Aus Steam '88
Encyclopedia
Aus Steam '88 was an Australian Bicentenary
activity in Melbourne, Victoria featuring many steam locomotives from NSW, Victoria and also the United Kingdom. The event took place at Spencer Street railway station, Melbourne from 15 October - 29 October. Putting a display of steam powered vehicles in Melbourne.
was to visit to Australia. But due to the locomotives 50th anniversary of its 126 miles per hour speed record that it made back in 1938 the National Railway Museum have to say no. At this stage, they suggested that Flying Scotsman
as alternative. But funding was to be a problem for the locomotive. The owner of the Flying Scotsman, William McAlpine
had his bank to do a credit search on Wal Stuchbery (the creator of Aus Steam '88) and his wife to see what was behind the project. When it was completed, William McAlpine have phoned up George Hinchcliffe who was the former director of Steamtown and a friend of the locomotive that Stuchbery should prove the money to bring the locomotive to Australia. The next day, Hinchcliffe phoned to say that he was on his way to meet them.
The agreement was made when William McAlpine met with the Ministry of Transport of Victoria and the P&O shipping agent met in Transport House in Yarraville, Victoria
. With the Flying Scotsman now getting ready for its trip to Australia, there were many problems in Australia. The New South Wales Bicentennial programme was taking its toll. With many locomotives failing and others not restored in time for the celebrations, the number of engines have fell, but the stage was still being set for a spectacular event. There are two unions who were involved in the project were the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (AFULE) and the Australian Railway Union (ARU) who were both very supportive of the committee and things have gone smoothly. Many steam locomotives were invited from New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and the United Kingdom. South Australia was to be part of the celebration but many locomotives were not able to restored in time. But most of their vintage diesels were able to attend. Including the NSW Rail Transport Museum's New South Wales 42 class locomotive
4201.
's 5367 but the engine have failed with eccentric problems and was not able to make the journey. 3112 was also failed on that day, but was able to meet up with 1210 later the next day. 4201 was substituting the LVR's 4204 which failed motor traction problems. The train was split at Yass, 1210 set off alone with on the main line with a water gin and four platform end carriages with the gathering dusk and rain for Cootamundra, followed by the 42 class locomotive with the rest of the cars. The locomotives were hauling a UK tour party train for the event.
On Saturday 15 October, 3112 have met up with 1210 overnight set off from Albury railway station, New South Wales
to Melbourne. There was to a planned parallel run with the Victorian Railways J class
locomotive J515 south of Seymour, but it have to be abandoned due the standard gauge locomotive's late running. R761 left Melbourne that day to meet up with 3801 who was the Railways Of Australia Bicentennial Train for a parallel run to Melbourne. Meanwhile, down at Central railway station, Sydney
, 3801 have departed with the RoA Bicentennial Train. New South Wales D59 class locomotive 5910 have assisted 3801 from Campbelltown to Goulburn.
The next day, Sunday 16 October, 3801 was to parallel with R761 from Wodonga, Victoria
all the way to Melbourne. On that day, The Flying Scotsman was unloaded at Sydney Harbour from the deck of the "New Zealand Pacific" and then hauled by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales's own New South Wales 44 class locomotive
4472 to Eveleigh, New South Wales
at the workshops.
The next week, Monday 17 October, 4201 was working the various carriages that was left in Albury by 1210 and 3112. On Tuesday, 18 October, saw many broad gauge trips between Melbourne and Geelong, with the visit of the Bellarine Peninsula Railway
at Queenscliff. On 19 October, Flying Scotsman have left Sydney and made an overnight stop at Junee. It then departed for Albury. While the locomotive was in Sydney, it ran a trail run from Sydney - Port Kembla, New South Wales
. While it was making its run to Melbourne, it made a lot of great publicity to locals. Many school children have cheered the locomotive on. Meanwhile, 3801 worked a return run from Melbourne to Seymour and R707 made an evening return run from Melbourne to Woodend.
Friday saw no steam action on the Main Line but Elecrail's Tait set have worked to Belgrave to connect with a Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne
special to Lakeside with the newly restored Climax locomotive
1694 double heading with a usual NA class 2-6-2T as far as Menzies Creek. It was the Climax's first run. Sunday 23 October, saw a very major extensive railway display at Spencer Street and also a very huge crowd with a clash of a major air show at Laverton. On the standard gauge was 3801, 1210, 3112, 4201, 8168 and 42218 (who have worked on the Daylight Express on Saturday). Flying Scotsman was also there too, but with a wired cage and a charge for admission. On the Broad Gauge, was a line up of diesel power including a preserved L class, F class -C- shunter, and first series T class T320. With V/line's Bicentennial locomotive A66 and a DERM from the Seymour Museum. Steam was presented as well with D3.639, J515, K153, R707 and R761. The R761 locomotive didn't suffer any damages during the triple parallel run at Seymour on Saturday.
