| Weight | 47 tons 15cwt |
| Boiler Pressure | 145psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 14½in x 20in |
| Tractive Effort | 13,289lbf |
The Y class were numerically the largest class of steam locomotive operated by the South Australian Railways (SAR). 129 were built between 1885 and 1898 of which Beyer, Peacock & Co built 50 at Gorton, Manchester. The remainder were built by James Martin & Co of Gawler (77) and the SAR’s Islington Railway Workshops (2).
Between 1904 and 1924, 48 locomotives were fitted with new Belpaire boilers and designated the Yx class.
The locomotives of Y class operated across all of the SAR’s narrow gauge network and were part of what became almost an Australian 3 ft 6 in standard. Locomotives of similar design served in large numbers as the Silverton Tramway Y class, Tasmanian Government Railways C class and Western Australian Government Railways G class, and also in Queensland and on the Emu Bay Railway and North Australia Railway.
The locomotives were popular with Western Australia timber concerns and some were sold for use on the timber tramways whilst others were sold to railway construction companies.
This locomotive (Y71) was sold to the West Australian Jarrah Forest Company in 1927 for work at East Witchcliffe. It was withdrawn from timber industry service in approximately 1957.
The locomotive is now displayed among the locomotive exhibits at the Australian Railway Historical Society Railway Museum at Bassendean, Perth.
71 was withdrawn by South Australian Railways in 1927. The SAR Y-class / WAGR G-class 2-6-0 design was popular with WA timber concerns for use on their timber tramways, with many units obtained second hand from the Government railway systems. Among these was Y 71 which was sold to the West Australian Jarrah Forest Co. in 1927
There are two other Y class locomotives and one Yx class locomotive built by Beyer Peacock that have been preserved.
- Y82 – Works number 2909
- Y97 – Works number 3147
- Yx86 – Works number 2913
There are also Y and Ts locomotives built by James Martin in Australia that have been preserved.
- Y109 – Works number 8
- Yx135 – Works number 37
- Yx141 – Works number 43
- Yx176 – Works number 178
There are three Y class 2-6-0 locomotives built by Beyer Peacock for the Silverton Tramway Preserved
- Y1 – Works number 2971
- Y11 – Works number 3535
- Y12 – Works number 3536
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 