To the Nation's Capital (in 1971)

I went off looking for something for this blog about three weeks ago and fell into a big pit of information.  Since then I have been sluicing through the electronic versions of the Railway Digest and the Railway News, plus paper copies of some/most of the Roundhouse, discovering rail tours of the 1960s and 1970s.  So far I have logged over 400 tours - and these are the ones that actually ran, as many didn't. I do intend posting the details of these tours, once I get through what I have committed myself to.  

In doing this digging it became apparent that there was a real and perfectly understandable shift in the emphasis in tours over the course of the decade to 1973.  In the early 1960s tours were largely smaller affairs, concentrating on vulnerable branch lines and venerable classes of locomotives.

By the mid 1960s the emphasis was on mainline runs, using modern steam power.  Then, as the decade closed the emphasis was on desperation to use steam before it disappeared.  All perfectly understandable and it led to some amazing tours.  I think this era started with a RTM tour to Wallangarra using 3827, 3616, 5442, 3022, 3524, 3617, 3233, 3390, 5909, 3036, 4876 and 4608 - 12 locos!  The ARE's weekend tour from Melbourne to Merriwa in 1969 used 17 locos - 42207, 3801, 4638, 3820, 6019, 3067, 3046, 3214, 5902, 3088, 2705, 3813, 4609, 3642, 4639, 3122 and 42212.

Then there are stories of a single 30 tank starting other tours by lifting an 11 car train out of Sydney Terminal. Things I wish I had seen. 

And this all came about because I was looking for a date for a RTM tour from Sydney to Canberra held on 14 March 1971, using 3801 to and from Goulburn, then combinations of 3229, 5212 and 5271 on the Canberra line. 

The Digest tour report explains the day: 

   .... 3801 led the Museum’s Canberra tour out of Sydney at 6.14 a.m. on Sunday 14/3, on the first step to Goulburn. Failure of 42206 on a down goods in the Picton-Bargo section and single line working  from Penrose to Tallong caused delays, which were however just added incentive for the crews of 3229 and 5212 to pick up time between Goulburn and Bungendore. 5274, with its odd tender, was in charge from Bungendore through to Canberra, arriving there perfectly on time. After a short bus tour, most passengers re-joined the train, now hauled by 3229 which had come over tender first from Bungendore as a result of inoperability of the Queanbeyan turntable. 5212 was attached leading at Queanbeyan. At Bungendore, No. 18 passenger ran through (having brought over some passengers who had participated in a more extensive bus tour) and the engines were interchanged to have 3229 leading on the three final sunset photos. 3801 took over again at Goulburn for the run to Sydney.

At least one of my uncles was on this tour, so we have a few shots of it.

This first shot shows 3229 and 5212 about to replace 3801 at Goulburn on the outward journey.

And here is a snap of 5274 with its 'odd tender' travelling over (I think) the Molonglo River at Burbong.

And here is a nice afternoon capture of 3229 again leading 5212 on the way back, on one of the three 'sunset' shots taken after Bungendore.

All three shots were taken as Agfa slides, which have deteriorated badly in the 50+ years since this tour. They are now as crazed and speckky as your scribe so, apologies for our condition!

Cheers,

Don

Really useful engines

That remarkable class of 145 suburban tank locomotives built from 1903 onwards has been occupying my mind of late.  More so, the 77 converted to tender locos for branchline workings, but the whole class is worth considering over a beer or two.  I have posted a lot photos of 30s and 30Ts, but there is always room for one more installment.

Lets start with the class leader, which is soon to get a new lease on life. Here is the beastie, about to get away from Picton in 1990 working the loopline.

I will try to do this in number order. 3013 is apparently in Canberra, incomplete and in bits.  Good luck to whoever has that job.  Its life post service hasn't had too many high-points, but it has somehow lasted 50 years.  Once the collieries in the Hunter were finished with her, this is what she looked like in 1970.

Another Canberra resident has fared better. 3016T wore a startling blend of royal blue with red tyres which I would show you, but we managed to not photograph clearly.  Instead, here it is at Central in December 2012.

Incidentally, no 30Ts were harmed in the taking of that photo.  3016T got pushed by a couple of mainliners.

My favourite Easter ever was spent with 3026T at Cowra in 1994.  Best. religious. experience. ever. Even got to wish it goodnight and tuck it in to bed on Easter Saturday.

This brings us to Dorrigo, which I will never bash in case Uncle Keith wants to leave me a 30 or a 30T in his will (I will also accept a 24 or 25).  He and his compadres have kept 3028T, 3046 and 3090T from the oxy torch.  Thank you. First up, 3028T, then the other two.

Still on the 'stuffed and mounted' side of the class, 3075T resides, sans boiler tubes and a few other bits, at Parkes to this day.  Always good to give the old girl a pat.

Back to the tanks - 3085 has looked a little forlorn recently but better days are ahead.

