Two classes of ‘Pacific’ locomotives, both designed by Fred Shea, saw service on the South Australian Railways. The first, the powerful 600-class, built under the Webb administration revolutionized the working of heavy express trains, such as the Overland. The second was the 620-class, 10 of which were built at the Islington Workshops between 1936 and 1938, for use over secondary lines laid with 60 lb rail.
The first of these, No.620, was Australia’s first streamlined locomotive, the smokebox being covered with a chromed steel grille similar to those fitted to motor cars of the period, and painted Hawthorn green with yellow stripes. Upon completion it was placed on display at the Wayville Showgrounds for the duration of the Centenary Exhibition. It entered service on 26th June 1936 hauling the ‘Centenary Limited’, a train made up of refurbished end-loading cars in a livery of green and cream. The remainder of the class were built un-streamlined. All were fitted with Baker´s valve gear, the only South Australian locomotives to be so equipped.
No.624 was placed in service on 17th July 1937 and for the next 30 years performed those duties for which the class had been constructed, working to Gladstone, Morgan, Moonta, Port Pirie, Pinnaroo, Renmark and Victor Harbor. In later years, after the onset of dieselisation, 620s were relegated to working Bridgewater and Willunga locals, mixed trains out of Tailem Bend and occasionally even freight trains. 624 entered the Mile End Railway Museum on 14th April 1967 but was not officially written off until 7th September. It moved to the National Railway Museum on 2nd October 1988.
15.05.1905 Tailem Bend – South Australia steam locomotive 624 – mixed consist – 4x OB wagons – M van – Y wagon – centenary car – 12 wheeled brake – signal gantry – upper quadrant signals – unidentified 830 class diesel locomotive – Down Pinnaroo mixed (107-1061-182) 15.05.1905 Tailem Bend – South Australia steam locomotive 624 – mixed consist – 4x OB wagons – M van – Y wagon – centenary car – 12 wheeled brake – signal gantry – upper quadrant signals – unidentified 830 class diesel locomotive – Down Pinnaroo mixed – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Bill Callaghan Slide Collection (CRS 107-1061)1.05.1960 Coonalpyn – South Australia steam locomotive 624 – 4 wheeled tank – FB flat car – 2x OF wagons – platform – Wayside Goods (107-1061-186) 1.05.1960 Coonalpyn – South Australia steam locomotive 624 – 4 wheeled tank – FB flat car – 2x OF wagons – platform – Wayside Goods – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Bill Callaghan Slide Collection (CRS 107-1061)28.8.1965 British Railways D34 class No. 62469 – Thornton Junction. – England – United Kingdom BR D34 class steam locomotive 62469 restored as North British Railway No.256 Glen Douglas` (2-194-r-0569) 28.8.1965 British Railways D34 class No. 62469 – Thornton Junction. – England – United Kingdom BR D34 class steam locomotive 62469 restored as North British Railway No.256 Glen Douglas` – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Doug Colquhoun Photo Collection (CRS 2-194)15.05.1905 Tailem Bend – South Australia steam locomotive 624 – mixed consist – 4x OB wagons – M van – Y wagon – centenary car – 12 wheeled brake – signal gantry – upper quadrant signals – Down Pinnaroo mixed (107-1061-180) 15.05.1905 Tailem Bend – South Australia steam locomotive 624 – mixed consist – 4x OB wagons – M van – Y wagon – centenary car – 12 wheeled brake – signal gantry – upper quadrant signals – Down Pinnaroo mixed – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Bill Callaghan Slide Collection (CRS 107-1061)1966 ARHS Special Loco 624 steel car CGP brake1966 ARHS Special – Loco 624 Steel Car CGP brake1966 ARHS Special – Loco 624 steel car CGP brake crossing bridge ARHS Special – Loco 6241974 – Loco 624Undated – Loco 6241975 – Loco 624 & 523 – primed – ready for painting1966 – Loco 624 & end loading cars – ARE special to Willunga1966 – Loco 624 & Steel cars – ARHS Robertstown special1951 – Loco 624 4-6-2 on down Gladstone passenger – North Parklands1947 – Loco 624 4-6-2 from Hilton Road Bridge1975 – Loco 624 being painted – 19751954 – Loco 624 up passenger from down passenger with Rx2281937 Islington SAR loco 624 fresh from construction with buffers & auto-couplers 1937 Islington SAR loco 624 fresh from construction with buffers & auto-couplers – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, General Print Collection (BX00120.jpg)undated- Mile End SAR loco 624 at the coal gantry – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, General Print Collection (AB06705.jpg)
