Aus Steam '88 was an Australian Bicentenary activity in Melbourne, Victoria featuring many steam locomotives from NSW, Victoria and also the United Kingdom. The event took place at Spencer Street railway station, Melbourne from 15 October - 29 October. Putting a display of steam powered vehicles in Melbourne.
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In early 1986, Aus Steam '88 was suggested at a Steamrail board meeting that something should be done for Australia's Bicentenary. After many inspirations of the railways 150th celebrations in England in 1975. Many ideas were brought with another visit of 3801 and many other steam engines from other states. In 1987, Mallard was to visit to Australia. But due to the locomotives 50th anniversary of its 126 miles per hour speed record that it made back in 1938 the National Railway Museum have to say no. At this stage, they suggested that Flying Scotsman as alternative. But funding was to be a problem for the locomotive. The owner of the Flying Scotsman, William McAlpine had his bank to do a credit search on Wal Stuchbery (the creator of Aus Steam '88) and his wife to see what was behind the project. When it was completed, William McAlpine have phoned up George Hinchcliffe who was the former director of Steamtown and a friend of the locomotive that Stuchbery should prove the money to bring the locomotive to Australia. The next day, Hinchcliffe phoned to say that he was on his way to meet them.
The agreement was made when William McAlpine met with the Ministry of Transport of Victoria and the P&O shipping agent met in Transport House in Yarraville, Victoria. With the Flying Scotsman now getting ready for its trip to Australia, there were many problems in Australia. The New South Wales Bicentennial programme was taking its toll. With many locomotives failing and others not restored in time for the celebrations, the number of engines have fell, but the stage was still being set for a spectacular event. There are two unions who were involved in the project were the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (AFULE) and the Australian Railway Union (ARU) who were both very supportive of the committee and things have gone smoothly. Many steam locomotives were invited from New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and the United Kingdom. South Australia was to be part of the celebration but many locomotives were not able to restored in time. But most of their vintage diesels were able to attend. Including the NSW Rail Transport Museum's New South Wales 42 class locomotive 4201.
On Friday 14 October, the RTM's 4201 and the ARHS' 1210 have left Goulburn with the first southbound tour train. It was to be with the Lachlan Valley Railway's 5367 but the engine have failed with eccentric problems and was not able to make the journey. 3112 was also failed on that day, but was able to meet up with 1210 later the next day. 4201 was substituting the LVR's 4204 which failed motor traction problems. The train was split at Yass, 1210 set off alone with on the main line with a water gin and four platform end carriages with the gathering dusk and rain for Cootamundra, followed by the 42 class locomotive with the rest of the cars. The locomotives were hauling a UK tour party train for the event.
On Saturday 15 October, 3112 have met up with 1210 overnight set off from Albury railway station, New South Wales to Melbourne. There was to a planned parallel run with the Victorian Railways J class locomotive J515 south of Seymour, but it have to be abandoned due the standard gauge locomotive's late running. R761 left Melbourne that day to meet up with 3801 who was the Railways Of Australia Bicentennial Train for a parallel run to Melbourne. Meanwhile, down at Central railway station, Sydney, 3801 have departed with the RoA Bicentennial Train. New South Wales D59 class locomotive 5910 have assisted 3801 from Campbelltown to Goulburn.
The next day, Sunday 16 October, 3801 was to parallel with R761 from Wodonga, Victoria all the way to Melbourne. On that day, The Flying Scotsman was unloaded at Sydney Harbour from the deck of the "New Zealand Pacific" and then hauled by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales's own New South Wales 44 class locomotive 4472 to Eveleigh, New South Wales at the workshops.
The next week, Monday 17 October, 4201 was working the various carriages that was left in Albury by 1210 and 3112. On Tuesday, 18 October, saw many broad gauge trips between Melbourne and Geelong, with the visit of the Bellarine Peninsula Railway at Queenscliff. On 19 October, Flying Scotsman have left Sydney and made an overnight stop at Junee. It then departed for Albury. While the locomotive was in Sydney, it ran a trail run from Sydney - Port Kembla, New South Wales. While it was making its run to Melbourne, it made a lot of great publicity to locals. Many school children have cheered the locomotive on. Meanwhile, 3801 worked a return run from Melbourne to Seymour and R707 made an evening return run from Melbourne to Woodend.
