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Lloyd Copper Co. Shay No.2 Alexandra Timber Tramway & Museum |
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The remains of Lloyd Copper Co. Shay No.2 had eluded me for
many years, being privately owned.
The loco’s relocation to the Alexandra
Timber Tramway & Museum in April 2026 finally provided an opportunity for
photography.
Seen in this view of 14 September 2026 are
the boiler, tender tank, front tubeplate, sanding saddle, smokebox and steam
dome cover.
I don’t have any information about any other / smaller
items that might have survived.
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Builder |
Ohio |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
2576
of 1912 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
B-type (2 trucks, 3 cylinders) |
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This
two-truck B-type Shay locomotive was built by Lima
Locomotive Works, Ohio in 1912 as one of two (B/Nos. 2575 & 2576)
supplied to the Lloyd Copper Co. for use at their Burraga works near Oberon,
NSW. These two locomotives were numbered 1 & 2 respectively at the Lloyd
Copper Co. By 1920,
No.2 was at the Hoskins Steelworks in Lithgow, NSW. By 1928 both B/Nos. 2575
& 2576 had been sold to the Victorian Hardwood & Sawmilling Co. for
use on their timber tramways in the Powelltown area of Victoria. Shay B/No.
2576 ended its days at Omeo where it had been used in a static capacity to
power a sawmill. By this stage it was in a dismantled state and apparently
lacking trucks. The remaining components (frame, boiler, cylinders and other
parts) have been privately owned by a Melbourne-based enthusiast since the
mid-1960's and are stored at a Melbourne suburban location. A news article
and photograph in Light Railways magazine No.194 of April 2007 confirmed the
continuing existence of these locomotive components and their ongoing storage
in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The boiler
of sister Shay B/No. 2575 was also adopted for sawmill use. Until recent
years the boiler shell survived in the former station yard at Carpolac,
albeit having been gutted of tubes and non-ferrous items. Alas this relic has
now disappeared. Further
historical and technical information for Lima B/No. 2576 can be found at the
excellent Shaylocomotive.com website. Update
– August 2026: Light
Railways magazine of August 2026 delivered news that this locomotive had
finally broken cover, moving to the Alexandra Timber Tramway in late April 2026. Here it will
remain a long-term restoration project, given it is missing its 3’ gauge
bogies; presumably it would need to be regauged to 2’ gauge for use at
Alexandra in any case. A similar B-Type
Shay on 2’ gauge bogies is under restoration at the Illawarra Light Railway
& Museum, based on Munro Shay No.2 (Lima
B/N 2097), but I understand this project lacks a restorable Shay boiler.
Perhaps a combination of the remaining components of these 2 locomotives
might provide a viable single restoration project? A visit to
the Melbourne Model Railway Exhibition in September 2026 provided the
webmaster with an opportunity to take the scenic drive home to Sydney via the
Maroondah Highway, passing through Alexandra. The photos on this page date
from that visit, with the mortal remains of Lima 2576 photographed on a dewy morning. |
Right-hand side view of the boiler and tender tank.
14/09/2026.
Rear view of the Shay tender tank and boiler. 14/09/2026.
Detail of the Shay tender tank, showing the surviving detail
of curves, angle irons and beading. 14 September 2026.
The beautifully restored station at Alexandra (‘Alex’ to
the locals). 14 September 2026.
This wonderful old scissor leg crane survives in the former
goods sidings at Alexandra. 14 September 2026
References
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a |
shaylocomotives.com
website, viewed 26
May 2014. |
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b |
'Light Railways
- Australia's Magazine of Industrial & Narrow Gauge Railways', Number
194, April 2007. Published
by Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Research
item & photo on page 26. |
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c |
'Light
Railways - Australia's Magazine of Industrial & Narrow Gauge Railways', Number
310, August 2026. Published
by Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. News
item on page 44. |
Page updated: 15 September 2026
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