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NFB 88 Plinthed at Katherine |
This photograph is kindly provided by Stuart Jackson and shows NFB88 in rundown condition at Katherine on 16 August 2003.
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NFB 88 was originally South Australian Railways locomotive Y 135. It was built by James Martin & Co, Gawler (Builder's Number 37 of 1892) to the highly successful Beyer Peacock & Co "Y-class" 2-6-0 design for passenger and good service on the South Australian Railways expanding network of narrow-gauge lines. Y 135 was rebuilt with a higher-pitch Belpaire boiler in 1919, becoming Yx 135. World War 2 brought a huge increase in traffic on the North Australia Railway, which was operated by the Commonwealth Railways and ran south from Darwin. Eighteen Y-class locomotives were transferred from the South Australian Railways to the Commonwealth Railways to meet the increased traffic demand. Yx 135 was transferred in October 1943, becoming NFB 88 in the Commonwealth Railways fleet. a Many of the North Australia Railway locomotive fleet were stored at Katherine as traffic reduced after World War 2 and diesel locomotives replaced the remaining steam fleet. Almost all the derelict steam locomotives at Katherine were scrapped around 1964 but somehow NFB 88 survived. It was later placed on displayed at the old railway station at Katherine, together with 2 flat wagons, all apparently sitting rail-less on the ground. b Photos show that, as preserved, NFB 88 has a large oil tank fitted in the tender. It seems NFB 88 was converted to oil burning at some stage, most likely as a wartime expedient to make it more suitable for use on the North Australia Railway, which was far from any coal mines. c |
References
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a |
Fluck R. E., Sampson R., & Bird K. J. 'Steam locomotives and Railcars of the South Australian Railways', published by The Mile End Railway Museum (SA) Inc, 1986. |
| b | Continental Railway Journal, No 131 Autumn 2002, Published by Continental Railway Circle. From photo & caption page 439. |
| c | Webmaster's observation or comment. |
Page updated: 29 March 2014