB 44

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

17.12.1896Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 166". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.143.
4.5.1909Rebuilt to "Yx".
5.9.1941Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln for £1950.
5.9.1941Shipped to Fremantle aboard SS Allara.
10.10.1941Transhipped to MV Koolama.
23.10.1941Arrived at Darwin.
11.1941Entered service North Australia Railway as "Yx 166".
1943Recoded "NFB 44".
1948Written off.
3.1949Sold to Tasmanian Railways as spare parts for "F" class engines.

Y/Yx 178 -- NFB 45

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

9.9.1898Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 178". Built by the South Australia Railways Workshops, builders No.2.
7.7.1910Rebuilt to "Yx".
25.9.1941Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln for £1700.
25.9.1941Shipped to Adelaide aboard MV Moonta, transhipped to SS Eidsvold.
15.11.1941Dispatched ex Fremantle.
28.11.1941Arrived at Darwin.
14.1.1942Entered service North Australia Railway as "Yx 178".
1943Recoded "NFB 45".
by 1945Out of service.
1948Written off.
1954Observed at Quorn derelict.
1955Scrapped.

Y/Yx 156 -- NFB 46

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

7.9.1897Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 156". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.160. This is the second "Y 156" as the first was sold to the Western Australian Government Railways in June 1896 and eventually became "NFC 66".
9.3.1910Rebuilt to "Yx".
20.10.1927To Port Lincoln. [nrm]
25.9.1941Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln on for £2550.
25.9.1941Shipped to Adelaide aboard MV Moonta, transhipped to SS Eidsvold.
15.11.1941Dispatched ex Fremantle.
28.11.1941Arrived at Darwin.
14.1.1942Entered service North Australia Railway as "Yx 156".
1943Recoded "NFB 46".
1948Written off.
3.1949Sold to Tasmanian Railways as spare parts for "F" class engines.

Y/Yx 126 -- NFB 47

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

24.9.1891Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 126". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.25.
15.8.1922Rebuilt to "Yx".
5.2.1942Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln on for £2400.
5.2.1942Shipped to Adelaide by the MV Moonta, transhipped to Kaituna which sailed for Fremantle 9.2.1942.
19.3.1942Shipped ex Fremantle for Sydney then by rail and road reaching Larrimah 30.5.1942.
1942Entered service North Australia Railway as "Yx 126".
1943Recoded "NFB 47".
by 21.8.1945Out of service.
1949Shipped to Central Australia Railway.
7.1952Written off
1957Sold as scrap at Quorn.

Y/Yx 138 -- NFB 48 -- F 4

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

7.11.1892Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 138". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.40.
2.11.1923Rebuilt to "Yx".
2.12.1923To Port Lincoln [nrm]
5.2.1942Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln on for £2400.
5.2.1942Shipped to Adelaide by the MV Moonta, transhipped to Kaituna which sailed for Fremantle 9.2.1942.
19.3.1942Shipped ex Fremantle for Sydney then by rail and road reaching Larrimah 30.5.1942.
1942Entered service North Australia Railway the same year as "Yx 138".
1943Recoded "NFB 48".
1948Written off.
23.5.1949Sold to Tasmanian Railways to become engine "F4".
2.5.1958Withdrawn.

Y/Yx 132 -- NFB 49

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

23.7.1892Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 132". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.34.
5.5.1916Rebuilt to "Yx".
26.3.1927To Port Lincoln [nrm]
29.3.1942Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln for £1800.
6.6.1942Entered service North Australia Railway as "Yx 132".
1943Recoded "NFB 49".
1948Written off.
1949Transferred to the Central Australia Railway.
23.10.1958Sold as scrap Port Augusta.

Y/Yx 160 -- NFB 51

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

31.10.1896Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 160". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.141.
5.10.1916Rebuilt to "Yx".
29.3.1942Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Port Lincoln on for £2500.
22.5.1942Entered service Commonwealth Railways North Australia Railway, as "Yx 160", records show it as having been reserved classification "NFB 50" but this appears to have been changed to "NFB 51" when reclassified in 1943. Most likely reason for this is that road number "50" had already been issued to "NMA 50".
1943Recoded "NFB 51".
1949Transferred to the Central Australia Railway.
5.1951Written off.

