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Rx 217 Plinthed at Nuriootpa |
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This photo is kindly provided by Lawell Cassidy and shows
Rx 217 at Nuriootpa on 18 June 2005.
It is fitted with a stovepipe chimney and paired with a high-capacity
bogie tender.
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Builder |
Maryborough,
Queensland |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
245 of 1915 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
4-6-0 |
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No. in class |
84 |
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The South Australian Railways (SAR) Rx-class were a very successful type of mixed traffic locomotive, developed from the earlier R-class 4-6-0 design of 1886 via adoption of a larger boiler. Several of the Rx-class also received superheaters. The Rx-class ultimately grew to 84 examples comprising the 30 original R-class locos rebuilt to Rx specification, together with a further 54 built new, becoming the SAR’s most numerous type of broad-gauge steam locomotive. The Rx-class were assigned to both passenger and freight turns until the arrival of larger locomotives in the 1920's, after which they settled into branch line, suburban and shunting roles. Many were withdrawn in the mid-1930’s but the remainder lasted to the end of regular SAR steam operations. Rx 217 was one of a batch built by Walkers Limited of Maryborough. It was condemned by the South Australian Railways in May 1969, having run 1,003,289 miles in service. By that stage it was one of the last Rx-class locomotives in SAR service. It was subsequently plinthed at Nuriootpa in 1971. (Interestingly, the SAR retained a few more of the last Rx class locos at Mile End depot for possible similar preservation until their patience wore out, with Rx 209 scrapped in June 1973 and Rx 216 (paired an old 6-wheel tender) scrapped in July 1974. I last crossed paths with this loco on a visit to the Barossa Valley vineyards in 1990; at that stage it appeared to be in excellent condition, with good tyres and little corrosion. The smokebox hinges were free, and I recall that the loco even had all the spark arrester fittings intact in the smokebox. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to visit the Barossa again soon; I’m anticipating driving back to Sydney across the Hay Plains with a boot full of Barossa Shiraz… and some recent photos of Rx 217. |
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Here is an earlier scanned view of Rx 217 at Nuriootpa in February 1990.
References
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a |
Fluck
R. E., Sampson R., & Bird K. J. 'Steam locomotives and Railcars of
the South Australian Railways', published
by The Mile End Railway Museum (SA) Inc, 1986. |
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b |
Wikipedia entry for SAR R & Rx Class locos: South Australian Railways R class - Wikipedia retrieved 11 August 2025. |
Page updated: 24 October 2025
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