Victory for the UK as veteran aircraft outpaces steam in rail gala
THE age-old sporting rivalry between the UK and Australia was at the heart of a steam gala Down Under on the weekend of April 13/14 – and victory went to Britain. It was the Great Train Race, a highlight for thousands of visitors to the Hunter Valley Steamfest in Maitland, New South Wales, north of Sydney.
The race on April 14 featured UK-built Beyer-Garratt 4-8-4+4-8-4 No. 6029 and NSW Government Railways C35 class 4-6-0 No. 3526 running alongside each other on a 22-mile route between Newcastle and Maitland with trains full of enthusiasts and families, but with a twist – above also in the race was a veteran de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane, and it was this example of aeronautical history that brought home the spoils for Britain.
Victorious
In an event that attracted national media attention, No. 6029 was the early leader, but No. 3526 eventually overtook the Garratt, only for the 4-6-0 to lose out to the biplane, piloted by members of the Royal Newcastle Aero Club.
No. 6029, which like No. 3526 is part of the Transport Heritage NSW fleet, was built for NSW Government Railways by Beyer Peacock at Manchester in 1953 and withdrawn in 1972 with 620,000 miles on the clock and saved for preservation by the National Museum of Australia. At 264 tons, 109 feet long and boasting a tractive effort of 63,016lb-ft, the 32-wheeled giant is the largest operating steam locomotive in the southern hemisphere and attracts enormous attention and awe whenever is appears in public.
Although of rather more modest proportions, No. 3526, which was built at NSWGR’s workshops in the Sydney suburb of Eveleigh in 1917, is also a popular member of the steam preservation scene in its home country, and doubtless many of Steamfest’s visitors would have been rooting for it in the race.
Thousands of visitors
Other attractions at the two-day event were steam, heritage diesel, railmotor and railcar shuttles, most of which were sold out, and displays of portable steam engines, steam trucks, traction engines, historical military equipment, and diesel farming and earth-moving machinery. Old-time crafts and steampunk also featured in a gala that attracted thousands of visitors in addition to photographers and linesiders over almost the entire route of the race.
Speaking from his Sydney office, David Bennett, THNSW head of engagement, told Heritage Railway: “It was a very successful and smooth operation with sold-out train rides, including those in the race, and there was much interest within the media.
“Congratulations to the Aero Club for its win, and we look forward to securing victory when the race is run again next year.”