THE JUNE LONG WEEKEND SAW THE VISIT OF A RESTORED BEYER GARRATT 6029 STREAM TRAIN. THOUSANDS OF TICKETS WERE PURCHASED OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH SEVERAL TRIPS MADE FROM BATHURST STATION, PERTHVILLE, WIMBLEDON BEFORE RETURNING FOR ANOTHER TRIP. BOTH DAYS HAD SOLD OUT TICKET WITH MANY LOVING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE NOISE AND EXTENSIVE STEAM PRODUCED.
The huge Beyer-Garratt type steam locomotive NSWGR No.6029 was built by Beyer-Peacock & Co. in the UK in 1953 and was one of the last serving steam locomotives in NSW operating on coal haulage in the Hunter Valley until the early 1970s. The NSW Garratt locomotives were one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
After retiring, 6029 was initially saved as an exhibit for the National Museum of Australia and operated part time around Canberra, however was finally parked as a static piece at the Canberra Railway Museum in 1981. In 2007 it was decided to try to restore the engine with a recovered boiler from a Victorian sawmill. Since then the Australian Railway Historical Society - ACT Division has been working hard to get the locomotive back to full mainline operational capability. The locomotive is now operational to full running standards and it forms part of the Canberra Railway Museum’s operational fleet.
7 окт 2024
