They were classed as 'K' and entered service in 1885 but were found to be bad at building up steam and so were put on coal trains in the Newcastle districit.

Around the same time that the Commonwealth Railways had purchased their Commonwealth Railways D class they obtained a single example of the NSWGR K class.

The locomotive in question was K295 and was reclassed as the F class and numbered 55.

The engine was obtained to shunt the wharf at Port Augusta.

F55 wasn't in good condition but was needed urgently and was pushed into service at the wharf straight after being unloaded in June 1915.