Steam Locomotive Information

Here are the notes for South Australian Railways No. T 186, a 4-8-0 located in Quorn, SAUS. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.

Posted: Aug 25, 2017 @ 12:08:50 by Robin R Beck
T186 is one of a class of 78 Australian built locomotives introduced from 1903 to handle the increasing ore traffic from the mines at Broken Hill to the smelters at Port Pirie. They did, however work over all the South Australian narrow gauge system. The 400 class Garrats took over the ore trains as they could haul twice a much as T class. This and later the arrival of diesels, started their withdrawal.

A final fling for some of the engines came with the conversion of narrow to standard gauge and regauging of diesel locos. Some returned to hauling ore trains alongside and sometimes coupled with the Garrats.

T186 entered service in 1909. Withdrawn in 1970. It was based at Peterborough its whole working life operating just short of 1,300,000 miles. It was bought by Pichi Richi railway from Sims Metal in 1973 for 2000 Aus dollars. They paid for the Islington railway works to overhaul the engine. The final bill being 35000 Aus dollars. Back in steam in 1976. Ran many steam specials but now waiting its turn for a major overhaul

Posted: Jul 30, 2011 @ 07:07:08 by Bob the Railway Dog
Not Operational - awaiting a boiler inspection and needing to be converted to a coal fired loco

Posted: Mar 17, 2004 @ 01:03:48 by Michael Ledingham

Specifications, from PRRy website:

Weight: 148,000#

Tractive Effort: 21,900#

Boiler Pressure: 180 psi

Driver Diameter: 43"

Cylinders: 16.5x22"


South Australian Railways 4-8-0 No. T 186 Quorn, South Australia, Australia	Location: Pichi Richi Railway Status: Operational