| Weight | 13t 12cwt |
| Length | 108ft 7ins |
| Driving Wheels | 3ft 0ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 120psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 10in x 18in |
| Tractive Effort | 4,800lbf |
This locomotive was built by Neilson & Company in Glasgow in 1865 as one of eight locomotives supplied by Neilson & Company to the Southern & Western Railway and deployed Rockhampton which was part of the Queensland Government Railway. Initially they were categorised as B class locomotives but this later became A10 with the A representing that they had two driving axles and the 10 the cylinder diameter.
The locomotives were delivered to Moreton Bay by sailing ship and transferred by lighter along the Brisbane River to the railway wharf at the newly established Queensland Government Railway workshops and railhead at Ipswich.
Four locomotives were constructed for the Central Railway operating out of Rockhampton. These were later transferred to the Southern & Western Railway. Another engine was constructed to the same design for Peto, Brassey and Betts who were contracted to build the line to Toowoomba. This locomotive was purchased by the Queensland Railway in 1876.
The Queensland Railways was the first operator to adopt the narrow gauge for its railways. It chose a gauge of 3ft 6in and this gauge is still in use today. The first section opened in July 1865 from Ipswich to the Bigge’s Camp and was called the Main Line. The narrow gauge was chosen as it enable the shortest construction time at the least cost. The network evolved as a series of isolated networks until the completion of the North Coast line in December 1924 when all were joined sections apart from the Normanton to Croydon line which always remained isolated. At its peak in 1932, the network totalled 10,500 kilometres.
Four of the Neilson A10 class locomotives were converted to 4D10 class 2-4-4T engines between 1887 and 1890. This followed the decision to build four 4D10 class locomotives at the North Ipswich Railway Works in 1890. The construction of the four new locomotives followed a recommendation by a Select Committee that no new locomotives were built in the colony so these were built from the parts then available. All of the locomotives of the AD10 class were withdrawn from service by 1902 and scrapped by the following year.
This locomotive was sold to Gibson & Howes in 1896 for use on their Wattawa line.
The locomotive was reboilered in 1955 and remained in service until 1965 when it was steamed from Bundaberg to Brisbane for the Queensland Railways Centenary Celebrations. It was maintained in operating condition until 1969 when it was placed on display at the Redbank Locomotive Museum in Ipswich which opened the following year.
In 1988, the Australian Railway Historical Society commenced a restoration of the locomotive and it was returned to traffic again in May 1991.
The locomotive is now part the Queensland Rail Heritage Fleet at the Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich.
One other AD10 locomotive built by Neilson & Company is preserved
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