Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum
Encyclopedia
The Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum is a railway museum
located in Valley Heights
, New South Wales
, Australia
. It is operated by the Blue Mountains Division of the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
.
The Steam Tram and Railway Preservation Society operates the Valley Heights Steam Tramway, which is also located in the former locomotive depot at Valley Heights. The facility is located near the Valley Heights railway station
.
and regrading of the line, the heavy grades below Valley Heights had been eliminated, the ruling gradient
from Penrith
to Valley Heights being 1 in 60 (1.6%).
The depot at Valley Heights consisted of a locomotive yard, a 10 bay roundhouse
, 18 metre (60ft) turntable, an elevated coal stage, and water tanks and columns. It provided pilot (assistant) engines
for trains travelling to Katoomba
and beyond. Pilot engines were placed in the lead of the trains' "through" engine over a given section of track. The engines at Valley Heights not only piloted over the longest distance in NSW, but also had the envious distinction of having to operate over the longest continual and most steeply graded mainline in Australasia. The section from Valley Heights to Katoomba, a distance of 20 miles 16 chains (32.7 km) has a ruling grade of in 1 in 33 (3.3%), rose a total of 2,200 ft (670 m), the gradients varying from 1 in 60 (1.6%) to the steepest of 1 in 31 (3.2%).
During the steam era the depot had a continual allotment of eight goods engines and generally two passenger engines. During the peak of the steam era an average of 30 trains during any 24 hour period required piloting from Valley Heights to Katoomba.
The western line was electrified
(1500 volts DC) to Valley Heights on October 23, 1956. On February 2, 1957 steam operations
from Valley Heights were replaced by the 46 class
electric locomotive
s which assisted trains from Valley Heights to Katoomba. From that train all steam hauled trains, both freight and passenger were electrically assisted to Katoomba, until complete electrification saw steam removed from the scene.
The depot in latter years was basically a very efficient freight wagon and electric locomotive repair workshop, the electric engines receiving minor repairs and complete overhauls at the depot. A variety of freight wagons were also repaired at the depot. The demise of Valley Heights depot began when the 85 class
electric locomotives were introduced in 1979 and through working of freight trains commenced. The demise was accelerated with the introduction of the 86 class
locomotives in early 1983. From the mid 1980's the number of trains requiring piloting from Valley Heights had been reduced to a handful each day, the number of locomotives required for this duty being reduced to only 3, sometimes as few as 2 being necessary.
With the announcement of the closure of Valley Heights depot by the Greiner Government
in October 1988, the depot was gradually closed and equipment removed. One electric locomotive remained available for any pilot work necessary, until the last week of January 1989 when electric locomotive 4627 had the distinction operating the last train to be piloted from Valley Heights to Katoomba.
.
During 2007, the Valley Heights Steam Tramway built an engine shed (designed similarly to that at Dubbo station) on the site to house their collection.
During 2008, the Museum completed restoration of the former chargeman's building as a small exhibits centre.
Locomotives currently on display and/or under restoration at Valley Heights include:
Also housed are ex Blue Circle Southern Cement Portland No 2 and ex Sydney Tram 103a.
Railway museum
A railway museum is a museum that explores the history of all aspects of rail related transportation, including: locomotives , railway cars, trams, and railway signalling equipment.See List of railway museums...
located in Valley Heights
Valley Heights, New South Wales
Valley Heights is a small township of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately from Sydney and is located east of the township of Springwood...
, 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...
, 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...
. It is operated by the Blue Mountains Division of 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,...
.
The Steam Tram and Railway Preservation Society operates the Valley Heights Steam Tramway, which is also located in the former locomotive depot at Valley Heights. The facility is located near the Valley Heights railway station
Valley Heights railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Blue Mountains Bus Company runs one route via Valley Heights railway station:*Route 690P - between Faulconbridge and Penrith-Neighbouring stations:-External links:* NSW Heritage Office listing: * NSW Heritage Office listing:...
.
Locomotive depot
The locomotive depot was constructed in 1913 when the duplication of the line between Glenbrook and Emu Plains was completed through the Blue Mountains. The depot was available for service on December 21, 1913, but was not officially opened till January 31, 1914. With the duplicationDouble track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
and regrading of the line, the heavy grades below Valley Heights had been eliminated, the ruling gradient
Ruling gradient
The term "ruling grade" is usually used as a synonym for "steepest climb" between two points on a railroad. But if the steepest climb is, say, a quarter-mile of 2% upgrade preceded and followed by 1.5% grade the "ruling grade" can only be defined arbitrarily....
from Penrith
Penrith railway station, Sydney
Penrith railway station is a railway station on the CityRail network in New South Wales, Australia. Located in the Sydney suburb of Penrith, the station serves as a major interchange between Western line, Blue Mountains line trains. Western-bound CountryLink XPT and Xplorer services also stop here...
to Valley Heights being 1 in 60 (1.6%).
