The first South Australian Railways I class locomotive was built by Neilson and Company, Scotland for the Canterbury Railway, New Zealand in 1873 and numbered 9. In May 1878, the South Australian Railways (SAR) purchased it. The ship that transported it to South Australia was wrecked, but the locomotive was salvaged and entered service on the SAR in April 1879 as number 38. In 1880 or 1881, it was renumbered 48. It was allocated to "I" class – which was ultimately to be known as the "first I class" – in 1887 or 1888. In October 1905, the SAR withdrew it from service, then sold it in May 1906 to the South Australian Harbours Board for use in the construction of the Outer Harbour breakwater. It was scrapped in August 1909.[1]
This locomotive was originally built as Canterbury Railway no. 9 for work on the 5ft3in (1600mm)broad gaugeChristchurch to Lyttelton line. When the New Zealand Government made the decision to convert the line to 3ft6in (1067mm)narrow gauge in May 1878, no. 9 and all other rolling stock were sold to the South Australian Railways. On the voyage to South Australia, the ship carrying the rolling stock was wrecked off the coast of New Zealand. No. 9 and the other locomotives were eventually salvaged and completed their journey to Port Adelaide.
No. 9 finally entered the SAR as No 38 (subsequently becoming no. 48) on 15 April 1879, and became a member of the I class in 1887–88. No. 48 shunted the station yard and wharf at Morgan for many years until, in May 1906, it was sold to the South Australian Harbours Board. The locomotive assisted with the construction work of the Outer Harbour breakwater, until it was condemned in August 1909 and eventually scrapped.[2]
↑ Fluck, R.E.; Sampson, R.; Bird, K.J. (1986). Steam locomotives and railcars of the South Australian Railways. South Australia: Mile End Railway Museum (S.A.) Inc. p.56. ISBN0959-5073-37.
