In 1886, Dübs and Company of Glasgow delivered the first six R class of engine.

A further 54 locomotives were built as Rx class by the Islington Railway Workshops, North British Locomotive Company and Walkers Limited with all engines in service by May 1916.

[1] The R class engines were the predominant locomotive used on broad gauge main line services in South Australia from their introduction.

A large group of Rx class locomotives, mainly early builds, were withdrawn from service in 1934, however the remainder continued to serve into the mid 1960s.

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