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J 539 Plinthed at Dimboola |
This scanned image shows J 539 plinthed at Dimboola in May 1986.
The oil tank can be seen mounted in the tender coal space.
J 539 was supplied to the Victorian Railways as one of an order of sixty 2-8-0 locomotives built by Vulcan Foundry of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, carrying their builder's number 6085 of 1954. The first 30 locomotives (J 500 - J 529) were configured as coal burners, and the second 30 (J 530 - J 559) as oil burners with a distinctive cylindrical oil tank mounted in the tender coal space.
J 539 entered service with the Victorian Railways on 3 September 1954 and was initially allocated to Traralgon depot. It was later transferred to Ararat depot where it was placed into storage on 8 January 1968. It was withdrawn on 23 May 1973 with a meager total mileage of 119,616. It was purchased for preservation on 22 May 1974 c and plinthed in the Victorian wheat belt town of Dimboola in 1975. b
Chris Banger has provided an excellent history of the J-class locomotives in his article "'50 Years of the J Class Locomotive" published in Newsrail magazine of March 2004. b John Royer has provided a table showing the builders details, service entry dates, depot allocations, storage dates & location, withdrawal and scrapping / preservation details for all sixty members of the J-class in his article "The 2-8-0 Consolidation J-Class; the Last Victorian Railways Steam Locomotive" included in "Model Railways in Australia" magazine (Issue 16).
References
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a |
L. Oberg, 'Locomotives of Australia', published by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, Brookvale NSW. 1982 reprint. (pp.263
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b |
Banger, C. '50 Years of the J Class Locomotive', Newsrail, published by the Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division Inc., Volume 2, Number 3, March 2004.
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c |
John Royer, "The 2-8-0 Consolidation J-Class; the Last Victorian Railways Steam Locomotive", an article included in "Model Railways in Australia, Issue 16" magazine.
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d |
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Page updated: 4 October 2013