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3A Puffing Billy Railway - Lakeside Visitor Centre |
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Narrow gauge A class No.3 (numbered ‘3A’) early in her
career.
The line of rivets along the bottom of the side tanks shows
this view was taken after the water capacity was increased from 600 to 780
gallons.
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Builder |
Victorian Railways, Newport Workshops |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
Built
in 1900 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
2-6-2T |
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The Victorian Government authorised the construction of several 2' 6" narrow-gauge railways to facilitate the development of areas which could not justify the high capital cost of 5' 3" gauge railway construction, with the first such line opened in 1899 between Wangaratta and Whitfield. To operate this line, two 2-6-2T locomotives were ordered from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, entering traffic in 1898 and assisting with the Whitfield line's construction. These handsome tank locomotives were designated the Narrow-Gauge A-class (NA class), carrying nameplates 1A and 2A. Interestingly, 2A was supplied with Vauclain compound cylinders; this system was promoted by Baldwin and had some popularity at the time. The NA-class appear to have been based on a standard Baldwin design of the period, with similar locomotives supplied to various railways around the world; examples of similar machines include the New Zealand Railways Wb-class 2-6-2T locomotives and four examples of a 0-6-0T version for the Mt Lyell railway in Tasmania, both for 3' 6" gauge. Three further 2' 6" gauge developmental railways were subsequently opened, Upper Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook in the Dandenong Ranges in 1900, Colac to Beech Forest in 1902 and the Moe to Walhalla line in 1910. To operate these routes the Victorian Railways built 15 further NA-class locomotives at Newport Workshops, with 3A completed in 1900 (using some spare parts previously supplied by Baldwin) and the last, 17A completed in 1916. (4A was also built as a Vauclain compound; the Webmaster speculates this may be because Newport Workshops had a set of Vauclain cylinders originally supplied as spares for 2A.) The NA-class locomotives had sole operation of the Victorian Railways narrow-gauge lines until the arrival of Beyer Garratts G41 and G42 in 1926, precipitating the withdrawal of 1A and 2A in 1929. Class numbers continued to thin with the gradual reduction in traffic and ultimate closure of the narrow-gauge lines. 3A entered traffic at Fern Tree Gully in April 1900 having been the second locomotive built at Newport Workshops (the first being Z 256). 3A also saw service on the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line as well as the Moe-Walhalla line. Photographic evidence shows it received enlarged side tanks at some stage (increasing water capacity from 600 to 780 gallons) together with a raised rear coal bunker. It was based at Upper Fern Tree Gully in 1955 when the Puffing Billy Preservation Society came into being, but failed soon after its last trip between Upper Fern Tree Gully and Belgrave. 3A's official record card shows that it was withdrawn from service on 28 November 1955 having completed 337,106 miles. It then shows "Broken up 29 November 1955", overwritten "Off Register" again overwritten "held at Newport Workshops for historical purposes" again overwritten "sent to Portsea 15 November 1955". 3A had in fact been sent to Portsea where it was plinthed in a park; I suspect the maritime air was not beneficial! It was subsequently obtained by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society on 4 October 1977. 3A was dismantled for assessment by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society following its arrival at Menzies Creek in 1977. Unfortunately, the boiler was found to be in poor condition and was placed on display at the Menzies Creek Museum. For many years the frames, cylinders and wheels were stored at Emerald until transferred around 2000 to the long-term storage shed at Gembrook. The condition of the remaining parts is a significant issue, with the frame and motion being original wrought iron of Baldwin manufacture and considered worn out. Various proposals for the restoration of 3A have been made over the years. The recent direction is to restore 3A to the original design as a static exhibit using original parts as they become available, including wooden cow catchers and original smoke box. Given that a new boiler is required, together with new side tanks, cab & bunker, any restoration of 3A to operation would be very expensive, but the Puffing Billy Railway Society has previously built new boilers and all platework for other members of the preserved NA fleet and thus the full restoration of 3A is technically feasible. Perhaps the real issue is that the resulting machine would effectively be a new locomotive - 18A maybe! - and thus the historic fabric of 3A should indeed be preserved as a static exhibit. As
