| Weight | 222tons 6cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 5ft 3ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 200psi |
| Cylinders | Outside 26in x 28in |
| Tractive Effort | 59,000lbf |
| Valve Gear | Walschaert |
This locomotive was one of the larger engines supplied to the South Australian Railway from 1926 which revolutionised the rail haulage in a state previously characterised by UK built small locomotives which were often required to double head trains.
The 500 class were designed by F J Shea who was the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South Australian Railways. They were built to haul heavy passenger trains over the Adelaide Hills and fast freights. The ten locomotives of the 500 class were built by Armstrong Whitworth in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1925.
At the time of construction, the 500 class locomotives were the largest built in Britain. This locomotive was built as a 4-8-2 engine but in 1929 additional truck wheels were fitted to make it a 4-8-4 locomotive. It was then became a 500B class locomotive.
The locomotive carried the name Tom Barr Smith and entered service in October 1926.
The first withdrawal of the 500 class locomotives took place on in 1958 and the last in 1963.
This locomotive withdrawn from service in July 1962 after covering 855,029 miles whilst in service.
The locomotive was then retained for preservation by the Australian Railway Historical Society (SA Division) and placed in the Mile End Railway Museum in 1965.
In 1968 the locomotive was moved to the new Port Dock Station Museum at Port Adelaide which subsequently became the National Railway Museum.
served Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 