Indeed R761 and K153 have ran shuttle trips between Spencer and Flinders Street throughout the day, while the Elecrail Tait set ran a Mystery Tour. Many Australian National locomotives were represented with BL, 700 and 930 classes. Beside from the locomotives at Spencer Street, a good variety of road based steam power and vintage trucks and were buses were on display. There were tram shuttles up Flinders Street.
On 25 October, Victoria had a chance to watch the first revenue run of the Flying Scotsman in Australia. As it worked a very successful return Melbourne/Albury Special on that day. Also, South Australian Railway diesel locomotive no. 900 returned home behind a G, BL and 700 class combination on an Adelaide
bound Interstate freight. On Thursday 27 October, the NSW locomotives are now returning home. 1210 and 3112 worked a special tour tom Albury with K153 running parallel as far as Seymour. 4201 headed for Albury, with C505 in the lead on an interstate goods train. By Friday Morning, 4201, 1210 and 3112 have reached Cootamundra. 1210 worked alone with four platform end carriages. North from Harden, 1210 and 3112 then double headed to Yass, with 4201 doing the clearing up on its own.
1210 and 3112 have run shuttle trips on the Yass Town line. Meanwhile 3801 'The Bicentennial Train' have left Melbourne and then headed onto Albury with R707 as far as Seymour. on 30 October, 3801 with 5910 have set off with a long home run to Sydney. However, Flying Scotsman stayed in Melbourne from 31 October to 17 December. On 18 December, Flying Scotsman had an official welcome at Moss Vale with 3801 and 5910. Before the Scotsman came to Moss Vale, a ceremony took place to end 3801's Railways Of Australia Bicentennial Train duties. Then as the Flying Scotsman came in. Thousands of people had greeted locomotive. There was no triple parallel run, but Flying Scotsman and 3801 have a parallel from Strathfield to Sydney. And that concludes the Aus Steam '88 celebrations
At Seymour, R761 have been derailed on the standard gauge diamond loop. Diesel locomotives were quickly organised to haul the standard gauge train and R761's train back to Melbourne, while D3 639 and K153 were able to return the third load. 3801 returned to Melbourne as a light engine and R761 headed home next morning.
Australian Bicentenary
The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...
activity in Melbourne, Victoria featuring many steam locomotives from NSW, Victoria and also the United Kingdom. The event took place at Spencer Street railway station, Melbourne from 15 October - 29 October. Putting a display of steam powered vehicles in Melbourne.
History
In early 1986, Aus Steam '88 was suggested at a Steamrail board meeting that something should be done for Australia's Bicentenary. After many inspirations of the railways 150th celebrations in England in 1975. Many ideas were brought with another visit of 3801 and many other steam engines from other states. In 1987, MallardLNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. While in other respects a relatively typical member of its class, it is historically significant for being the holder of the official world speed record for steam...
was to visit to Australia. But due to the locomotives 50th anniversary of its 126 miles per hour speed record that it made back in 1938 the National Railway Museum have to say no. At this stage, they suggested that Flying Scotsman
LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
The LNER Class A3 Pacific locomotive No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley...
as alternative. But funding was to be a problem for the locomotive. The owner of the Flying Scotsman, William McAlpine
Sir William McAlpine, 6th Baronet
Sir William Hepburn McAlpine, 6th Baronet , is a British millionaire businessman, a former director of the construction company Sir Robert McAlpine.-Biography:...
had his bank to do a credit search on Wal Stuchbery (the creator of Aus Steam '88) and his wife to see what was behind the project. When it was completed, William McAlpine have phoned up George Hinchcliffe who was the former director of Steamtown and a friend of the locomotive that Stuchbery should prove the money to bring the locomotive to Australia. The next day, Hinchcliffe phoned to say that he was on his way to meet them.
The agreement was made when William McAlpine met with the Ministry of Transport of Victoria and the P&O shipping agent met in Transport House in Yarraville, Victoria
Yarraville, Victoria
Yarraville is a suburb 6 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Yarraville had a population of 12,726....