an interesting aside, a 2-4-2T cousin of the NA-class Baldwin locomotives has
been constructed as a ‘new build’ project in the UK, in the form of the
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway locomotive ‘Lyn’. Due to
the similarities of these Baldwin locomotives, the Puffing Billy Railway Society
was able to provide some technical support to the Lyn project. Update
– September 2026: There
has been an update in 3A’s situation since I wrote the above in 2014. The
Puffing Billy Railway has recently opened a significant new visitor’s centre at Lakeside including an interpretation
centre & museum. Displayed here are the remaining components of 3A, which
were reassembled by volunteers between 2014 and 2020, together with story
boards describing the locomotive’s history and significance. Alas the 3A
locomotive on display is somewhat incomplete, comprising of the original bar frames
and cylinders, the leading and trailing driving wheelsets (mounted in wooden axle
boxes), and a condemned boiler from sister 8A, together with some other
components. These incomplete remains reveal interesting engineering detail
and allow inspection of parts that would normally be rather hidden. Over
time, perhaps additional (expired) components can be added to the 3A display as
they become available, such as a cab, bunker and side tanks. Hopefully a
spare crank axle and the motion components also exist, as these significant
items may have been retained even if worn out. The two sand boxes and a copper-top
chimney would also make nice additions. |
A view of 3A recently arrived at Menzies Creek in 1977
after its years plinthed at Portsea.
It carries the garish paint scheme
typical of many plinthed locomotives.
This photo was kindly contributed by Andrew Fairweather.
A view of 3A in operation on the Gembrook line.
Comparison with the earlier photograph
above shows that the bunker has been raised.
This photo was kindly provided by Andrew Fairweather.
For comparison & interest, here is a scanned view of a
Baldwin locomotive of similar vintage and with Vauclain compound-steam
cylinders.
This is Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway
No.5 as I found her in 1994 displayed at the bottom station of this Colorado
cog railway.
The high- & low-pressure cylinders can clearly be seen
driving a common crosshead, with the valve nestled behind the cylinders.
A visit to the Lakeside Visitor Centre on 13 September 2026
found the remains of 3A placed in an interesting museum & interpretation
display.
The exhibit apparently comprises the original
frames, front & rear driving wheelsets of 3A, together with an old boiler
from sister 8A.
The steam dome appears to be the original,
judging by the green paint corresponding 3A’s condition when recovered from
Portsea.
I understand the original centre driving
axle is in use by another of the NA fleet but perhaps the item it replaced wasn’t
scrapped.
Perhaps this display will be augmented in future years as further
life-expired components from the NA locomotive fleet become available.
Detail of the front-end - 13 September 2026.
The old boiler & smokebox from 8A features
a stovepipe chimney rather than 3A’s copper-top chimney.
The wooden axle-box (for display purposes) is evident on
the lead driving wheelset.
Front view. A clutter of audio-visual equipment occupies
the space where the front truck should be.
The loco has a dinky little oil headlamp
fitted.
Photo date: 13 September 2026
References
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a |
‘Steam
Locomotives of the Victorian Railways, Volume 1: The First Fifty Years’ by
Norman Cave, John Buckland & David Beardsell. Published
in 2002 by the Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian
Division), Melbourne. |
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b |
‘Locomotives
of Australia, Fifth Edition (1850's - 2010)’ by Leon Oberg, published
in 2010 by Rosenberg Publishing Pty Ltd, Dural NSW. |
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c |
‘Puffing Billy Monthly News’,
April 2012 |
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d |
Information provided by Max
Bracher via email, 20 October 2012 |
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e |
Information
provided by Andrew Fairweather via
email 29 October 2013 |
Page updated: 23 September 2026
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