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This
fine locomotive represents the New South Wales Government Railways’ famous P(6) class passenger engines, one of Australia’s most successful
locomotive types and the backbone of the NSWGR passenger fleet for many
decades. These fast and versatile
engines were designed by Chief Mechanical Engineer William Thow in
conjunction with Beyer Peacock & Co, Manchester, with an initial order for
50 locomotives. The type were
immediately successful and grew to 191 examples over a period of 19 years,
with most lasting in service until replacement by diesel-electric
locomotives in the 1960’s.
Preserved
engine 3214 was the fourteenth of the original order for 50 locomotives,
entering service as P 492 on 15 June 1892, later being renumbered to P 465
and finally becoming 3214 of the (C)32 class in
the 1924 renumbering scheme. 3214
was upgraded with a superheated boiler in August 1920 and received new
frames in September 1939. (After
several decades of service, frame cracks emerged as a problem with the P(6) / (C)32 class.)
While
most of the 191 class members were withdrawn and scrapped in the mid-1960’s, 3214 was one of a handful that survived into
the 1970’s before its turn for condemnation came on 2 March 1970. Fortunately 3214 was retained for the New
South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM) at Enfield No.1 Roundhouse, from
where it was maintained as an operational exhibit and used on various tour
trains around the state. Alas the NSWRTM
was later evicted from the Enfield roundhouse to make way for a proposed
container depot, with 3214 assisting with relocation to the new museum site
at Thirlmere by hauling 3830 and some other exhibits on its delivery run of
20 June 1975.
3214
wore an attractive lined maroon livery in the late 1970's and towards the
end of its running days it also sported a decorative smokebox star as a
reminder of 32 class operations on the Newcastle Express during the 1920’s. The webmaster has fond memories of 3214
during this period, in particular some sparkling runs to Thirlmere with the
NSWRTM’s string of end-platform cars (DUB set 63); the acceleration and
speed of a P(6) / (C)32 often surprised me and served as an example of the
revolution over horse-powered travel achieved by the introduction of steam
railways. Alas 3214 was withdrawn
from operation in 1982 due to deteriorating boiler condition and the loco
was placed on static display in the Thirlmere train shed. In 1988 the rather worn and faded lined
maroon livery was replaced by a quick spray coat of basic black.
Around
2005, loco 3214 was relocated to the Valley Heights Locomotive Depot
Heritage Museum, where it now occupies one of the roundhouse bays. My visit of 28 August 2010 found 3214
receiving cosmetic repainting and static restoration by a team of
volunteers. A major achievement in
3214’s restoration was the removal of old boiler lagging by specialist
contractors in June 2015, with the boiler clothing now being reapplied and
the loco prepared for repainting as a prime exhibit at Valley Heights. I understand that 3214 will be turned out
in the attractive lined green livery that it wore in the 1940’s.
The
website for the Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum
provides further historical and technical details for the P(6) / C(32) class and their exhibit 3214.
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