There were 35 35 Class and 280 of these 2-8-0s!! The T-524 class (in the pre-1924 numbering scheme) were built to replace earlier 2-6-0 designs, and were so successful that they not only became the largest single class of steam locomotives in Australia, but also their design was used as the basis for no less than 4 other classes of locomotive, and they were also used on the Western Front in WWI. THe other classes were the 53 class, 55 class, Commonwealth Railways K class, and SMR 10 class.

Originally designed by Beyer Peacock, the 50 class had Belpaire fireboxes, and inside Allan straight link valve gear. The second and third driving wheels were flangeless. Members of the class were built by various builders, including Beyer Peacock, Dubs, Neilsen Reid, North British and Clyde Engineering (NSW).

Beyer Peacock built 151, the most of any one builder, and North British were in second place with 84 plus the 10 that went to the War Department's Railways Operating Division in France. To commmemorate that effort, a model of the 50 class can be seen in the Glasgow Museum of Transport

They were gradually rebuilt from the original saturated design to a superheated version, but not all were so treated, and the last one in active service was in fact a saturated loco, 5069, seen here in these pages.

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