Thread: SMR No18 & LVR 5917

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Do I see your hand up there, Jim?

The line is still in use by a nearby coal mine, Ian. I can't think of the name of the mine off hand but it is near Cessnock and was closed down for a number of years before the Chinese bought it a few years ago. They spent a fortune re-opening it and bringing the old line up to standard. Apparently, with the newer, more efficient means of underground coal mining in use nowadays they are extending the mines use by date.

p.s. Just did a bit of research, here's a link.....

http://www.yancoal.com.au/page/key-assets/mines/austar/

Originally Posted by robbotd5

If I won silly money in a lotto draw, I'd buy 20N and restore it to steam and run it along this railway for tourist haulage. 20N is currently in Newcastle museum statically restored. Built in 1870 by Kitson, 060 Sadle tank with inside cylinders. It was used by a contractor building the early rail infrastructure then sold to the NSWGR and became 20N in the early nomenclature. It was then aquired by J&A Brown for use over the RVR. There is another later Built loco, No3 that Brown had built because he thought that he would never get his hands on this much admired mighty little locomotive. It's up at Dorrigo. Google 20N, "the buck" JAB No4. Well worth a look at a little known but amazing little loco.
Regards
Robbo

Is that the one that used to be on static display in a park at East Maitand near the high level bridge over to Maitland????

Originally Posted by Ausfree

Is that the one that used to be on static display in a park at East Maitand near the high level bridge over to Maitland????

No Jim, see link below.
Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - 20N
Regards
Robbo

Not really part of this Thread, but after talking about the Austar mine, near Cessnock, news is out that two miners were killed there last night.

Two miners killed after wall collapse at Austar Coal Mine in Paxton | News.com.au

Originally Posted by Ausfree

Not really part of this Thread, but after talking about the Austar mine, near Cessnock, news is out that two miners were killed there last night.

Two miners killed after wall collapse at Austar Coal Mine in Paxton | News.com.au

That coincidence did not go unnoticed here either Jim. Condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic event.

Well turn back the clock to 1974, the Mayor at the time suggested (after the SMR passenger rail service ceased in 1972), that the Cessnock railway station be preserved (island platform) federation building etc etc, it would make a 1st class tourist information building for tour trains to arrive in the city then proceed by bus to the vineyards, he did not get his way the station was dismantled, I think some of the structural parts (cast iron verandah bits etc) could have wound up at the Richmond Vale railway, well most of their volunteer workers dismantled it.
Now look at the vineyards, Cessnock recently voted a better place than Byron bay can you believe it!!, well the South Maitland line fell into disrepair, it is now privately owned, and single line working (that's because they probably partially funded the rebuild with the sale of scrap rail???), the line veers away fro Cessnock at the old Aberdare junction just behind Cessnock High school.
The line runs out to the loop at Pelton (austar) mine, it is such a shame that not of the clown aldermen at the time had the same vision as the Mayor, we would have had a 1 tourist office instead of 3 over the past 20 years, anyway enough of my rant, cheers Dennis
ps I do have an original plan of the South Maitland Rail network dated 1942 I think,,.

Love steam engines, grew up in Manchester UK, the home of Beyer Peacock, we used to train spot every day. My Dad was related to the Budenbergs, (Budenberg guages on many engines!)
Did an "Engine Driver Experience" on the Goldfields railway at Maldon,..what a great day that was!
Cheers, Pickles.

Cheers Pickles
Bayer Peacock have produced some truly legendary locomotives that were exported all around the world and all worked long and envied careers. Here is a few of our own B&P legends.

(A)93 class 0.6.0 of 1877 later the 19 class. Long serving and incredibly durable.
http://www.australiansteam.com/nsw/1905c.jpg
(C)79 class 4.4.0 of 1877. My favorite class of engine. Was the mainstay of express passenger workings for 20 years after introduction. Later the 12 class, was also converted to a 4.4.2 tank.
The legendary P6 or 32 class 4.6.0. This class of engine spawned the equally legendary "Standard goods" T524 2.8.0. As well as the SMR 10 class.
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/fEI7xTrV48k/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.ardp.net/smr_10_02.jpg
Regards
Robbo