Australian Standard Garratt
Encyclopedia
The Australian Standard Garratt (ASG) was a Garratt
steam locomotive designed in Australia
during the Second World War
, which was used on narrow gauge railway systems in Queensland
, South Australia
, Western Australia
and Tasmania
.
locomotive was designed during the crisis days of World War II immediately following the bombing of Darwin. As an emergency measure the Commonwealth Land Transport Board commissioned a team of engineers led by WAGR
CME Frederick Mills
to design the new class of Garratt. The Australian government sought to obtain drawings and licenses from Beyer, Peacock and Company
but this was denied.
The class of 57 (out of a planned 65) locomotives was designed in 1942 and built from scratch within four months in 1943 and construction lasted until 1945.. The locomotives were produced by the Midland
, Newport, and Islington Workshops along with Clyde Engineering
. The locomotives delivered 34521 lbf (153,557.1 N) of tractive effort. A major flaw in the Australian design was the unflanged leading drivers which derailed on curves and points.
Because of differences between the states, especially loading gauge, sharpness of curves and axle load, especially in Queensland, the design had to be a compromise, which went against the idea of having a standard design. At least one problem that made the locomotives unpopular with locomotive crews was the way the firebox door opened flat on the floor, maximizing heat radiation into the crew compartment.
Queensland and South Australia both purchased much more successful designs of Garratt engines from Beyer-Peacock, post-war, which lasted until the end of steam.
Although produced for heavy work during war-time, few engines lasted through the 1950s, and most were scrapped in that decade. On the other hand, the design was successful on the private Emu Bay Railway.
In Tasmania following modifications, the ASG locomotives remained in government railway service until 1957. The Emu Bay Railway
also utilised ASG engines with success and few problems at the same time until 1966. Tasmania by coincidence was also the location of the railway to run the very first Garratt locomotives the TGR K Class
(K1 and K2).
The South Australian Railways
operated six ASGs on the Peterborough Division where they formed the 300 Class. They were assembled by the Victorian Railways Williamstown Workshops (300 and 303) and WAGR's Midland Junction (301, 302, 304,305). Their primary task was lead ore haulage between Cockburn and Port Pirie. Like other ASGs, the class were unpopular with SAR crews .
In Victoria, only one ASG was known to be used, on the Fyansford Cement Works Railway near Geelong
and this locomotive withdrawn in 1966, is now a static display at the Williamstown Railway Museum.
In Western Australia
the use of the Australian Standard Garratt of the 1940s through the state's only tunnel at Swan View
caused serious problems as stated above, resulting in deaths and a Royal Commission. Designed and built in Victoria
in 1943, the ASG was also used in Queensland
. However, by September 1945 the class had been withdrawn, as it had a tendency to derail due to its unflanged leading coupled wheels. Queensland Rail
later introduced Beyer Garratts and these were considerably more successful than the ASG.
, Victoria
. Three front tanks have survived; 1 at Yatina, 2 on a farm south of Peterborough.
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Garratt
A Garratt is a type of steam locomotive that is articulated in three parts. Its boiler is mounted on the centre frame, and two steam engines are mounted on separate frames, one on each end of the boiler. Articulation permits larger locomotives to negotiate curves and lighter rails that might...
steam locomotive designed in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which was used on narrow gauge railway systems in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
.
Overview
The 3 in 6 in (1,066.8 mm) narrow gauge Australian Standard Garratt (ASG) of 1943, a 4-8-2+2-8-44-8-2+2-8-4
A 4-8-2+2-8-4, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, is an articulated type used on Garratt locomotives....
locomotive was designed during the crisis days of World War II immediately following the bombing of Darwin. As an emergency measure the Commonwealth Land Transport Board commissioned a team of engineers led by WAGR
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
CME Frederick Mills
Frederick Mills (engineer)
Frederick Mills was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Western Australian Government Railways from 1940 until his death in 1949...
to design the new class of Garratt. The Australian government sought to obtain drawings and licenses from Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966...
but this was denied.
The class of 57 (out of a planned 65) locomotives was designed in 1942 and built from scratch within four months in 1943 and construction lasted until 1945.. The locomotives were produced by the Midland
Midland Railway Workshops
The Midland Railway Workshops in Midland, Western Australia were the main workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways for over 80 years.-History:...
