5274,60 Hawkmount October 1972

[John Ashworth]

Dear South African ferrochronologists,

This is N.S.W. steam in it's final months; the 2-8-0 [5274 1911] was more at home on coal trains that loped along at 15-20 m.p.h. but is out on the mainline due to

1 The oil crisis had as many steam out as possible;

2 59 CLASS 2-82 s that normally assisted had all bar one been withdrawn waiting scrap, because total dieselisation was only 3 months away.:

So, this poor old 2-8-0 that normally just shuffled along is being shoved by the garratt at speeds it probably hadn't reached for many years.

The 60 class were our only garratt class were built the same time as your GMA/M s but only had half the life .They were comparable to a GEA tractive effort wise but had mechanical stokers.

5274+6042 Hawkmount October 1972.

Dennis

[Derek Walker]

I am curious, what can be gained by having a seriously underpower loco running ahead of a very powerful like they have in that pic? Surely it makes sense to have 2 locos of roughly the same tractive effort/power running double headed? All I can see is this Garratt shoving this loco along while dragging a train behind it. What are the limitations/requisites to be able to run a train double headed? I can understand the context of oil crisis and withdrawl of steam, but isnt this train really a waste? (albeit a great one to photograph).

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Love those AD60's. I have a brilliant book on them titled "The 60 Class". Really good.