. With the Flying Scotsman now getting ready for its trip to Australia, there were many problems in Australia. The New South Wales Bicentennial programme was taking its toll. With many locomotives failing and others not restored in time for the celebrations, the number of engines have fell, but the stage was still being set for a spectacular event. There are two unions who were involved in the project were the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (AFULE) and the Australian Railway Union (ARU) who were both very supportive of the committee and things have gone smoothly. Many steam locomotives were invited from New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and the United Kingdom. South Australia was to be part of the celebration but many locomotives were not able to restored in time. But most of their vintage diesels were able to attend. Including the NSW Rail Transport Museum's New South Wales 42 class locomotive
New South Wales 42 class locomotive
The 42 class locomotives were built by Clyde Engineering at Granville, New South Wales for the New South Wales Government Railways between 1955 and 1956. Six locomotives were built numbered 4201–4206...
4201.
Delivery Runs
On Friday 14 October, the RTM's 4201 and the ARHS' 1210 have left Goulburn with the first southbound tour train. It was to be with the Lachlan Valley RailwayLachlan Valley Railway
The Lachlan Valley Railway Society Cooperative Limited is a non-profit rail preservation society based in the NSW Central Western town of Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. The museum's ex-NSWGR fleet ranges from their operational steam and diesel locomotives, to the fleet of heritage passenger...
's 5367 but the engine have failed with eccentric problems and was not able to make the journey. 3112 was also failed on that day, but was able to meet up with 1210 later the next day. 4201 was substituting the LVR's 4204 which failed motor traction problems. The train was split at Yass, 1210 set off alone with on the main line with a water gin and four platform end carriages with the gathering dusk and rain for Cootamundra, followed by the 42 class locomotive with the rest of the cars. The locomotives were hauling a UK tour party train for the event.
On Saturday 15 October, 3112 have met up with 1210 overnight set off from Albury railway station, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
to Melbourne. There was to a planned parallel run with the Victorian Railways J class
Victorian Railways J class
The J class was a branch line steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1954 to 1972. A development of the successful Victorian Railways K class 2-8-0, it was the last new class of steam locomotive introduced on the VR...
locomotive J515 south of Seymour, but it have to be abandoned due the standard gauge locomotive's late running. R761 left Melbourne that day to meet up with 3801 who was the Railways Of Australia Bicentennial Train for a parallel run to Melbourne. Meanwhile, down at Central railway station, Sydney
Central railway station, Sydney
Central Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
, 3801 have departed with the RoA Bicentennial Train. New South Wales D59 class locomotive 5910 have assisted 3801 from Campbelltown to Goulburn.
The next day, Sunday 16 October, 3801 was to parallel with R761 from Wodonga, Victoria
Wodonga, Victoria
Wodonga is a small city on the Victorian side of the border with New South Wales, north-east of Melbourne, Australia. Adjacent to Wodonga across the border is the New South Wales city of Albury. Wodonga is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Wodonga LGA...
all the way to Melbourne. On that day, The Flying Scotsman was unloaded at Sydney Harbour from the deck of the "New Zealand Pacific" and then hauled by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales's own New South Wales 44 class locomotive
New South Wales 44 class locomotive
The New South Wales 44 class locomotives were one of the first locomotives built by A. E. Goodwin in the Alco tradition. One-hundred of these DL500B units were built. Introduced in 1957, these locomotives have served every part of NSW, from services in the North and South, to the Indian Pacific...
4472 to Eveleigh, New South Wales
Eveleigh, New South Wales
Eveleigh is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eveleigh is located about 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.- History :...
at the workshops.
The next week, Monday 17 October, 4201 was working the various carriages that was left in Albury by 1210 and 3112. On Tuesday, 18 October, saw many broad gauge trips between Melbourne and Geelong, with the visit of the Bellarine Peninsula Railway
Bellarine Peninsula Railway
The Bellarine Railway is a volunteer-operated steam-driven tourist railway located in Victoria, Australia. It operates on a 16 km section of a formerly disused branch line on the Bellarine Peninsula between the coastal town of Queenscliff and Drysdale, near Geelong.- History as a working...
at Queenscliff. On 19 October, Flying Scotsman have left Sydney and made an overnight stop at Junee. It then departed for Albury. While the locomotive was in Sydney, it ran a trail run from Sydney - Port Kembla, New South Wales
Port Kembla, New South Wales
Port Kembla is a suburb of Wollongong 8 km south of the CBD and part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex , a small harbour foreshore nature reserve, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted...