, Newport, and Islington Workshops along with Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
. The locomotives delivered 34521 lbf (153,557.1 N) of tractive effort. A major flaw in the Australian design was the unflanged leading drivers which derailed on curves and points.
Because of differences between the states, especially loading gauge, sharpness of curves and axle load, especially in Queensland, the design had to be a compromise, which went against the idea of having a standard design. At least one problem that made the locomotives unpopular with locomotive crews was the way the firebox door opened flat on the floor, maximizing heat radiation into the crew compartment.
Queensland and South Australia both purchased much more successful designs of Garratt engines from Beyer-Peacock, post-war, which lasted until the end of steam.
Although produced for heavy work during war-time, few engines lasted through the 1950s, and most were scrapped in that decade. On the other hand, the design was successful on the private Emu Bay Railway.
Usage and problems
Twenty-three ASGs saw service in Queensland, where crews hated them and eventually refused to work them and they were withdrawn. In Western Australia twenty-five ASGs saw service until they too were withdrawn following industrial disputes.In Tasmania following modifications, the ASG locomotives remained in government railway service until 1957. The Emu Bay Railway
Emu Bay Railway
The Melba Line is a narrow gauge railway on the west coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest lasting and successful private railway companies in Australia...
also utilised ASG engines with success and few problems at the same time until 1966. Tasmania by coincidence was also the location of the railway to run the very first Garratt locomotives the TGR K Class
TGR K Class
-Further reading:* Belibin, Bruce and McKillop, Bob - K1 steams again Light Railways, Number 193 February 2007 pp. 3-7- External links :* http://www.whrsoc.org.uk/Projects/K1Loco.html* http://www.railtasmania.com/loco/garratts.htm...
(K1 and K2).
The South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
operated six ASGs on the Peterborough Division where they formed the 300 Class. They were assembled by the Victorian Railways Williamstown Workshops (300 and 303) and WAGR's Midland Junction (301, 302, 304,305). Their primary task was lead ore haulage between Cockburn and Port Pirie. Like other ASGs, the class were unpopular with SAR crews .
In Victoria, only one ASG was known to be used, on the Fyansford Cement Works Railway near Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
and this locomotive withdrawn in 1966, is now a static display at the Williamstown Railway Museum.
In Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
the use of the Australian Standard Garratt of the 1940s through the state's only tunnel at Swan View
Swan View Tunnel
The Swan View Tunnel is a 340 m railway tunnel located on the southern side of the Jane Brook valley at Swan View, Western Australia on the edge of the Darling Scarp. Currently inactive, due to its location within the John Forrest National Park, the tunnel and its adjacent landscape exist...
caused serious problems as stated above, resulting in deaths and a Royal Commission. Designed and built in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1943, the ASG was also used in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. However, by September 1945 the class had been withdrawn, as it had a tendency to derail due to its unflanged leading coupled wheels. Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
later introduced Beyer Garratts and these were considerably more successful than the ASG.
Couplings
- Buffers and Chain - Queensland and Tasmania (though not necessarily the same width)
- Norwegian (Chopper) - Western Australia and South Australia (though not necessarily compatible)
Preservation
One ASG survives Australian Portland Cement No. G33 (V.R. Newport, 1945) at the Williamstown Railway Museum in North Williamstown, MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Three front tanks have survived; 1 at Yatina, 2 on a farm south of Peterborough.
See also
- Minimum railway curve radiusMinimum railway curve radiusThe minimum railway curve radius, the shortest design radius, has an important bearing on constructions costs and operating costs and, in combination with superelevation in the case of train tracks, determines the maximum safe speed of a curve. Superelevation is not a factor on tramway tracks...
- Msa garrattMsa garrattThe WAGR Msa class was a class of Garratt steam locomotive constructed at the Western Australian Government Railways Midland Railway Workshops in Australia.The class was preceded on the WAGR system by the M and the Ms Garratts...
of WAGRWestern Australian Government RailwaysWestern Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia.... - List of Western Australian locomotive classes
Further reading
- Barry, Kevin, Labour divided : the Garratt strike of 1946. Papers in labour history, No.17(Dec.1996), p. 46-67.
- Gunzburg, Adrian (1984) A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division) ISBN 0959969039
- Oberg, Leon,(1975) Locomotives of Australia, Reed, Sydney..
- A.E. Durrant "Garratt Locomotives of the World"
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