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5096 First locomotive built by The Clyde Engineering Co Ltd |
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5096 (sans chimney)
stored in the Broadmeadow roundhouse on 15 December 2012, with thanks to Jeff
Mullier for contributing this photo.
(5096’s chimney was found to be loose during preparation
for rail transfer to Broadmeadow, so it had been removed for safe transport.)
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Builder |
Granville NSW |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
1 of 1907 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
2-8-0 |
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No. in class |
280 |
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This
locomotive entered traffic on 6 June 1907 as T 356, one of the highly
successful T(524) class 2-8-0 freight locomotives designed
by the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) in conjunction with Beyer
Peacock & Co, Manchester under the leadership of Chief Mechanical
Engineer, William Thow. The T(524) class grew to number 280
examples following deliveries by a number of suppliers, with the design
further developed by the NSWGR to the later TF(939) class (190 examples) and
K(1353) class (120 examples) to provide a total of 590 “Standard Goods
Locomotives”. The T(524)
class were reclassified as (D)50 class in the 1924 renumbering scheme, with T
356 becoming 5096. (For more general
information about the T(524 / (D)50-class, refer to
the entry for preserved loco 5069.) While many
of the saturated T(524) / (D)50 engines were rebuilt
with superheated boilers, 5096 retained a saturated boiler and remained
largely unmodified during its working life.
It was withdrawn from NSWGR duties in December 1965 with 2,029,961km
of accumulated service and condemned on 17 November 1967 after a period of
use as a static boiler. Fortunately
5096 was saved for preservation within the collection of the New South Wales
Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM), not only as the representative of the T(524) / (D)50 class, but also in view of being the first
locomotive constructed by The Clyde Engineering Co Ltd, Granville. Clyde Engineering went on to construct
several hundred steam locomotives of various types for the NSWGR and other
customers, including the mighty (D)57-class 4-8-2’s
and 3801 among the first five (C)38-class Pacific locomotives. Modern diesel-electric locomotives also
followed. Many
NSWRTM exhibits were worn and rust-streaked on joining the collection, having
been in open storage following withdrawal and prior to entering the museum at
Enfield No.1 roundhouse. 5096 was
among these and was displayed in 'as received' condition until the early
1980's, when the boiler clothing and lagging was removed in order to prevent
further decay of the boiler barrel.
(Various components such as the connecting rods, steam dome cover and
sections of boiler clothing remain stored in the tender coal space.) Some cosmetic rust removal and repainting
was done in 1991. Around 2003 the
locomotive was assessed for restoration in the workshop area at Thirlmere by
a group of NSWRTM volunteers, but I understand the boiler was found to be
heavily pitted and requiring replacement.
5096 subsequently remained stored away from public view. During
August 2008, 5096 was rail hauled from Thirlmere for undercover storage at
Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot, Newcastle.
(At one stage 5096 had been allocated for display at the Junee
Roundhouse Museum however this has not proceeded and 5096 remains stored in
the roundhouse at Broadmeadow.) 5096
is significant as the progenitor of so many Clyde built locomotives over more
than a century of construction, and telling the story of the development of
manufacturing in NSW. Hopefully resources
can be found for restoration and public viewing of this locomotive at some
stage in the future. An
excellent resource for detailed information about this locomotive is the fact sheet for 5096 on the NSW Government Office of
Environment & Heritage website. |
5096 on the Restoration Road in the workshop area of the NSWRTM, Thirlmere on 17 March 2003.
At the time it was being assessed for possible restoration to operation, but the boiler was found to have severe corrosion pitting.
This area at Thirlmere has since been completely redeveloped as the entrance hall of the new Trainworks museum.
References
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a |
“Standards
in Steam – the 50 Class” by R. G. Preston, Published
by Eveleigh Press, 1992. |
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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 |
Wikipedia
entry for the NSWGR D50 class, retrieved 29 July 2015 |
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e |
Webmaster's
observation or comment |
Page updated:
10 August 2015
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