|
|
2705 NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere |
|
2705 shunts at Thirlmere during the Festival of Steam on
Sunday 2 March 2014.
|
Builder |
Leeds |
|
Builder’s Number & Year |
1115 of 1913 |
|
Wheel Arrangement |
2-6-0 |
|
This
locomotive was one of eight ‘mogul’ 2-6-0 tender locomotives supplied by the
Hunslet Engine Co. Ltd of Leeds to the order of the Department of Public
Works, NSW. They were originally numbered PWD 1 - 8 and used for various
railway construction duties. Preserved locomotive 2705 was first issued to
traffic as PWD 5. The
railway operations of the Department of Public Works were absorbed into the
NSW Government Railways (NSWGR) in 1917 and these locomotives became the G
(1204) class, with preserved locomotive PWD 5 becoming G 1208. The G (1204)
class later became 2701 - 2708 of the (Z) 27 class at the 1924 renumbering. These
smallish locomotives were apparently not suited to curvaceous routes which
damaged their valve motion, but the class must have been otherwise well
regarded as they were retained and allocated to Narrabri West depot in the
North-West of NSW for use on the relatively straight and lightly laid branch
lines radiating through the cotton growing regions. During the 1930's the
original Hunslet boilers were replaced with stock (Z) 25 class boilers. In addition,
the smaller Hunslet bogie tenders were replaced by significantly larger NSWGR
3650-gallon tenders as originally supplied for the (D) 50 class 2-8-0
locomotives, and no doubt the higher coal and water capacity proved useful
for the long runs of the North-West branches. The class
were largely replaced by first-series 48-class diesel-electrics in 1959 and
most had been reduced to scrap metal by 1966, however 2705 was saved for
preservation by the NSW Rail Transport Museum and retained at Enfield Depot
in Sydney. 2705 served on some vintage trains and early NSWRTM operations
until retired for static display at Thirlmere in the 1970's. As a static
exhibit, its old faded lined olive-green livery was repainted in 1988 to
basic unlined black. A second
lease of life came for 2705 when it was restored to operation by the NSWRTM around
1994, primarily for use on their ‘Loop Line’ tourist trains. At this stage it
wore an attractive lined green livery – as seen in various 1990’s photos at
the foot of this page. 2705 subsequently received a heavy overhaul in the
NSWRTM Thirlmere workshops including a boiler swap with a spare (Z) 25 boiler
(tab 2531) which had been stored at Thirlmere for many decades. Following
its return to service, 2705 was repainted in July 2012 to unlined black
livery; while this is historically accurate, perhaps it isn't as easy on the
eye as lined green! For a period in 2012 the loco wore ‘Cadbury Purple Stripe’
livery in connection with the ‘Cadbury Joyville Express’ and associated TV commercial
for the famous brand! Here is a YouTube video published by Bevan Wall
Productions showing 2705 and the Cadbury Joyville Express on 28 June 2012 departures
from Sydney Central Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYMpj880SLE Update: 2705 was
withdrawn from Loop Line service at the end of 2022 and a period of overhaul began.
Works included heavy rebuilding of the boiler, with significant patch replacement
of the firebox corners, backsheet, a new front tube-plate, new tubes and
various regulator fittings etc. The NSW Rail Museum’s ‘Roundhouse’ magazine
of Autumn 2025 contained an illustrated article announcing 2705’s return to
service and covering its prior history through NSWGR, Vintage Train and
NSWRTM / NSW Rail Museum tour engine & Loop Line activities over the
decades. 2705 has now
been turned out wearing lined red livery with a prominent ‘5’ on the tender; a
smiling face has been procured and the loco now resembles ‘James the Red
Engine’ from the Thomas series – and will no doubt prove very popular with
the youngsters! Perhaps 2705 has worn the most varied liveries of any loco in
NSWGR history – black, olive, green, purple & red! |
Various views of 2705 on 2 March 2014.
Various views of 2705 on 2 March 2014.
2 March 2014.
2705 cabside and builder's plate. 2 March 2014.
2705 as it prepares to depart Thirlmere with another Loop
Line tourist train.
This earlier scanned photo dates from September 1995.
2705 idling on the refuge siding at Hawkesbury River,
approximately 1994.
The following sequence of photos was taken at Sydney's Regent Street Mortuary station on 2 August 1997.
Components stamped 1115 (and other class members). 2 August 1997
The cabside again - this time in lined green livery! 2 August 1997
Depot allocation plate attached to 2705's cabside. 2 August 1997
References
|
a |
Grunbach,
A. ‘A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives’ published by the Australian
Railway Historical Society, New
South Wales Division, 1989. |
|
b |
Oberg, L. ‘Locomotives of Australia’ published by J. W.
Books Pty Ltd, 1982 reprint. |
|
c |
Eardley, G. H. 'Locomotives: A Guide - Enfield Railway
Museum', published by the NSWRTM, 1973. |
|
d |
Webmaster’s
observation or comment |
|
e |
‘Roundhouse – The NSW Rail Museum Magazine for Members and
Enthusiasts’ Autumn 2025 (Vol.62
No.2) Article ‘Locomotive
2705 returns to steam’ by Ben Elliott & Ray Love. |
Page updated: 29 May 2025
|
Government Railways: |
|
|||||||||
|
Private & Industrial Railways: |
|
|