If it looks like a Queensland Railways C17, it's because the 22 of the Commonwealth Railways NM class were built to the same design.
Between June 1925 and December 1927, the Commonwealth Railways took delivery of them for use on the Central Australian Railway, but with larger tenders and vacuum rather than air brakes. All were built by Thompson & Co, Castlemaine. The final example was sent to the North Australia Railway, returning south in September 1941. Of the 22, 18 were converted to burn oil during the 1949 coal strike, being converted back to coal burning after the strike ended.
All were withdrawn between 1954 and 1956 as the NSU diesels entered service. Two were preserved: NM25 in operational condition at the Pichi Richi Railway and NM34 at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.
Here NM 36 prepares to lead The Ghan towards Marree, at Edward Creek, Arabana country, South Australia, circa 1954.
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