| Weight | 47 tons 7cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 3ft 3in |
| Boiler Pressure | 145psi Rebuilt 180psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 14¼in x 20in |
| Tractive Effort | 13,289lbf Rebuilt 16,500lbf |
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).
The SAR built a 3ft 6in gauge railway to the New South Wales border at Cockburn. This followed the discovery of rich silver, lead and zinc ores at Broken Hill in the far west of New South Wales in response to the demand for a railway link to support the mining and smelting operations. As the New South Wales Government declined to provide a railway link the private Silverton Tramway Company was formed to connect Broken Hill to Cockburn via Silverton. Whilst called a tramway for legal reasons, the Silverton Tramway was in fact a heavy-haul railway. A lengthy branch line known as the Tarrawingee Tramway was also constructed to supply limestone to the smelters at Broken Hill.
The Silverton Tramway opened in 1888 to carry the silver ore from the recently discovered ore deposits at Silverton to the smelters at Port Pirie. The line was later extended to Broken Hill when further deposits were discovered.
Major traffic on the line included passengers, livestock, bullion, ore and concentrates. In 1913, 844,477 tons of ore and concentrates were carried on the tramway and another 843,307 tons of other goods including coke, coal, timber, crude oil and livestock, and by 1933 twenty steam locomotives were owned by the company, along with 660 goods wagons.
Initially the railway used hired y class locomotives from the SAR.
Between 1888 and 1907 the Silverton Tramway Company took delivery of eighteen 2-6-0 locomotives from Beyer Peacock & Co. This locomotive was built in 1888 and followed the tramway hiring Y class locomotives from the SAR.
Y1 was subsequently fitted with Westinghouse air brakes and was rebuilt which increased its boiler pressure.
It was withdrawn from service whilst engaged in shunting duties in 1960.
Its life in preservation started at Railwaytown on the site of the main railway facilities.
The locomotive was subsequently moved to the Sulphide St Railway & Historical Museum at Broken Hill.
There are three Y class 2-6-0 locomotives built by Beyer Peacock for the Silverton Tramway Preserved
There are three Y class locomotives and one Yx class locomotive built by Beyer Peacock for the SAR that have been preserved.
- Y71 – Works number 2762
- 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
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 