The NT class were a class of diesel-electric locomotives built between 1965 and 1968 by Tulloch Limited, Rhodes for the Commonwealth Railways. They saw service on the Central Australia Railway and North Australia Railway, and on the Port Lincoln Division of Australian National.

History

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 run-away 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gauge Central Australian Railway in 1980, three were transferred to the Eyre Peninsula Railway and the others were withdrawn. The last three were withdrawn in the late 1980s. NTs 69 and 73 literally went out in a blaze of glory when, during their scrapping, they caught fire.

Preservation

NT76 has been preserved. Owned and operated by Pichi Richi Railway, Quorn, it is commonly used on track maintenance duties, shunt movements and on days when a steam locomotive cannot be operated.

Class workings