3265

NSWGR 3265 "Hunter"

3265 at Taree, New South Wales Railway Centenary 2013
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co.
Serial number 4221
Build date 1902
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-0
UIC class 2′C
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m)
Length overall 60 ft 1 5/8 inches (18,329 mm)
Axle load 14 tons 13 cwt (14,884 kg)
Loco weight 58 tons 15 cwt (59,692 kg)
Tender weight 41 tons 10 cwt (42,165 kg)
Fuel type Water and Coal
Fuel capacity Coal, 9½ tons (9,652 kg)
Water cap 3,650 Gallons (16,425 litres)
Boiler pressure 160 psi (1,102 kPa)
Cylinders Two, outside
Career
Operators NSWGR
Class P,
C32 from 1924
Number in class 191
Numbers P 584,
3265 from 1924
Official name Hunter
Locale Australia
First run 1902
Last run 1968
Disposition Preserved at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

Locomotive 3265 is a preserved New South Wales steam locomotive. It is a two-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, coal-fired, superheated, ‘Ten-wheel’ 4-6-0 express passenger steam locomotive. It is one of the four P class (later C32 class) locomotives that have been preserved.

Construction

3265 was built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in Manchester, England as their builders number 4221 of year 1902 locomotives. Upon arrival in Australia it became numbered P 584 of the P class express passenger locomotives which ultimately grew into a strong 191 locomotive fleet. It was renumbered as 3265 in the NSWGR 1924 renumbering scheme.[1] 3265 is the only surviving member of its class with an original low frame.

In service

The locomotive was first introduced into service painted black on NSWGR in 1902 as a saturated locomotive with slide valves. It was used for express passenger trains. In mid-1933, along with other P classes, it was converted to a superheated locomotive with new cylinder and steam chest castings that incorporated piston valves. It was released from workshops in September 1933 and painted maroon and it received the nameplate Hunter, named for the main river in the Hunter Valley. It only carried this nameplate from 1933-34 until locomotive 3608 received it and took over the Northern Commercial Limited express to Newcastle. The nameplate was preserved by NSW Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM). New reproduction nameplates have been cast and placed back on the locomotive. 3265 was used extensively with carriage sets CUB 80 and CUB 81 for Northern Commercial Express work at this 1933-34 period. After being replaced in 1934 from this work it continued to work all manner of trains from express to country mixed and shunting work. It remained maroon and based at Broadmeadow from 1933 until 1936 after which it reverted to black livery. 3265 was overhauled and modified many times during its long and continuous service life. The loco was withdrawn from service in 1968 and was moved to the Enfield Roundhouses with the rest of the preserved locomotives owned by NSWRTM, Lachlan Valley Railway and other museums. In 1975 it was towed to Thirlmere for storage till 1988. Whilst in storage at Thirlmere, RTM volunteers wirebrushed 3265 and repainted it black.

Restoration

3265 towed to the former NSWGR Eveleigh Workshops in 1988. It has been slow and thorough restoration which commenced in 1998. Since then 3265 has been stripped down, overhauled and extensively renewed including a new rivetted tender tank and a new welded and rivetted boiler. Most of the overhaul was carried out by a dedicated team of tradesmen working as volunteers and several conservators from the Powerhouse Museum.[2] This team also worked on restoring 3830. 3265 has returned to steam, having its first trial run from Eveleigh to Penrith and return in the evening of Thursday/Friday 2/3 July 2009 being a success. The loco then worked three other trial runs, with one to Springwood and two to Gosford.

Preservation

On 20 September 2009, 3265 was publicly relaunched back into service and made three Mainline steam runs to Bankstown Railway Station celebrating its return to steam after an absence of over 40 years off the rails. Since then 3265 has worked 3 tours, 1 to the Robertson's Railway Station Fair, a special charter to Hurstville station and a Rail Transport Museum trip to the Zig Zag Railway along with 3526 and 3642. After this trip, 3265 was transferred to Rail transport Museum, Thirlmere, NSW.

In subsequent years the locomotive has taken part in the Hunter Valley Steamfest's 'Great Train Race' from Newcastle to Maitland. The Taree, New South Wales and Gloucester, New South Wales Railway Centenary 2013 and Sydney Great Train Expo 2013 at Central Station.

Early February 2014 it was announced that 3265 would part in an Lachlan Valley Railway tour to the 2014 Qube Rhythm 'n' Rail Festival in Junee on 7 - 9 March and Albury steam weekend on 15 - 16 March 2014.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ Powerhouse Museum collection - Steam Locomotive No. 3265
  2. ↑ Meacham, Steve (19 September 2009). "Steam team breathes life into an old boiler". Sydney Morning Herald.

External links

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