| Date: | 1949 |
Description:  | The years immediately following World War II saw an acute shortage of motive power on the South Australian Railways. Increasing traffic coupled with a backlog of maintenance due to the demands of the war effort were taking their toll forcing management to look for a quick solution to the problem. Two sources presented themselves: the Victorian Railways found themselves with a surplus of N-class 2-8-2 locomotives and the Clyde Engineering Company, Granville, NSW had begun building forty 2-8-2s for China, the order having then been cancelled due to the communist incursion. The SAR purchased ten of each type which became their 750 and 740 classes respectively. Unfortunately no 740-class was saved for preservation, but their design was based on Fred Shea's 700-class of 1926 represented in the museum's collection by locomotive No.702.
The Victorian Railways N-class were built to the design of A.E.Smith and had been introduced in 1925, eighty-three having been built before production ceased in 1951. The ten purchased by the SAR were from a batch of fifty then being supplied by the North British Locomotive Co., and were given road numbers 750-759. No.752 had been VR's No.477, carrying builder's number 26787 of 1950, and entering service on 16th February 1951. It was delivered to the SAR eight days later on the 24th. The 750s immediately displaced the ageing Rx-class engines from branch- line service, particularly over the light lines of the Mallee radiating from Tailem Bend. Two were retained at Mile End for service on the Port line. Though efficient and free-steaming they were unpopular with engine crews because of their cramped cabs in comparison to the South Australian locomotives. Just ten years after entering service only two, Nos.752 and 755 remained. No.752 still saw occasional service and, in November 1963, was used to haul the Myer "Santa Specials", which brought children and their parents to the city, at discounted fares, to do their Christmas shopping. It was last steamed in November 1964, placed in the Mile End Museum on 14th April 1967 and formally written off on 21st August 1967. |
| Condition: | Excellent |
| Provenance: | Victorian Railways. It entered SAR as N477 on 16.2.1951. |
| References: | In the Musem from 14.4.1967 |
| Ownership: | History Trust of South Australia |
| Built by: | North British Locomotive Co, Scotland |
| Cylinders: | Outside 2/20" x 26" |
| Drivers Diameter: | 55.75" |
| Boiler Pressure: | 175 p.s.i. |
| Tractive Effort: | 28,650 lbs. |
| Valve Gear: | Walschaert |
| Roadworthy Weight: | 124.65 tons |
| Coal Capacity: | 6 tons |
| Water Capacity: | 4,600 gallons |
| Overall Length: | 67' 5" |
| No. in Class: | 10 |
| Mileage: | 262,593 miles |
