| Weight | 29t |
| Driving Wheels | 3ft 3ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 130psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 12in x 20in |
| Tractive Effort | 8,159lbf |
| Valve Gear | Stephenson |
This locomotive was one of 35 built by Beyer Peacock in Manchester between 1877 and 1882 for the South Australian Railways (SAR).
There appears to be some differences of opinion as to the identity of the specific locomotive. It carries the builders plates (1715) of NF 2 but many sources regard it as NF 5 (1717). Both of these were built by Beyer Peacock in 1877. The most persuasive view is that it is NF 5 which was the last member of the class in service and that parts may have been used from locomotives withdrawn from service earlier. NF 2 is listed as being scrapped in 1950.
NF 5 entered service with the South Australian Railways as class W number W 53 but was sold as new in 1878 to Barry Brook & Fraser at Port Augusta for use on the construction of the Central Australian Railway.
It was taken back into SAR stock in August 1882.
In January 1907 the locomotive was sold to SA Construction Branch , Eyre Peninsula before being repurchased again by South Australia Railways in November 1907.
In January 1912 the locomotive was sold to Teesdale Smith who was a contractor for the Minnipa Hill (Eyre Peninsula).
In 1915 the locomotive was purchased by the Commonwealth Railwaysat Port Lincoln for £1,000. It was then shipped to Sydney where it was loaded onto another ship for transporting to Darwin on the North Australian Railway.
It was withdrawn from service in December 1945 and in May 1957 it was placed on display at Darwin Infant Primary School after being fitted with the plates from NF 2.
In June 1974 the locomotive was moved to Smith Street in Darwin before being placed on static display at Fannie Bay Gaol Museum in Darwin in 1983.
The locomotive was later relocated to the Pine Creek railway station area and was restored to steam in 2001.
Pine Creek Railway Station was formerly on the North Australia Railway in the Northern Territory. The railway was extended to Pine Creek in 1889 during the gold rush and was the southern terminus of the line until 1914. The station operated until 1976.
There are no other members of the class preserved although Beyer Peacock 1721 was operating on the harbour at Darwin in February 1942 when it was caught in a Japanese air raid and blown into the harbour. Searches have failed to find it
One member of the class built by Beyer Peacock that was modified to a class Wx locomotive by the South Australian Railways is preserved.
- SAR Wx 18 – Works number 1820
ed Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 