This was a group of 6 4-4-0WT passenger steam locomotives, built by Robert Stephenson & Company for an early private railway operator in Victoria, and expanded by another 20 locomotives locally built by Robinson Brothers and Phoenix Foundry for the Victorian Railways.
The first 4-4-0WT locomotive for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company (B/n 1995) arrived in Hobson's Bay aboard the vessel 'Khandeish' on 13 June 1871 at a cost of £2,444 to land (including customs duty) — it is possibly the first bogie engine in Victoria — and is numbered No.20.
[4] The ship 'Astracan' reached Melbourne on 6 April 1973 with the next engine No.21 (B/n 2123) entering service soon after, followed by the 'Loch Ness' on 17 January 1974 with the next two engines No.22 & No.23 (B/n 2130 & 2214), although these locomotives didn't enter service until September and October 1875.
[5] Around this time, one of these four locomotives was hired by the Victorian Railways for trial observations.
This involved the addition of handrails and footboards to allow guards to return to the engine while the train was moving, as well as cowcatchers.
[7] C266 was fitted up as a washing out engine in 1900, and was at North Melbourne until 7 February 1906 when C310 was similarly equipped and took over.