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3237 Lachlan Valley Railway |
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My thanks to
Scott Mitchell for this view of newly-restored 3237 in steam at Cowra on 3
October 2005.
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Builder |
Beyer
Peacock & Co, Manchester |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
3436 of 1892 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
4-6-0 |
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No. in class |
191 |
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3237
is an example of 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. According
to “Steam Locomotive Data” (the official source for NSWGR steam locomotive
service records), 3237 entered service as P 508 on 26 February 1893, becoming
3237 of the (C)32 class in the 1924 renumbering
scheme. 3237 was superheated and
reframed in August 1938. 3237 was one
of only a handful of P(6) / (C)32 class engines surviving
into the 1970’s, being condemned on 26 May 1972 with 3,581,052km travelled. Fortunately it was saved for preservation
and initially stored at Parkes depot before moving to the Cowra roundhouse
base of the Lachlan Valley Railway. (3237 had been based at Cowra depot in the later stages of
its NSWGR service and therefore the Cowra roundhouse is a fitting home for
this loco.) At Cowra, 3237 was the subject of
an extensive and protracted overhaul which started in the 1980’s and included
the manufacture of a new front tube-plate. Completion of this overhaul was marked by 3237's
return to steam in mid-2005 following which it has found much use on
main-line duties. The loco is neatly
turned out in sparkling black livery. For
general information about the P(6) / (C)32 class
locomotives, refer to the page for sister 3203. |
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An earlier view of 3237 under overhaul within
the Cowra Roundhouse.
References
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a |
"Locomotives of Australia" by Leon Oberg,
published by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, 1982 reprint |
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b |
"A
Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives" compiled by Alex
Grunbach, published by the Australian
Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division, 1989. |
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c |
‘Steam
Locomotive Data’ July 1974 edition, compiled by J. H. Forsyth for the Public
Transport Commission of NSW. |
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d |
"Standards In Steam - The 32
Class" by R. G. Preston, published in 1987 by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. |
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e |
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observation or comment |
Page updated:
28 September 2015
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