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South Maitland Railway Pty Ltd No. 30 10-class 2-8-2T |
This photo is kindly provided by Jeff Mullier and shows a sparkling lined black SMR 30 on 3 April 2005, shortly after being repainted in lined black.
This locomotive was built by Beyer Peacock & Co as their builder's number 6294 of 1926, becoming No.30 of the South Maitland Railway Pty Ltd's very successful "10-class" 2-8-2T locomotives. (a) No.30 was delivered under the final repeat order for two additional 10-class locomotives by the South Maitland Railway; this class eventually numbered 14 examples. (c)
SMR 30 was one of the 10-class locos that had been transferred to Coal & Allied's Hexham shed for coal train duties between Stockrington Colliery and the Hexham Washery. This duty was the final remnant of the once extensive Richmond Vale Railway system, however it too succumbed to closure in 1987.
Fortunately the four 10-class locomotives retired at Hexham were obtained for preservation by the Richmond Vale Railway Museum, together with approximately 50 of the 4-wheel non-air coal hoppers and several brake vans, and transferred to their Richmond Main Colliery site. (c) SMR 30 arrived at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on 6 July 1989 and first steamed at Richmond Main on 7 April 2000. (b) Here SMR 30 operated in maroon livery and was a regular performer on the "Link Line" museum services to the neighboring Pelaw Main Colliery site. (c) SMR 30 was subsequently repainted to the more traditional SMR Pty Ltd lined black livery in 2005. (b)
SMR
30 was withdrawn from RVR service in October 2009 due to various mechanical factors together with the regular ten year boiler lift and inspection. As at August 2010 is was being dismantled to allow for the boiler to be lifted and have any necessary repairs undertaken. It is planned to swap this boiler with that of sister SMR 24 due to the better condition of the frames and running gear of No.24, (b) hence getting No.24 back into service faster while more protracted boiler and running gear repairs are made to No.30. (c)
Here is a second view of SMR 30 provided by Jeff Mullier (taken on 8 May 2010) which shows the loco in the RVR service bay shortly after the removal of the cab roof.
This third view provided by Jeff Mullier shows SMR 24 & 30 in late September 2010, awaiting overhaul at Richmond Main Colliery.
This fine view shows SMR 30 working up the grades of the "Link Line" between Richmond Main and Pelaw Main Collieries
with a demonstration train of 4-wheel non-air braked coal hoppers on the morning of Sunday 11 December 2005.
This earlier view is provided by Paul Bird and shows SMR 30 in maroon livery with a non-air coal train
as part of the Coal Field Steam 2003 event at Richmond Main Colliery on 8 June 2003.
References
| a | McNicol, S. 'Coals to Maitland', Railmac Publications, 1982. |
| b | Emails from J. Mullier received on 29 August 2010 & 7 October 2010 |
| c | Personal comment or observation. |
Page updated: 4 November 2010
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