The South Australian Railways 620 Class is a class of 4-6-2 ' Pacific' type steam locomotives that were designed for hauling light passenger services as well as other traffic on the branch lines of the South Australian Railways (SAR). A total of 10 of these locomotives were built between 1936-1938 at the Islington Railway Workshops and were assigned road numbers 620-629.
The first built member of the class No. 620, named "Sir Winston Dugan" after the current Governor of South Australia at the time, was notable for being Australia's first streamlined locomotive. The smokebox was covered with a chromed steel grille similar to those fitted to motor cars of the period and it was painted in a resplendent Hawthorn Green and Silver livery. The press of the time described No. 620's appearance as 'a bit of fluff'. The nine remaining members of the class were unstreamlined.
While in operation, the 620 Class served as replacements for the previous Q and S class locomotives that were already working on branch line services. They were successful for the time but were slowly phased out by newer, stronger, and more modern looking engines with the introduction of the 520 class in the 1940s and then eventually by Bluebird railcars in the 1950s.
The 620 Class were all withdrawn from active service between 1964 and 1969.
Accidents and Incidents[]
- On December 12, 1951, No. 625 while hauling a train from Bridgewater to Adelaide, ran a stop signal and suffered a head on collision with another locomotive, Rx226. Fifteen people were injured in the collision but there were no known reported deaths. No. 625 was repaired and returned to service two months later while Rx226 on the other hand was too badly damaged beyond repair and was subsequently scrapped.
Preservation[]
Most of the 620 Class have been scrapped but at least two members, No. 621 and No. 624, have survived into preservation.
| Number(s) | Build date(s) | Image(s) | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 621 "Duke of Edinburgh" | September 1936 | 
|
SteamRanger Heritage Railway | Currently operational |
| No. 624 | July 1937 | 
|
National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide | On static display |
Gallery[]
