| Driving Wheels | 4ft 0ins |
| Weight | 73 tons |
| Boiler Pressure | 150psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 18in x 26in |
| Tractive Effort | 22,380 lbf |
In 1892 Dübs and Company in Glasgow supplied 20 large tank engines which were fitted with Webb radial axles at the bunker end. They were originally designated as class I17 engines. They were reclassified as the Z26 class in the NSWGR renumbering scheme of 1924.
The locomotives were originally intended to be used to bank freight trains over the Blue Mountain line but were found to be unsuitable for the task due. They had insufficient water capacity and proved to lack the flexibility required for the tight curves on the line.
Several were sent to Waterfall for working coal and blue metal trains. The remainder of those based in Sydney were employed on shunting duties at Darling Harbour and Alexandria goods yards. Others were stationed at the old Hamilton locomotive depot for working trains from the interchange with the South Maitland Railway at East Greta to Newcastle.
The locomotives employed from Waterfall were replaced in 1905 by larger engines between Sydney and Waterfall but they still continued to be used to haul coal hopper wagons to Waterfall and assist northbound trains through Otford Tunnel.
Most of the locomotives in the class were withdrawn in the 1920s but were returned to service as shunters after several years. They were then mainly employed at western centres such as Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange whilst several were sent to Albury to assist at this busy break-of-gauge station and others to Port Kembla.
From 1942 until 1956, two of the class were engaged in shunting carriages at Sydney Central Station. They were removed from this duty when overhead electric wiring was installed as filling the locomotives with water was considered to be a hazard. They were replaced on these duties by class C30 engines of which 3112 gas been preserved.
The first locomotive was withdrawn on the NSWGR in September 1956 with only nine remaining by 1961. The final two representatives of the class in service were 2604 and 2606, which were to be found at Bathurst until 1970.
This locomotive (2605) was built in 1891.
After being withdrawn from service it was sold into industrial service with the Blue Circle Southern Cement Company at Portland. This organisation had been hiring members of the Z26 class from the NSWGR from time to time to augment their own fleet of industrial locomotives on coal, limestone and cement trains over the short but steep branch line from Portland Station to the cement works. As steam locomotives were being displaced by diesels on the NSWGR, the Blue Circle Southern Cement Company took the opportunity to purchase 2605 in 1966 and it remained in use at the Portland cement works until the steam fleet there was retired in 1983.
During the 1980s the locomotive was stored in a secure compound on the State Mine branch at Lithgow.
It then became one of the first exhibit sat the State Mine Museum at Lithgow. It was then restored and returned to steam there after the bunker had been returned to its original low-sided configuration.
In October 2001 the locomotive was damaged in a fire at the State Mine railway storage shed. The locomotive was then cosmetically restored and put on display at State Mine Heritage Park & Museum at Lithgow.
One other Z26 class locomotive has been preserved – Works number 2795 NSWGR number 2606
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