The class D53, originally designated TF939, was a 2-8-0 freight locomotive introduced in 1912. It was a development of the D50, initially known as T524. It had the same driver diameter of four feet and three inches (1,295 mm) and the diameter of the cylinders had been increased from 21 to 22 inches. While the predecessor did not have flanges on the wheels of the second and third driving axles, the D53 had flanges on all axles. But now, the second and third driving axles had lateral play and the coupling rods had knuckle joints for additional flexibility. The dimensions of the boilers were similar.
Clyde Engineering and the Eveleigh Railway Workshops built 190 between 1912 and 1917. The Commonwealth Railways class KA was derived from the D53. The first D53 were delivered without superheaters, but the majority received one from the start. Most of the first batch were also superheated between 1919 and 1924. The class was known for rough running at speed, so 24 locomotives which were intended for fast mail and fruit trains got balanced drivers. Some were coupled to larger “Wampu” tenders which carried thirteen instead of six tons of coal.
The few non-superheated locomotives were already scrapped in the thirties. The others served much longer and went into shunting service in later years. Some were equipped with automatic couplers in 1963 for more effective shunting. Withdrawals had already begun in 1957 and were completed in 1973. Three have been preserved and 5367 was used for excursion trains until the late nineties. It may run again in the future.
