Steam fans flock to railway museum for the best of British engineering

THOUSANDS of steam fans, families and photographers flocked to Australia’s leading railway museum to see three UKbuilt locomotives, including a massive 4-8-4+4-8-4 Garratt, star in a spectacular two-day gala.

The annual Festival of Steam was held at New South Wales Rail Museum at Thirlmere, 55 miles south-west of the state capital Sydney, over the weekend of June 25/26. A record 8500 visitors came through the doors to savour the sight and sound of six steam locomotives in action, including the British trio of BeyerGarratt No. 6029, another Beyer engine, veteran 4-6-0 No. 3265, and Hunslet 2-6-0 No. 2705.

Steam shuttle services operated from the museum to neighbouring Picton and Buxton, and other highlights included a vintage car display, street parade, market stalls, and tours of the museum itself. NSW minister for Transport David Elliott was among the visitors, and the event attracted wide media coverage, including one state television channel filming from a helicopter.

David Bennett, head of engagement at Transport Heritage NSW, which manages the museum and its large collection of operational and display steam, diesel and other rolling stock, told Heritage Railway: “No fewer than 8500 people visited the festival over the two days, beating the previous record attendance by thousands. It was a just reward for our volunteers, who worked 1400 hours across 155 shifts in the two days.”

Comments tweeted by some of those who attended included: “A huge shout-out to all the volunteers who made the event so successful,” and “thank you to all the team and volunteers for keeping these magical machines alive and well. The sound of these engines and whistles never gets old… love it.”

One Thirlmere resident enthused: “All I could hear was loud steam train whistles all weekend. We had people parked all around in their cars and it was difficult to get out of our suburb, but how fantastic it was. So great for the museum, the community, and so many happy smiling faces.”

Admiring fans

Of the British locomotives at the core of the festival, Beyer-Garratt No. 6029, which boasts a tractive effort of 63,016lb-ft, drew many admiring fans. This AD60 class, 109ft-long, 264-ton giant was built in Manchester in 1953 for NSW Government Railways and after 18 years working heavy coal trains was saved for preservation following withdrawal in 1972.

In May this year the locomotive

– the largest and most powerful operational UK-built steam engine in world preservation and once described by a leading Australian railway engineer as “one of the best examples of British railway engineering” – was bought by the NSW state government from a private syndicate for a reported £85,000 and added to the museum’s fleet.

No. 3265 was outshopped by Beyer Peacock in 1901 (works No. 4221), entered service with NSWGR in January the following year as P6 class No. P584, and was subsequently named Hunter. After reclassification to C32 in 1924, it was renumbered 3265 and withdrawn for preservation in October 1968 with nearly 1.85 million miles on the clock.

The 4-6-0 class was one of the most successful in Australia’s steam history and became the backbone of the state’s passenger fleet, with 191 being built up to 1911 and most surviving into the 1960s.

No. 2705 was a 2-6-0 built by Hunslet of Leeds in 1913 (works No. 1115) for the NSW Department of Public Works and entered traffic as PWD5, but in 1917 became NSWGR G1204 class No.1208, only to be renumbered again to 2705 when the class changed to Z27 in 1924. Withdrawals started in 1957, but No. 2705 avoided being cut up and entered preservation in the early 1960s.

Due to the pandemic, bush fires, and severe weather, this was the first Thirlmere Festival of Steam, which is a major annual highlight for many steam enthusiasts down under, for three years, and the first in which THNSW has worked in tandem with the local council, its previous partner being Picton Rotary Club.

“Now this 2022 event has been successfully delivered, the council has indicated it wishes to continue the partnership,” said Mr Bennett.

“This will no doubt ensure that it continues to be enjoyed by the community and visitors for generations to come.”

THNSW/STEVE BURROWS Giant of the track: Garratt Class AD60 No. 6029 makes light work of its shuttle train during NSW Rail Museum’s annual Festival of Steam on June 25/26. The giant 4-8-4+4-8-4, built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester in 1953, has been described by a leading Australian railway engineer as “one of the best examples of British railway engineering.”

THNSW/STEVE BURROWS Smoke screen: 4-6-0 No. 3265, built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester in 1901, makes its presence felt in the NSW Rail Museum’s shed yard at Thirlmere during the annual Festival of Steam.

THNSW/STEVE BURROWS Those were the days: In a scene that could be a British locomotive depot in the 1950s, No. 2705, a 2-6-0 built by Hunslet Engine Co. of Leeds in 1913, shares space in NSW Rail Museum’s shed yard at Thirlmere over the weekend of June 25/26 with Class C36 4-6-0 No. 3642 and streamlined Class C38 Pacific No. 3801, both of which were built by Clyde Engineering of Sydney in 1926 and 1943 respectively.