This is a photo of a recent "steamfest" that takes place, based on Maitland (about 200kms North of Sydney). The locos are representitive of the 3 major builders for N.S.W. Railways.
In the lead is 3237, an 1892 Beyer Peacock 4-6-0; followed by 5917, a 1953 Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton product (which is a story in itself since Baldwin stopped steam production in 1947!); and the train loco is 3830, Eveleigh 1949 4-6-2 and the last steam passenger loco built for N.S.W. Railways.
The '32', 4-6-0, is probably similar to a '5' or '6' and were major steam passenger locos from 1892 to the 1950s on lesser and lesser duties. In fact 3246 worked the last regular steam passenger in Australia, Newcastle-Singleton-Newcastle commuter run in July 1971, a job it had held down since the withdrawal of the '35' class, 4-6-0, (Eveleigh 1914-23) in 1968!
The '59's were a standard U.S.R.A. 2-8-2 but built with shorter tenders and a 14" shorter loco frame, 8" off the cab, 6" off the front of the frame. These modifications were done to allow them to fit on a 60' turntable and delayed delivery for 6 years, which means these locos have B-L-H plates on them but who never built anything but diesels!
The '38', 4-6-2s, were the last word in steam passenger development here; totally roller bearing, magnificent locos, like a more modern 16E. They were very fast locos Our maximum speed was 70 mph, but the 38s stayed on the "Newcastle Flyers" for years, because the diesels - with their speed recorders - could not run the timetable at 70 mph. I used to ride and time the "Flyers" and speeds of 85-90 mph were not uncommon. In fact, 3827 on it's farewell run in 1969 to Cootamundra (425 kms from Sydney) clocked 94 mph (150 km/h) for about 12 kms. Official reason for withdrawal was "unfit for passenger working" Ha!! In 1947, 3804, one of the 5 streamlined 38s built during WW2, hit a staggering 107 mph with the new air-conditioned "Riverina" express carriages between Goulburn and Yass Junction, and is recognised as the fastest any train in Australia has ever been: steam, diesel or electric.
Pardon my prejudice, but why do railways buy diesels that cannot do the job as well as the steam they replace? Is it that the G.M./ Ford consortiums are that powerful? How many of you know that General Electric are a subsiduary of The Ford Corporation?
Better stop before I sound like a conspiricy theorist.
P.S. Ever wonder why railways start to deteriorate once full dieselisation or electrification is in place? Is it because it is more profitable to G.M./Ford to have 1,000 trucks on the road instead of one train?
Dennis
3237, 5917, 3830, NSW Steam Fest
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3237, 5917, 3830, NSW Steam Fest
Posted on behalf of the photgrapher Dennis Mitchell:
"To train or not to train, that is the question"