. While it was making its run to Melbourne, it made a lot of great publicity to locals. Many school children have cheered the locomotive on. Meanwhile, 3801 worked a return run from Melbourne to Seymour and R707 made an evening return run from Melbourne to Woodend.
Friday saw no steam action on the Main Line but Elecrail's Tait set have worked to Belgrave to connect with a Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne
Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne
The Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge gauge heritage railway in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, Australia. The primary starting point, operations and administration centre, main refreshment room and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station...
special to Lakeside with the newly restored Climax locomotive
Climax locomotive
A Climax locomotive is a type of geared steam locomotive in which the two steam cylinders were attached to a transmission located under the center of the boiler. This transmits power to driveshafts running to the front and rear trucks....
1694 double heading with a usual NA class 2-6-2T as far as Menzies Creek. It was the Climax's first run. Sunday 23 October, saw a very major extensive railway display at Spencer Street and also a very huge crowd with a clash of a major air show at Laverton. On the standard gauge was 3801, 1210, 3112, 4201, 8168 and 42218 (who have worked on the Daylight Express on Saturday). Flying Scotsman was also there too, but with a wired cage and a charge for admission. On the Broad Gauge, was a line up of diesel power including a preserved L class, F class -C- shunter, and first series T class T320. With V/line's Bicentennial locomotive A66 and a DERM from the Seymour Museum. Steam was presented as well with D3.639, J515, K153, R707 and R761. The R761 locomotive didn't suffer any damages during the triple parallel run at Seymour on Saturday.
Indeed R761 and K153 have ran shuttle trips between Spencer and Flinders Street throughout the day, while the Elecrail Tait set ran a Mystery Tour. Many Australian National locomotives were represented with BL, 700 and 930 classes. Beside from the locomotives at Spencer Street, a good variety of road based steam power and vintage trucks and were buses were on display. There were tram shuttles up Flinders Street.
On 25 October, Victoria had a chance to watch the first revenue run of the Flying Scotsman in Australia. As it worked a very successful return Melbourne/Albury Special on that day. Also, South Australian Railway diesel locomotive no. 900 returned home behind a G, BL and 700 class combination on an Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
bound Interstate freight. On Thursday 27 October, the NSW locomotives are now returning home. 1210 and 3112 worked a special tour tom Albury with K153 running parallel as far as Seymour. 4201 headed for Albury, with C505 in the lead on an interstate goods train. By Friday Morning, 4201, 1210 and 3112 have reached Cootamundra. 1210 worked alone with four platform end carriages. North from Harden, 1210 and 3112 then double headed to Yass, with 4201 doing the clearing up on its own.
1210 and 3112 have run shuttle trips on the Yass Town line. Meanwhile 3801 'The Bicentennial Train' have left Melbourne and then headed onto Albury with R707 as far as Seymour. on 30 October, 3801 with 5910 have set off with a long home run to Sydney. However, Flying Scotsman stayed in Melbourne from 31 October to 17 December. On 18 December, Flying Scotsman had an official welcome at Moss Vale with 3801 and 5910. Before the Scotsman came to Moss Vale, a ceremony took place to end 3801's Railways Of Australia Bicentennial Train duties. Then as the Flying Scotsman came in. Thousands of people had greeted locomotive. There was no triple parallel run, but Flying Scotsman and 3801 have a parallel from Strathfield to Sydney. And that concludes the Aus Steam '88 celebrations
Triple Parallel Run
One of the biggest highlights of Aus Steam '88 was the triple parallel run with 3801, D3 639, K153 and R761. D369 and K153 were double heading on Saturday, 22 October. To many people this would have been a worlds first. 3801 with historical NSWGR's carriages, D369, K153 and R761 with a line of historical Victorian Railway's carriages. 3801 on the standard and D369 and K153 on the broad gauge line were both parallel running from Melbourne to Somerton (were they will meet up with R707) with full cry of steam, whistle and steel, it was a memorable day for all steam enthusiast from all parts of Australia and the world.At Seymour, R761 have been derailed on the standard gauge diamond loop. Diesel locomotives were quickly organised to haul the standard gauge train and R761's train back to Melbourne, while D3 639 and K153 were able to return the third load. 3801 returned to Melbourne as a light engine and R761 headed home next morning.