We have cracked the century now. Time for the last surviving tender loco. Here's 3102T in a pleasing aqua-marine livery, celebrating 1980.

It is fitting that we finish up with a couple of the original designs. 3112 lurks at Goulburn, and is always a joy to see when passing through.  Here it is sneaking down into the near-abandoned Rozelle Goods Yard in June 2002.  

Last up, 3137. When nothing else steamy seemed to be moving in NSW, it was plying that loop line like it was 1909, not 1979.  A favourite, definitely. 

Until next time!

Don 

More on the green mogul

No, not Rupert or Twiggy.  A real mogul.

About 5 years ago I complained on this blog about the paucity of photos my family had of 2535's time as the Corrimal Colliery shunter. Well, several more have emerged - this time of the visit by 3203 to the Colliery on 14 September 1969.  So here they are!

Enjoy!

Don

3203 on the Coast

Just a quick one tonight to dust the blogging cobwebs off me.

3203 came through Wollongong in January 1972 on its way to points south (presumably Kiama).  Phil Clarke was there to capture the event.

Here's a few shots of the P getting out of Wollongong, fast, it would seem.

Cheers,
Don

1709

I only ever saw one 17 in action. Thanks to the efforts of many we got to see it working well into the 21st century, and we might get to see it once more.  Since preservation it has led a colourful life.

It was a tasteful green when captured by my elders with 2605 on a tour to Tarana and Oberon on 9 March 1963.

By the 1970s it had gained the hue all Australia was wearing - purple. Well, maroon actually. Here are a few shots of it taking water in Wollongong.  Incidentally, the little bloke leaning against the pole with the Hitler haircut is me - thanks Mum.

 In fact, its 1970s appearance was so startling we only photographed it in black and white.

Things became more subdued after that... here's probably the last time I saw it in action in 2005 at the 150th celebrations of NSW railways.

Until next time.
Don

Orange was the new black

I have just been digging through the family archives to find a small bunch of photos that I think I may have skipped over previously... and only because the majority are an unsightly orange hue.  I was never much of a fan of the orange locos scuttling around Port Kembla, as they had:
(a) replaced those cute Porters 
(b) orange was everywhere in the 60s and 70s when I was growing up 
(c) their Port Kembla abode just stank of sulphur throughout the 60s and 70s and 
(d) the head of the household was always cursing their radios (I am led to believe his electrical skills were the only thing keeping the radios on those locos working!).

But, now, looking back, they were sooo much better than those PB things now scuttling around the works..  So, here's a few snaps... not sure of the dates at all so I am just going to stick them up without a commentary. Lets start with D11 and D36, maybe around 1981.

D6 got into a bingle at some stage, which bent its frame nicely. This was worth two photographs.

In February 2016 I posted a blog showing one side of D6.  Here is the companion shot - showing the other side.

And here is D6 and its slightly younger sister, D7.

Its not all about D6 folks.... here's one of D10 visiting the deceased remains of S 9131.

Class leader had its privileges, like dragging tourists around in near-condemned NSWGR rollingstock. I think this was from 1985 - quite possibly the slowest train chase I ever did.

Five years after that last shot it was D40's turn, with similarly superannuated carriages and no orange paint (we had been through the 80s, after all).

And then everything got painted blue, buildings, locos, certain workers who didn't move fast enough...

Time to sign off!
Don

3137 on the Loop

Just found another series of shots of 3137 on the Loop Line in the late 1970s.  A bit more pork barrelling is needed from the upcoming State election so that 3137 plies its trade honourably along those rails once more.  If we in NSW are to get a railway to Eden surely it can go via Hill Top?

Cheers!
Don

Centenary Celebrations

Hi, am a bit flat out at the moment but can't miss the chance to post a small selection from the lens of Mr Ian Brady once more.  These shots were apparently taken on 1 August 1955 as No. 1 was unloaded in preparation for the celebrations to mark 100 years of NSW (Government) Railways.  

Cheers!
Don

3313 in 1965

On 10 October 1965, 3313 participated with 3830 in an RTM tour on the south coast which is fairly notorious thanks the enthusiastic shed crew at Eveleigh, who had 'silvered up' parts of the C38 and white-walled the tyres of the P class.  (At least that is my recollection of the circumstances of the trip).  Here's a shot at North Wollongong showing the 'damage'.

Anyway, 3313 was a bit of a favourite for tours down the Illawarra around that time, and the following shots record a family chase of the loco to Kiama.  I suspect we joined the train at Wollongong, rather than motorcaded it but again, I could be wrong. The shots of the train are therefore likely to have been photostops.  Anyway, without further half truths, onto three shots of the tour.

Headed south, south of Albion Park Rail.

Crossing my favourite bridge at Bombo.

On the return at Mt St Thomas.

The most striking thing about these photos is the lack of urban sprawl - all three of these locations are now built out. The P class is a bit of alright too!

Cheerds,
Don