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Rx 224 SteamRanger Heritage Railway |
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This 1973 slide view is from the collection of John Hurst.
John's caption reads "Rx224 stands at Riverton. Note
the double-armed train order signals."
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Builder |
Maryborough,
Queensland |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
252 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, mixed 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 Many were withdrawn in the mid-1930’s but the remainder lasted to the end of regular SAR steam operations.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 224 escaped the fate of most of its sisters when it was retained as a railtour engine for the Australian Railway Historical Society (South Australia). Together with superheated sister Rx 207, the two performed railtour duties around the gradually contracting broad-gauge network in South Australia. In time Rx 224 came into the care of SteamRanger and was housed at their Dry Creek, Adelaide depot during the 1980's. Following gauge standardisation of the interstate route from Adelaide to Melbourne, the SteamRanger fleet moved to a new depot at Mount Barker for operation on the now isolated broad-gauge branch to Victor Harbour. Alas I don’t have any good photos of Rx 224 despite her years as a railtour engine, but as a youngster circa 1978 I recall waiting at Belair station on a cold winter morning to be rewarded with Rx 224 and Rx 207 storming through with a heavy excursion train. At the time of my visit to SteamRanger workshops at Mt Barker in July 2002 I found Rx 224 stripped down for a heavy overhaul, which was progressing as funding permitted. The
SteamRanger Website enthusiast
pages also contains a history and some technical details for Rx 224. Update: Rx 224’s
most recent overhaul has now been completed, and it officially returned to SteamRanger
service on 23 May 2021. |
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The boiler of Rx 224 under overhaul at Mount Barker on 20
July 2002.
I recall being surprised to note the tubesheet
showed it was a saturated steam locomotive, unlike superheated Rx 207.
The loco has a handsome copper-capped
chimney whereas sister Rx 207 has the
plain stovepipe chimney.
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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 |
SteamRanger website, enthusiast page: SteamRanger Enthusiast Pages - Steam Locos retrieved 11
August 2025 |
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c |
Wikipedia entry for SAR R & Rx Class
locos: South Australian
Railways R class - Wikipedia retrieved 11
August 2025 |
Page updated: 19 August
2025
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Government Railways: |
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Private & Industrial Railways: |
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