Commonwealth Railways NT class

Commonwealth Railways NT class
NT class locomotives at Wirrabara in 1987
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Tulloch Limited, Rhodes Serial number 037-042, 048-054 Build date 1965-1968 Total produced 13
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 15.54 m (51 ft 0 in) Axle load 12.9 t (12.7 long tons; 14.2 short tons) Loco weight 70 t (69 long tons; 77 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Sulzer 6LDA28C Generator Associated Electrical Industries type TG.5302W Traction motors Associated Electrical Industries type 253AZ
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph) Power output 970 kW (1,300 hp)
Career Operators Commonwealth Railways Number in class 13 Numbers NT65–NT77 Preserved NT76 Disposition 1 preserved, 12 scrapped

The NT class were a class of diesel locomotives built by Tulloch Limited, Rhodes for Commonwealth Railways for use on the Central and North Australia Railways between 1965 and 1968.

In 1964 Commonwealth Railways ordered three locomotives from Tulloch Limited based on a Sulzer design that had entered service with the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The first was handed over on 12 May 1965 and named after Federal Minister for Shipping & Transport Gordon Freeth.

In 1966 a further three were delivered for the North Australia Railway. A further seven were delivered in 1968, two for the Central Australian Railway and five for the North Australia Railway. Following the delivery of the NJ class in 1971, all the five Central Australian units were transferred north.

In November 1972 three were destroyed in a runaway at Frances Bay freight yard. Following the closure of the North Australia Railway in December 1974, the remaining 10 NTs were transferred to the Central Australian Railway.

In July 1975 all were included in the transfer of Commonwealth Railways to Australian National. Following the closure of the narrow gauge Central Australian Railway in 1980, three were transferred to the Eyre Peninsula Railway with the others withdrawn. The last three were withdrawn in the late 1980s with NTs 69 and 73 going out in a blaze of glory, when, during their scrapping, they caught fire.

Only NT76 has survived into preservation. It is owned and operated by Pichi Richi Railway, Quorn.