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Rx 55 Displayed at Loxton |
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The photographs on this page were kindly contributed by
Lawell Cassidy and show various views of Rx 55 at Loxton on 21 June 2005.
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Builder |
South Australian Railways, Islington Workshops |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
25 of 1913 |
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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 Many were withdrawn in the mid-1930’s but the remainder lasted to the end of regular SAR steam operations.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 55 was built by the South Australian Railways at their Islington Workshops in 1913. It was condemned on 9 July 1964 after a working life of more than 50 years. Rx 55 is now displayed within a local history museum located on the banks of the River Murray at Loxton. The photographs on this page were kindly provided by Lawell Cassidy and show Rx55 at Loxton on 21 June 2005. The climate at Loxton appears to have been kind, with Rx 55 apparently in good order and substantially complete - excepting that both connecting rods are lying in the dirt alongside the driving wheels; hopefully these can be refitted to complete the display of this fine old locomotive. |
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Side view of Rx 55, showing the connecting rod lying in the
dirt alongside the loco.
Number plate detail.
Rx 55 is paired with a high-sided 6-wheel tender.
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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