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1022
represents a classic US design of simple and robust locomotive for
construction & industrial duties, examples of which were built in large
numbers to various gauges for domestic US and export customers. Similar
preserved locomotives in Australia include the identical Vulcan 0-4-0ST Emu Gravel No.1 and a
0-6-0ST version (built to 3 ’6” gauge) in Australian Portland Cement No.4. A US competitor to
Vulcan Iron Works was Devonport Locomotive Works who built similar
locomotives such as ‘Kiama’ PWD
No.65.
1022 and
sister 1023 were originally delivered to the NSW Public Works Department in
1916 for construction of the metropolitan goods lines in Sydney. They
subsequently joined the NSW Government Railways and found a variety of
uses. During World War 2 they were loaned to the US Army for shunting at
Sandown Supply Depot; photos from this period suggest they were painted in
attractive lined green livery. 1022 and 1023 are perhaps best remembered in
their post-war role as roundhouse shunters at the Enfield steam loco depot,
and many photographs show 1022 and 1023 shunting cold steam locomotives
from one roundhouse bay to another.
While
1023 was withdrawn in 1964 and scrapped in 1968, 1022 fortunately lasted
until 1970 and was initially retained among the NSW Rail Transport Museum's
(NSWRTM) collection in Enfield No.1 roundhouse. 1022 was swapped with Emu
Gravel No.1 from the Steam Tram & Light Railway Society on 20 October
1970 as they wanted an operational locomotive for their Parramatta Park
Steam Tramway and 1022 was apparently in better condition. Accordingly, Emu
Gravel No.1 was transferred to Enfield roundhouse as a static exhibit for
the NSWRTM while 1022 was transferred to Parramatta Park. The webmaster has
many fond memories of 1022 working at Parramatta Park during the 1970's.
Tragically
the Parramatta Park Steam Tramway operation ended abruptly when the depot
was destroyed by arson on 7 June 1993, resulting in the loss of their
historic collection of wooden carriages, tramcars
and steam tram trailers, together with extensive damage to the steam
locomotives. The fire-damaged locomotives including 1022 were evacuated to
the NSWRTM Thirlmere. Operations have since been re-established as the Valley Heights Steam Tramway at Valley Heights
Locomotive Depot in the Blue Mountains with repaired locomotives and a
newly-restored steam tram trailer, however 1022 has not yet had its turn to
rise from the ashes. The loco has been stripped down to the frame,
revealing a severe crack in one half of the cylinder & smokebox saddle
casting, which has since received extensive welding repairs. As of 2022,
the locomotive is being progressive rebuilt and reassembled by volunteers
in the new workshop building at Valley Heights and is slowly progressing
towards a return to service. I understand the boiler is overhauled but yet to be re-tubed, while the fire-damaged saddle
tank and cab require professional metalwork repair.
A spare
set of wheels (which possibly belonged to either 1023 or Emu Gravel No.1's
long lost sister, No.2) used to sit behind the running shed at Parramatta.
These were spied on 7 January 2012 in an S-truck at Thirlmere, as seen in a
photo below.
Leon
Oberg provides a good history of 1022, sister 1023 and the Emu Gravel
Vulcan locos in his excellent book ‘Locomotives of Australia, 1850 - 2010 -
Fifth Edition’ as referenced below.
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