3830

NSWGR 3830

3830 in April 2008
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder NSWGR Eveleigh Workshops,
Build date 1949
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC class 2′C1′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter 5 ft 9 in (1,753 mm)
Wheelbase 65 ft 7 1⁄8 in (19,993 mm)
Loco & tender weight 201 tons (204,000 kg) when in steam
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 14 tons (14,224 kg)
Water cap 8,100 imp gal (37,000 l; 9,700 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 47 sq ft (4.4 m2)
Boiler pressure 245 lbf/in2 (1.69 MPa)
Heating surface 3,367.79 sq ft (312.878 m2)
 • Tubes 142 tubes, 2¼ in (51.7 mm) dia each
 • Flues 36 flues, 2¼ in (139 mm) dia each
Superheater 36 element
Cylinders Two
Cylinder size 21 1⁄2 in × 26 in (546 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 36,200 lbf (161.0 kN)
Career
Operators NSWGR
Class 38 class
Number in class 30 of 30
Numbers 3830
Locale Australia
Retired 1967
Restored 1997
Disposition Static exhibit, awaiting new boiler
C.38 Class Locomotive Cab Controls

3830 (pronounced Thirty-eight thirty) is a two-cylinder simple, non-condensing, superheated, ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 express passenger steam locomotive and one of Australia's best known steam locomotives. It was designed to haul express trains for the New South Wales Government Railways, (NSWGR). It is owned and maintained by the Powerhouse museum and based at NSW Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere, NSW. Under Powerhouse ownership the locomotive ran from 1997 to 2009. Since then major boiler problems have kept the locomotive from operational use.

Construction

Built in 1949 by New South Wales Government Railways, Eveleigh workshops at Redfern, NSW, 3830 was the last of thirty 38 class locomotives built to haul express trains and replace the lower powered 36 class on main line working. As such, 3830 has the distinction of being the last steam locomotive built in New South Wales. The first five of the class, road numbers 3801 - 3805 were built in Sydney by Clyde Engineering at Granville to a streamlined design, whilst the later 25 locos in the class, which included 3830, were built by the NSWGR and were unstreamlined. 3830 and the more famous 3801 are the only remaining operating locomotives of the class still in operation. One more of the Class, 3820 was the last 38 class steam locomotive in full service with the NSWGR, has been preserved as a static exhibit at the NSW Rail Transport Museum.

Construction was delayed mostly due to the Second World War. 3830 was the last engine completed and entered service on 27 September 1949. It went on to haul the first standard gauge "Spirit of Progress" from part of the way from Melbourne to Sydney in 1962. 3830 was attached to the Spirit of Progress at Albury.[1] In 1967 it made its farewell run from Central Railway Station to Wyong and return. After 19 years on the New South Wales Government Railways and having travelled a total of 1,696,796 kilometres, 3830 was withdrawn from service. Set aside for preservation, it was purchased by the Powerhouse Museum from the State Rail Authority of NSW for a nominal fee of $10. By the end of April 1974 all steam trains had been withdrawn from NSW rail lines.

Preservation

In August 1992, some 25 years after its withdrawal from service, restoration of 3830 began. This was jointly undertaken by the Powerhouse Museum and 3801 Limited. The NSW State Rail Authority and the NSW Rail Transport Museum provided technical advice and assistance, particularly in relation to the removal of asbestos. Restoration work on the boiler and tender was undertaken at the Hunter Valley Training Company, Maitland. (a Federal Government's Jobskill programme, which provided training for out-of-trade apprentices). Over a 5 1⁄2-year period, a team of about 12 volunteers, under museum supervision, spent about 21,000 hours working on the locomotive at Eveleigh.[2]

30 years to the day after its farewell run to Wyong, on Wednesday 22 October 1997, 3830 was recommissioned with a ceremony at the Powerhouse Museum and a commemorative trip to Bankstown. The locomotive made its first passenger carrying journey for the public from Maitland to Sydney some days later. Since then, 3830 has been regularly operated for steam trips, both singly and double-heading with 3801 and a few other steam locomotives such as 3112, 3526 and 3642. 3830 was usually stored at Eveleigh, although for a time it was occasionally displayed in the Powerhouse Museum's courtyard when not used for excursions. Since the return to steam, 3830 has become a regular in the Hunter Valley Steamfest

3830 was moved to Thirlmere on 30 November 2008 where it will be reunited with 3801 and the Powerhouse Museum's other steam locomotive 3265. The loco has been stored in the new roundhouse as a display item at Thirlmere while a minor overhaul was carried out for a problem that occurred on the RTM triple header run through the Blue Mountains in June 2009. 3830 was due to attend the 2013 Hunter Valley Steamfest, but persistent problems with the firebox crown stays prevented this from happening. Later in the year several crown stays were found to be leaking on the locomotive's first trial run but after it had passed a static boiler inspection.

In November 2013 a report into the condition of the boiler suggests the locomotive will not steam again without at least a new inner firebox and most likely a new boiler. In November 2015, the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) and Transport Heritage NSW (THNSW) announced that 3830 would be overhauled for further service, work including replacement of the firebox crown sheet.

External links

See also

References

  1. ↑ The C38 Class, John. B. Thompson
  2. ↑ Powerhouse Museum collection - Steam Locomotive No. 3830

External links

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