3112

Privately owned

Builder

Beyer Peacock & Co, Manchester

Builder’s Number & Year

5807 of 1914

Wheel Arrangement

4-6-4T

No. in class

(C)30T class – 77   (4-6-0 Tender)

(C)30 class – 68     (4-6-4T)

This locomotive was built for Sydney suburban passenger duties, originally carrying the number S 1240 of the S 636 class.  This very successful design grew to 145 class members with repeat orders from Beyer Peacock and the NSWGR Eveleigh Workshops.  They became the (C)30 class in the 1924 renumbering scheme, with S 1240 renumbered to 3112.

Following the electrification of the Sydney suburban system, 77 class members were converted to 4-6-0 tender configuration for mixed traffic use on country branch lines.  The converted locomotives were known as the (C)30T class.

3112 was one of the last (C)30 class locomotives in NSWGR service when withdrawn in February 1972.  It languished at Enfield Depot until purchased for the Lachlan Vintage Village, Forbes in October 1974.  3112 was stored for a few years at Parkes before reaching the Lachlan Vintage Village around 1979.  The Lachlan Vintage Village was an interesting local history museum featuring relocated historical buildings, a recreated Aboriginal camp and other displays relevant to the region.  From a railway perspective it included a 2’ gauge line using ex-sugar industry locomotives and a standard gauge railway which ringed the site.  Unfortunately the Lachlan Vintage Village did not succeed as an ongoing concern and the railway assets were progressively sold off.  Standard Goods loco 5367 was sold to the Lachlan Valley Railway, the ex-Sugar industry locomotives passed into private hands and the remaining standard-gauge steam locos 1919 (on gate duty), 3112 and 6042 went to auction in November 1986.  3112 was purchased privately by the late Barry Tulloch and subsequently restored for main line duties at Cowra Depot with the assistance of a group of supporting volunteers.

3112 was very active in the NSW steam scene from 1988 onwards, with highlights including a trip to Melbourne for the “AusSteam 88” railway festival.  3112 participated in various rail tour operations around Sydney in the following years, occasionally doubling with sister 3137 at the NSWRTM Festival of Steam.  3112 also participated in various community events and historical re-enactments, including occasional trips on the North Shore line and the branch to Lavender Bay.  During the 1990's it was normally housed at the old Eveleigh "Large Erecting Shop", together with 3801 and 3830.  (As an aside - I always found Barry Tulloch and members of the supporting group to be very friendly and accommodating during my encounters with them.)

In 2007, locomotive 3112 changed hands and the new owner has arranged storage in Canberra on a private siding adjacent to the Canberra Railway Museum.  Although nominally operational, I understand 3112 is not currently in use; perhaps it requires some repair or recertification.  Hopefully new owner will facilitate the return to service of this fine locomotive so it can continue to give pleasure to many.

For further information and historical photographs of the (C)30 class locomotives, readers are directed to Ron Preston's excellent book "Standards In Steam - The 30 Class" published by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum.

A Wikipedia page for 3112 provides more information about this locomotive and its preservation history.

 a

"A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives"

compiled by Alex Grunbach, published by the

Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division, 1989.

b

"Standards In Steam - The 30 Class" by Ron Preston,

published by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, 1985.

c

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