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Mount
Lyell No.4 (Abt
No.4) Remains buried in a limestone quarry |
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(Photo required)
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Builder |
Dubs
& Co, Glasgow |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
4085 of 1901 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-2RT |
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Mount
Lyell No.4 (Abt No.4) was apparently the least favoured of the five Abt rack
locomotives by crews of the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co, being
"all show and no go". When the line was closed in 1963, Abt No.4
was adapted for static use at the company limestone quarry, where it was
later buried. The quarry site has since filled with water. No.4 Abt's
poor performance apparently started after its conversion to oil firing. Webmaster’s pipedream: As the West
Coast Wilderness Railway progressively maintain and overhaul their Abt
locomotive fleet over the decades, a collection of worn-out components has
been generated. Over time these components could be assembled to create a
facsimile static Abt No.4, perhaps suitable for use as a gate guardian and photo
prop for visitors! |
Two worn-out Abt locomotive boilers (with cladding and
smokeboxes) in store at the West Coast Wilderness Railway workshops.
Photo dated 6 May 2003.
References
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a |
L. Rae, 'The Abt Railway & Railways of the Lyell
region', published by Lou
Rae, PO Box 508, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7006. |
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b |
Information
provided by the Abt
Wilderness Railway guide during
the on-train visitor commentary on my
travel over this railway on 6 May 2003. |
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c |
L. Oberg,
'Locomotives of Australia', published
by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, Brookvale NSW. 1982 reprint. |
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d |
Information provided by Russell Holland via email dated 18 April 2004. |
Page updated: 27 April 2025
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