Friday saw no steam action on the Main Line but Elecrail's Tait set have worked to Belgrave to connect with a Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne special to Lakeside with the newly restored Climax locomotive 1694 double heading with a usual NA class 2-6-2T as far as Menzies Creek. It was the Climax's first run. Sunday 23 October, saw a very major extensive railway display at Spencer Street and also a very huge crowd with a clash of a major air show at Laverton. On the standard gauge was 3801, 1210, 3112, 4201, 8168 and 42218 (who have worked on the Daylight Express on Saturday). Flying Scotsman was also there too, but with a wired cage and a charge for admission. On the Broad Gauge, was a line up of diesel power including a preserved L class, F class -C- shunter, and first series T class T320. With V/line's Bicentennial locomotive A66 and a DERM from the Seymour Museum. Steam was presented as well with D3.639, J515, K153, R707 and R761. The R761 locomotive didn't suffer any damages during the triple parallel run at Seymour on Saturday.
Indeed R761 and K153 have ran shuttle trips between Spencer and Flinders Street throughout the day, while the Elecrail Tait set ran a Mystery Tour. Many Australian National locomotives were represented with BL, 700 and 930 classes. Beside from the locomotives at Spencer Street, a good variety of road based steam power and vintage trucks and were buses were on display. There were tram shuttles up Flinders Street.
On 25 October, Victoria had a chance to watch the first revenue run of the Flying Scotsman in Australia. As it worked a very successful return Melbourne/Albury Special on that day. Also, South Australian Railway diesel locomotive no. 900 returned home behind a G, BL and 700 class combination on an Adelaide bound Interstate freight. On Thursday 27 October, the NSW locomotives are now returning home. 1210 and 3112 worked a special tour tom Albury with K153 running parallel as far as Seymour. 4201 headed for Albury, with C505 in the lead on an interstate goods train. By Friday Morning, 4201, 1210 and 3112 have reached Cootamundra. 1210 worked alone with four platform end carriages. North from Harden, 1210 and 3112 then double headed to Yass, with 4201 doing the clearing up on its own.
1210 and 3112 have run shuttle trips on the Yass Town line. Meanwhile 3801 'The Bicentennial Train' have left Melbourne and then headed onto Albury with R707 as far as Seymour. on 30 October, 3801 with 5910 have set off with a long home run to Sydney. However, Flying Scotsman stayed in Melbourne from 31 October to 17 December. On 18 December, Flying Scotsman had an official welcome at Moss Vale with 3801 and 5910. Before the Scotsman came to Moss Vale, a ceremony took place to end 3801's Railways Of Australia Bicentennial Train duties. Then as the Flying Scotsman came in. Thousands of people had greeted locomotive. There was no triple parallel run, but Flying Scotsman and 3801 have a parallel from Strathfield to Sydney. And that concludes the Aus Steam '88 celebrations
One of the biggest highlights of Aus Steam '88 was the triple parallel run with 3801, D3 639, K153 and R761. D369 and K153 were double heading on Saturday, 22 October. To many people this would have been a worlds first. 3801 with historical NSWGR's carriages, D369, K153 and R761 with a line of historical Victorian Railway's carriages. 3801 on the standard and D369 and K153 on the broad gauge line were both parallel running from Melbourne to Somerton (were they will meet up with R707) with full cry of steam, whistle and steel, it was a memorable day for all steam enthusiast from all parts of Australia and the world.
At Seymour, R761 have been derailed on the standard gauge diamond loop. Diesel locomotives were quickly organised to haul the standard gauge train and R761's train back to Melbourne, while D3 639 and K153 were able to return the third load. 3801 returned to Melbourne as a light engine and R761 headed home next morning.