The first was handed over on 12 May 1965 and named after Federal Minister for Shipping & Transport Gordon Freeth.

Following the delivery of the NJ class in 1971, all the five Central Australian units were transferred north.

[1] In November 1972, three were destroyed in a run-away at Frances Bay freight yard.

In July 1975, all were included in the transfer of Commonwealth Railways to Australian National.

NTs 69 and 73 literally went out in a blaze of glory when, during their scrapping, they caught fire.