The depot at Valley Heights consisted of a locomotive yard, a 10 bay roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
, 18 metre (60ft) turntable, an elevated coal stage, and water tanks and columns. It provided pilot (assistant) engines
Bank engine
A bank engine or helper engine or pusher engine is a railway locomotive that temporarily assists a train that requires additional power or traction to climb a grade...
for trains travelling to Katoomba
Katoomba railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Blue Mountains Bus Company runs ten routes to and from Katoomba railway station:*Route 685 - to Wentworth Falls and North Wentworth Falls*Route 685H - to Hazelbrook and North Hazelbrook*Route 686 - to Katoomba Golf Glub...
and beyond. Pilot engines were placed in the lead of the trains' "through" engine over a given section of track. The engines at Valley Heights not only piloted over the longest distance in NSW, but also had the envious distinction of having to operate over the longest continual and most steeply graded mainline in Australasia. The section from Valley Heights to Katoomba, a distance of 20 miles 16 chains (32.7 km) has a ruling grade of in 1 in 33 (3.3%), rose a total of 2,200 ft (670 m), the gradients varying from 1 in 60 (1.6%) to the steepest of 1 in 31 (3.2%).
During the steam era the depot had a continual allotment of eight goods engines and generally two passenger engines. During the peak of the steam era an average of 30 trains during any 24 hour period required piloting from Valley Heights to Katoomba.
The western line was electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
(1500 volts DC) to Valley Heights on October 23, 1956. On February 2, 1957 steam operations
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...
from Valley Heights were replaced by the 46 class
New South Wales 46 class locomotive
The New South Wales 46 class are a class of mainline electric locomotive introduced onto the NSW rail system from 1956 under New South Wales Government Railways...
electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s which assisted trains from Valley Heights to Katoomba. From that train all steam hauled trains, both freight and passenger were electrically assisted to Katoomba, until complete electrification saw steam removed from the scene.
The depot in latter years was basically a very efficient freight wagon and electric locomotive repair workshop, the electric engines receiving minor repairs and complete overhauls at the depot. A variety of freight wagons were also repaired at the depot. The demise of Valley Heights depot began when the 85 class
New South Wales 85 class locomotive
The New South Wales 85 class were a class of 10 mainline electric locomotive introduced from 1979 in the state of New South Wales, by the State Rail Authority. They were built by Commonwealth Engineering of Granville, New South Wales....
electric locomotives were introduced in 1979 and through working of freight trains commenced. The demise was accelerated with the introduction of the 86 class
New South Wales 86 class locomotive
The New South Wales 86 class is a class of 50 mainline electric locomotives introduced from 1982 in the state of New South Wales by the State Rail Authority...
locomotives in early 1983. From the mid 1980's the number of trains requiring piloting from Valley Heights had been reduced to a handful each day, the number of locomotives required for this duty being reduced to only 3, sometimes as few as 2 being necessary.
With the announcement of the closure of Valley Heights depot by the Greiner Government
Nick Greiner
Nicholas "Nick" Frank Hugo Greiner AC, is an Australian businessman and former politician. He was the 37th Premier New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was Leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party from 1983 to 1992 and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 to 1988. He is married...
in October 1988, the depot was gradually closed and equipment removed. One electric locomotive remained available for any pilot work necessary, until the last week of January 1989 when electric locomotive 4627 had the distinction operating the last train to be piloted from Valley Heights to Katoomba.
Museum
During the 1990s volunteers began the huge task of restoring the depot building which has now become the Blue Mountains Division of the New South Wales Rail Transport MuseumNew 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,...
.
During 2007, the Valley Heights Steam Tramway built an engine shed (designed similarly to that at Dubbo station) on the site to house their collection.
During 2008, the Museum completed restoration of the former chargeman's building as a small exhibits centre.
Locomotives currently on display and/or under restoration at Valley Heights include:
- Ex NSWGR 5711 (transferred from Thirlmere to Valley Heights in 2007; dismantled and under restoration)
- 5461
- 3214 (transferred from New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere to Valley Heights)
- 1022
- 1308 (dismantled)
Also housed are ex Blue Circle Southern Cement Portland No 2 and ex Sydney Tram 103a.