New South Wales Z26 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The 26 class is a class of steam locomotive
built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
of Australia
.
were asked to supply 20 large mineral tank locomotives, the design of which included the fitting of a Webb radial axle at the bunker end. The locomotives were delivered in the early months of 1892.
Originally intended for assisting goods trains in the rear on the Blue Mountains line, they were found unsatisfactory due to insufficient water capacity and inflexibility around tight curves. Several were sent to Waterfall
for working, or assisting, coal and blue metal trains. Shunting at Darling Harbour
and Alexandria
goods yards was the duty of the remainder of those held in Sydney. Others were stationed at the old Hamilton
locomotive depot for working trains from the interchange with the South Maitland Railway at East Greta to Newcastle
.
Although replaced in 1905 by bigger goods engines, they continued to haul coal hopper wagons to Waterfall and, additionally, they were used to assist northbound trains through the notorious Otford
Tunnel. At holiday times, some of these locomotives were transferred to working picnic trains to The National Park.
During the 1920s, most of the class was withdrawn from traffic, but after several years of disuse, were returned to traffic as shunters, particularly at western centres such as Bathurst
, Lithgow
and Orange
. Several were sent to Albury
to assist at this busy break-of-gauge station.
From 1942 until 1956, two of the class were engaged in shunting carriage at Sydney Station
. They were removed when overhead wiring was installed as using the water columns was a hazard owing to the location of the inlet.
The final two representatives of the class in service were 2604 and 2606, which were to be found at Bathurst until 1970. 2606 is now preserved by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
, whilst 2605, which had been sold to a cement works at Portland, is now preserved by the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
of 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...
.
History
Dübs and CompanyDûbs and Company
Dübs & Co. was a locomotive works in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Henry Dübs in 1863 and based at the Queens Park Works in Polmadie. In 1903 it became part of the North British Locomotive Company.-Preserved locomotives:...
were asked to supply 20 large mineral tank locomotives, the design of which included the fitting of a Webb radial axle at the bunker end. The locomotives were delivered in the early months of 1892.
Originally intended for assisting goods trains in the rear on the Blue Mountains line, they were found unsatisfactory due to insufficient water capacity and inflexibility around tight curves. Several were sent to Waterfall
Waterfall, New South Wales
Waterfall is a small suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waterfall is located 38 kilometers south of the Sydney central business district in the Sutherland Shire....
for working, or assisting, coal and blue metal trains. Shunting at Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour, New South Wales
Darling Harbour is a locality of the city centre of Sydney, Australia. It is a large recreational and pedestrian precinct that is situated on western outskirts of the Sydney central business district. The locality extends northwards from Chinatown, along both sides of Cockle Bay to King Street...
and Alexandria
Alexandria, New South Wales
Alexandria is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Alexandria is located 4 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
goods yards was the duty of the remainder of those held in Sydney. Others were stationed at the old Hamilton
Hamilton, New South Wales
Hamilton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district. The main commercial centre is located around Beaumont Street and boasts a vibrant multicultural atmosphere providing an array of restaurants, retail, fashion and commercial outlets...
locomotive depot for working trains from the interchange with the South Maitland Railway at East Greta to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
.
Although replaced in 1905 by bigger goods engines, they continued to haul coal hopper wagons to Waterfall and, additionally, they were used to assist northbound trains through the notorious Otford
Otford, New South Wales
Otford is a northern suburb of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia located near the Sydney metropolitan area. It has a railway station on the CityRail South Coast Line....
Tunnel. At holiday times, some of these locomotives were transferred to working picnic trains to The National Park.
During the 1920s, most of the class was withdrawn from traffic, but after several years of disuse, were returned to traffic as shunters, particularly at western centres such as Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
and Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
. Several were sent to Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
to assist at this busy break-of-gauge station.
From 1942 until 1956, two of the class were engaged in shunting carriage at Sydney Station
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...
. They were removed when overhead wiring was installed as using the water columns was a hazard owing to the location of the inlet.
The final two representatives of the class in service were 2604 and 2606, which were to be found at Bathurst until 1970. 2606 is now preserved by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
The New South Wales Rail Transport Museum located in Thirlmere, New South Wales south-west of Sydney, is a museum dedicated to displaying former locomotives, carriages and goods wagons from the New South Wales Government Railways as well as private operations in NSW. The collection features steam,...
, whilst 2605, which had been sold to a cement works at Portland, is now preserved by the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway.