Mechanical problems will prevent locomotive 3830 taking part in Maitland Toyota Steamfest this weekend but organisers have arranged something a bit special in its place.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the first time steam locomotive 3016 will chug into Maitland from its Canberra home.
“That’s the nature of heritage machinery, some them are 100 years old, and sometimes they break,” organiser Cr Peter Garnham said. “It’s a bit of a coup because 3016 has never been to Steamfest before.”
Tests on the 3830, as part of a scheduled maintenance program, revealed more work was needed than planned.
Staff at the Powerhouse Museum, where the locomotive is stationed, anticipated this additional remedial work and further trials of 3830 would not be completed before September.
Locomotive 3016 was originally built as a 4-6-4T-line gauge for Sydney suburban train running.
Following electrification of those railways, it was rebuilt to a 4-6-0 configuration for use on country branch lines.
Locomotive 3016 was restored by the Australian Railway Historical Society Canberra and operated on tourist lines through the late 1980s and 1990s, wearing Prussian blue livery.
The locomotive was dismantled for overhaul in 2003 and transferred to Thirlmere for contract overhaul in late 2004 before being pressed into tourist duties at Canberra.
