South Australian Railways 740 class
| Company type | Steam freight locomotives |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1951–1952 |
| Founder | Clyde Engineering |
| Fate | Withdrawn from service by November 1965 |
| Headquarters | Granville , Australia |
Area served | South Australia |
| Products | 2-8-2 steam freight locomotives |
The South Australian Railways 740 class consisted of a fleet of ten 2-8-2 steam freight locomotives constructed by Clyde Engineering in Granville between 1951 and 1952, specifically for use by the South Australian Railways.
History
During the late 1940s, Clyde Engineering received an order from the federal government for fifty 2-8-2 locomotives as part of Australia's support to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration aimed at aiding China's reconstruction after World War II. However, due to China's transition to a communist government while the locomotives were being manufactured, the original agreement was revised, resulting in a reduction to twenty units.
Out of these twenty, ten were assigned to the Commonwealth Railways and designated as the L class. The other ten were modified to suit broad gauge tracks and delivered as the 740 class for operation with South Australian Railways. The 740 class remained in service until the early 1960s when diesel engines began replacing steam locomotives, with the final engine withdrawn from service in November 1965.