SPOTLIGHT ON 6040.

 

Builder: Beyer Peacock & Company (UK)

Class: AD60

Builders #: 7542

Year: 1946

Wheel Arrangement: 4-8-4 + 4-8-4

Statically preserved at the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere.

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 If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could get right up in the face of a Beyer-Garratt,” well, you’re in luck — and possibly in need of help. This photographic feast brings you every bolt, pipe, and grime-encrusted corner of New South Wales Government Railways’ AD60 class No. 6040, captured during a particularly unproductive 'Brad N Virls' visit to Thirlmere last year.

  For those playing at home, 6040 is one of four surviving examples of Australia’s biggest steam locomotives — the mighty AD60 class, built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. in Manchester. Designed to conquer the steep grades and heavy loads of NSW, they did so with style, smoke, and a noise level that could put the fear of god in livestock two shires away. These days, 6040 enjoys a peaceful, if not horridly boring, existence at the NSW Rail Museum, where it mostly just poses for cameras and tolerates foamers.

  So, whether you’re a modeller seeking the all important rivet-level accuracy, or just someone who enjoys staring at complicated machinery that have become condos for arachnids, welcome to a collection that proves beauty really is in the details (even with kettles) — especially when the details are the size of your arm.

AD60 6040's builders plate.

6040 photos above taken by Virlyn Artocillo.

Rest of the photos below by Brad Peadon.

Getting a good close look at the running gear of these beasts is always amazing. Particular when in operation.

 Photo: Brad Peadon.

Garratt 6040 makes a pretty impressive impression the second you walk out of the hall.

Photo: Brad Peadon.

Hopefully that collection of photos has been of some marginal use to someone.

If not, maybe some modicum of interest will come forward in whatever I decide to inflict upon you next.

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Note: Coming up on our SRF YouTube channel is a visit to the 'Black Diamond Heritage Centre' at Bulli station. A good look around, with footage of the utmost lowest quality you have come to demand.

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Virls.

The NSW Rail Museum volunteers.

The 'Australian Steam' website for the amazing effort you put in.

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NSW AD60 Class Locomotive - Wikipedia

Beyer Peacock and Company - Wikipedia

Australian Steam Website

NSW Railways - Past & Present Group

NSW Railway Museum - Thirlmere

All The Smutty Details Group (Detail Photos)

Australian Railway Detail Photos (ARDP)

Semi-Retired Foamer: Travel & Aviation Blog

Light Railway Research Society of Australia

Check Out Our Link Tree Site For Links To All Our Transport,
Heritage/Research, and Travel Sites..

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#semiretiredfoamer

TRAINS FOR KIDS WITH CANCER - BUS TOUR

 Trains For Kids With Cancer' has returned.

  Our next event is a heritage bus and steam train ride. Heritage buses will take you from Leichardt to Thirlmere, where there will be a return train ride to Buxton. Time will also be available to explore this amazing museum

  Check out the 'Trains For Kids With Cancer' website for details of how to book and updates on planned future events.

  An incredibly fun day, while helping the families most in need.

Limited tickets are available. Updates and booking on our website.

We thank Transit Systems, Sydney Bus Museum, Semi-Retired Foamer Media, and the NSW Rail Museum, for all their help in bringing this exciting day together.

Details and bookings on our website.

STATIONS - RANDOM SELECTION

 

Given I currently live in the virus infested city of Sydney, I've had little to do for the last 6 weeks, and now the next eleven it would seem, other than go through even more photographic memories of the once greater times we all enjoyed.

The station series normally focuses on one station at a time. However, given travel will now gain you a spanking from the authorities, either real ones, or the self-appointed railfan type, we will just look at some images I prepared earlier.

You're welcome.

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Thirlmere, New South Wales

Picton to Mittagong Loop Line

Home of whatever the 'NSW Rail Transport Museum' is called this week.

Names after a lake some 24kms south-west of Penrith (Cumbria, England)

Werris Creek, New South Wales

Main North Line

Opened: Current site in 1880.

Comes from the Aboriginal name for the area 'Weia Weia', which was corrupted as 'Werrie's Creek', than later to 'Werris Creek'.

Millmerran, Queensland

Terminus of branchline from Wyreema (Wallangarra line).

Opened October 1911

The branch is not thought to be in use.

The name is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal words 'meel' (eye) and 'merran' (to look out).

Cowra, New South Wales

Blayney to Demondrille line

Opened November 1986

An Aboriginal word for rocks.

The line is not currently in operation, however the locally based 'Lachlan Valley Railway' are believed to be set to restore local heritage train services.

Monarto South, South Australia

Adelaide-Wolseley (on to Melbourne) line.

Former junction for the line to Sedan.

The station was removed as part of the 90s standardization project.
The station building has been moved to the 'Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village'.

Cootamundra West, , New South Wales

Cootamundra - Temora line

Opened: March 1911

Cootamundra comes from the Aboriginal word 'Low Lying Place'.

The train seen is the former Griffith Speedfreight which passed though, early evening on weeknights, destined for Sydney.

While this line remains a very busy one, the Cootamundra West station has not seen regular passenger trains since the 80s.

Moss Vale, New South Wales

NSW Main South Line

Opened: December 1867 (Suttons Forest)

Renamed: 1877

The Moss Vale name came from a Jimmy Moss, the only resident of a little valley near the station.

Robertson, New South Wales

Unanderra - Moss Vale line

Opened: August 1932

Named after former NSW Premier Sir John Robertson. Our 5th state Premier.

Homebush Abattiors, New South Wales

Opened: 1926

Moved site: 1938

This whole area has since been redeveloped as Olympic Park in Homebush Bay.
These photos were all taken some three years after closure in 1984, during a walk around the former line that served here and the State Brickworks.

The weather in these shots makes it hard to believe that, not all that long prior, we had to take refuge in a toppled Brickworks signalbox as a massive storm hit.

Broken Hill, New South Wales 

NSW Western Line

Opened: 1919 (Station shown)

Replaced: 1957

Location was named after a rock formation.

Station heritage supremo, Brian Leedham, has an online group aimed at saving the station. Join here.

Thirlmere again.

Picton, New South Wales

NSW Main South Line

Opened: July 1863

Possibly named by Governor Brisbane, after Sir Thomas Picton, given both had fought in the Peninsula War.

Bethungra, New South Wales

NSW Main South Line.

Opened: April 1878

An Aboriginal word meaning 'Black Mountain'.

Ariah Park, New South Wales

Temora to Griffith line

Opened: November 1906

Barellan, New South Wales

Temora to Griffith line
Opened: November 1908

Well there you go, a random selection of station shot to brighten you Covid ordeal.

A huge thank you to Brian Leedham for your heritage inspiration.

Also, thanks to:

Wayne Riley and Rodney Turret

nswrail.net

Wikipedia