Y/Yx 135 -- NFB 88

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

20.9.1892Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 135". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.37.
4.4.1919Rebuilt to "Yx".
29.10.1943Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington on for £500.
19.11.1943Left Alice Springs.
10.12.1943Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 88".
22.5.1950Converted to burn oil.
1952Written off.
-Sold to a private buyer at Katherine who failed to take delivery.
1981Moved to Rundle Park, Katherine (with tender from "NFB 91").

Y/Yx 154 -- NFB 89

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

24.6.1897Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 154". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.158. This is the second "Y 154" as the first was sold to Western Australian Government Railway.
23.3.1910Rebuilt to "Yx 154".
23.12.1943Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington on for £500.
11.1.1944Left Alice Springs.
1.2.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 89".
1949Transferred to the Central Australia Railway.
5.1951Written off.
1.5.1959Sold for scrap at Port Augusta.

Y/Yx 119 -- NFB 90

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

12.5.1891Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 119". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.18.
4.9.1923Rebuilt to "Yx".
18.2.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Peterborough for £500.
7.3.1944Left Alice Springs.
2.4.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 90".
30.9.1950Converted to oil burner.
1955Written off.
1964Sold to NA Stevedoring Co, Darwin for scrapping.

Y/Yx 121 -- NFB 91

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

13.7.1891Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 121". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.20.
27.7.1920Rebuilt to "Yx".
24.6.1927To Port Lincoln [nrm]
3.2.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington for £500.
9.3.1944Left Alice Springs.
26.3.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 91".
1948Withdrawn.
3.1949Sold to Tasmanian Railways and used as spare parts.

Y/Yx 172 -- NFB 92

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

6.10.1891.Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 127". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.26.
3.8.1920Rebuilt to "Yx".
1.2.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Peterborough for £500.
17.3.1944Left Alice Springs.
21.4.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 92".
13.6.1951Converted to burn oil.
1952Written off.
1959Scrapped.

Y/Yx 38 -- NFB 93

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

27.10.1897Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No"Y 38". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.164.
14.4.1910Rebuilt to "Yx".
26.12.1925Sent to Port Lincoln [nrm]
10.3.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington for £500.
12.4.1944Left Alice Springs.
3.5.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 93".
1952Written off.
1.1959Reported derelict at Katherine.

Y/Yx 108 -- NFB 94 -- F2

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

30.5.1890Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 108". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.7.
30.10.1915Rebuilt to "Yx".
1927To Port Lincoln [nrm]
6.4.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington for £500.
14.5.1944Left Alice Springs.
26.6.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 94".
1948Sold to Tasmanian Railways and became "F 2".
7.8.1956Withdrawn.
5.1958Scrapped. [nrm]

Y/Yx 169 -- NFB 95

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

31.3.1897Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 169". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.146.
9.5.1906Rebuilt to "Yx".
5.5.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington for £500.
24.5.1944Left Alice Springs.
8.7.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 95".
15.4.1950Converted to oil burner.
4.1953Withdrawn.
1959Scrapped.

Y/Yx 117 -- NFB 96 -- F 1 -- 19

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

29.4.1892Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 117". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.28.
1.9.1919Rebuilt to "Yx".
24.11.1926To Port Lincoln [nrm]
10.6.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islington for £500.
27.6.1944Left Alice Springs.
17.8.1944Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 96".
1948Written off.
21.2.1949Sold to Tasmanian Railways and become "F1".
18.5.1956To Emu Bay Railway as No.19.
8.1963Last run.

Y/Yx 140 -- NFB 97

Steam locomotive with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, ex "Yx" class otained from the South Australian Railways. It was built by James Martin.

1.12.1892Entered service on the South Australian Railways as No."Y 140". Built by "James Martin", Gawler, South Australia, builders No.42.
6.1893To Construction Branch for use on Blyth to Gladstone Railway. [nrm]
11.1893Retruned to S.A.R. [nrm]
25.4.1913Rebuilt to "Yx".
28.10.1925To Port Lincoln. [nrm]
21.8.1944Sold to Commonwealth Railways at Islingtonfor £500.
18.9.1944Left Alice Springs.
19.1.1945Entered service North Australia Railway as "NFB 97".
6.1958Last used.
1964Sold in to NA Stevedoring Co, Darwin for scraping.