South Australian Railways 1-3

South Australian Railways 1, 2 & 3 were the first three locomotives used to pull trains on South Australian Railways on the Adelaide to Port Adelaide line in 1856. Built by William Fairbairn in Manchester they were named Adelaide, Victoria and Albert, later being renumbered 1–3. They were later used on the Adelaide to Kapunda line. These locomotives were originally tank engines but received a tender engine conversion in 1869 to increase their capacity for fuel and water prior to their being withdrawn by 1873.[1][2]

South Australian Railways 1, 2 & 3
One of the first three locomotives as rebuilt, 1869
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder William Fairbairn Build date 1855 Total produced 3 Rebuild date 1869 Number rebuilt 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0 Well Tank  • UIC 1'B 3 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Broad Gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 4 in (1,626 mm) Length 43 ft 6 in (13,259 mm) Height 14 ft (4,267 mm) Loco weight 25 long tons 18 cwt (58,000 lb or 26.3 t) Tender weight 16 long tons 0 cwt (35,800 lb or 16.3 t) Total weight 41 long tons 18 cwt (93,900 lb or 42.6 t) Fuel type Wood, Coke & Coal Fuel capacity 2 long tons 0 cwt (4,500 lb or 2 t) Water cap 1,000 imp gal (1,200 US gal; 4,500 L) Boiler pressure 80 psi (550 kPa) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 15 in × 24 in (381 mm × 610 mm) (Other Records) 16 in × 21 in (406 mm × 533 mm) (Babbage's Records)
Performance figures Tractive effort 5,800 lbf (26 kN) at 75% boiler pressure
Career Operators South Australian Railways Class Unclassified Number in class 3 Numbers 1-3 First run 1856 Last run 1871-1874 Withdrawn 1871-1874 Scrapped 1871-1874 Disposition all scrapped

After the locomotives were scrapped, the coupling wheels from numbers 1 and 2 were used as bogies on a well wagon known as The Crocodile built by the Adelaide Locomotive Works. It was used to transport narrow gauge locomotives over the broad gauge to and from Islington Railway Workshops until 1977. One set is on display at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide and the other at SteamRanger.[1][3] Parts of number 2 were used in the 1882 assembly of E56.