Garratt 6029 Canberra - Parkes 1981 part 1

In June 1981 the Canberra branch of the Australian Railway Historical Society, operated a tour with Garratt 6209 from Canberra, Australia's national capital (ACT), to Parkes in the central west of the state of New South Wales Australia. This video was taken in the time when home video filming was new and therefore, video cameras did not produce the same quality as those available today.
Nevertheless, this video was reproduced from a tape taken of the occasion and posted here as a historical occurrence as the Garratt's last yar in steam was the same year as this video was taken..

The tape as so many others, lay in a box for many years until the idea arose to edit it and put it on the internet and youtube, two mediums that wete not even thought of in the year this was filmed.

The first action scene in the video, was taken just before Lithgow at the restored Zig Zag Railway location. The scenes after that, were taken west of Bathurst beginning with a shot before sunrise, in which the Garratt, the headlight of which is piercing the remaining darkness as
dawn breaks, demonstrates its whistle in a shrill mode, and gives a sample of its power and bark while approaching a level crossing. There are also a selection of various other scenes in this 10 minute video.

Much had to be edited out because of length. Some such scenes were the crossing of interstate freight trains with a 46 class electric and a 45 class diesel electric up front which passed at the Zig Zag site, This scene has been posted as a clip. and the Indian Pacific passenger train from Perth, and others. This video rather, concentrates on the Garratt, and shows it and its train in various settings in the New South Wales countryside until it arrives finally in Parkes, a town which was named after an early explorer.

These shots of 6029 gracing the rails to the west of Sydney to Parkes, are posted so that all interested, who have not witnessed the NSW AD60 class Garratts in action, can gain an insight into why steam locomotives in action, instilled such immense impression on many.

The few surviving AD60 locomotives are indeed a tribute to the engineering ingenuity of past generations of humanity as well as monuments to the later stages of steam locomotive development before the takeover by diesel electric, and electric locomotives.

The AD60 class locos, had a 4-8-4 + 4-8-4, wheel arrangement, and had a tractive effort of 63,000 lbs, They were the most powerful steam locomotives to be introduced in Australia. The total weight of each was some 265 tons including 18 tonnes of coal and 40 tonnes of water, and each locomotive was 108 feet long. There were 42 in the class.and they were built by Beyer Peacock (UK). The first were delivered in 1952. They were reportedly the first Garratts to have cast-steel engine frames and integrally cast cylinders. Other info: Driving wheel diameter 4ft7in, four Cylinders each 19-1/4in X 26in Stroke, Boiler pressure 200lb-sq-in.

The Garratts remained in service in diminishing numbers from 1955 to 1972 during dieselization. At least four have been preserved.

Garratt 6029 which is featured in this video, has been out of action now for some decades since 1881, but it is currently under restoration. (refer to the Australian Railway Historical Society "Canberra ACT" website --- www arhsact.org.au) Such restorations however, take many years, but this video will surely show what can be looked forward to once the project is completed.
Meanwhile, anyone who cares to, can enjoy these video recorded sights and sounds from the weekend back in June 1981, when Garratt 6029 ventured west to Parkes.

P.S. This video was shot when the Garratts had been delivered some 29 years, and it was edited and posted on the internet a further 29 years down the track. As the locomotive is also number 29 of the 60 class, there seems to be a significance in the number 29 for this 6029 video project.

G.R.

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[JBofBrisbane]

Thank you for posting - I was not aware that there was an AD60 still operating as late as 1981. I thought they had finished up around '73. Goes to show, you learn something new every day.

[reidgck]

@JBofBrisbane Home video came out nabout 1980 which is why the 1981 excursion to Parkes is on video and not copied from film. The Garratt was the last one in operation and was kept at Canberra and used for special outings until it needed major maintenance. It has been unde restoration for some time as it is intended for it to run again. If you visit -- project6029. blogspot. com/ -- you will find up to date information. --

just google with keywords -- garratt restoration canberra --

[dm3830]

askinner, the garratt design has heaps of advantages in power vs loading gauge and axle load constraints but some fairly simple google work would indicate that unfortunately no Garratt was ever built to rival even the 4-8-4 Niagaras or the 4-8-8-4 Big Boys in HP. If only.

[reidgck]

@dm3830 They did double head with Garratts at times for extra power; but all the locomotives of which you wrote were, or are, examples of the remarkable industrial age and ingenuity of the past.

[reidgck]

The last year of operation of the 60 class Garratt was 1981 and that was about the time the first home video equipment was released. Although comparatively primitive to today's equipment, the two occurrances slightly overlapped -- hence the video. When they finish restoring this Garratt in Canberra, there will no doubt be plenty more video. But for now we can surely look forward to its recommissioning and to the impressive sights and sounds of 6029 again as it demonstrates them in this video....

[limosalimosa]

wow that must have been quite a chase! Fantastic shots!

[reidgck]

@limosalimosa - Yes it was a great chase: -- Looking forward to it running again.

[Brendansemmler]

6029 should be running in October. Went on the train to bugendore and overheard one of the guys talking about it

[HughFromAlice]

great post - loved it. TU :-)

[chiefchook]

Great sound and images; have to load my Garratt material one day.

[ernietube1]

Thanks heaps. I could only find Belbin's videos documenting the 60 class.

Garretts- Double AD 60 Class with Coal Trains near Newcastle. Quad steam at Zig Zag

watch?v=T6gEjZYFs0M&feature=ch­annel_video_title

I would not like to pay for the coal these monsters consume !

[askinner621]

Garratts are supposed to be the most powerful steam engines in the world in size, strength and power.