This 0-4-0WT locomotive was constructed by Lokomotivfabrik Krauss & Co in Germany (builder's number 2589 of 1891) for an unknown owner, possibly the Tarrawingee Tramway which connected Broken Hill with limestone mines to north of the city.  In 1898 it became one of four similar small Krauss locomotives adopted second-hand into the Tasmanian Government Railways 'H-class' for use on the North-East Dundas Tramway at Zeehan on Tasmanian's west coast.  In 1906 it was resold to the Victorian Public Works Department for the Coode Canal project.

In 1908, Krauss 2589 was sold to the Corrimal-Balgownie Coal Company for use at Corrimal Colliery in the Illawarra region of NSW.  The Corrimal-Balgownie Coal Co. operated a complex and interesting railway system at Corrimal Colliery, including a 2' gauge railway which traversed the mountainside linking mine adits with an inclined haulage to the coastal plain below.  Along this route worked Krauss 2589, 6927 and other small locomotives. 

Ken McCarthy has written an authorative account on the Corrimal Colliery railways and locomotives in his article "The Corrimal Colliery Railway" in which he states Krauss 2859 was unused by 1933 and was partially cut up for scrap in 1956.  The article described how significant components were found and retrieved in 1972 and 1973 by members of the Illawarra Light Railway & Museum Society, including one wheel / axle set and the third driving wheel, some frame components, the boiler barrel, cab parts, both cylinders & steam chests, buffer beams and sandbox.  I believe these surviving components are now owned by a Sydney-based enthusiast / collector and reside at Gymea where they keep company with Krauss 6611, Krauss 6927 & Maffei 3677.

Contributions of further information or photographs for this locomotive are welcome.

References