Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division)

Steam Locomotive 1210 The 130-year-old 4-4-0 steam locomotive 1210, built in 1878 by Beyer, Peacock and Co. of Manchester, England, is the Society's flagship and central to Canberra railway history. On 25 May 1914, she hauled Canberra's first revenue-earning train - a coal train to serve the then main electricity-generation station of Canberra. The 12 class was originally built as an express passenger locomotive - as is evident from its 5' 6" (167.64 cm) diameter driving wheels, which made it capable of speeds of 50mph (80 km/h). Originally numbered 120, she was renumbered in 1924 to 1210 of the Z12 class. After years of hauling light passenger trains, she was out of service between 1932 and 1935. She was returned to service along with a other 12 class so that a locomotive-hauled train could be operated in lieu of single rail motors when traffic demands rose. On recommissioning in 1935, she was sent to Moree to work the Inverell branch passenger train. She moved to Narrabri West in 1950 and to Port Waratah in 1953, but returned to the north west of the State in 1955, to take over the running of the Werris Creek-Tamworth school train. 1210 moved to Parkes in 1957 and in March 1958 was withdrawn from service, pending scrapping. However, she was again reprieved and in December 1959 re-entered service, painted green, to haul vintage trains. In this role, 1210 ventured as far afield as Dunedoo, Canowindra, Junee and Parkes. Her last run in that role was on 27 January 1962, when 1210 and sister engine 1243 worked a special train to Canberra for a ceremony where she was handed over to the National Capital Development Commission for preservation. The engine spent the next 22 years on a plinth outside Canberra Railway Station at Kingston. Approval was given by the ACT Government in 1983 for her transfer to Canberra Railway Museum. After the Society - funded by a Federal bicentennial grant - restored 1210, the locomotive returned to service in 1988. She was subsequently damaged when a set of points split outside Queanbeyan station during Easter, 1996. The lack of spare parts was a major obstacle in returning her to service, but she eventually returned to train running in May 1998. After trials, her first assignment was for the filming of Passion, a film based on the life of pianist/composer Percy Grainger. 1210 is the oldest operating standard gauge steam locomotive in Australia. She is second in age to another steam survivor, Queensland Railway's narrow gauge A10 No 6, built in 1865, restored and on display at Ipswich. Post script: It is believed 1210 was delivered from Manchester to the NSW Government Railways on the ship Assaye, along with five other locomotives. The cast iron Assaye was built in England in 1868. Its home port was Greenock, which was where the ship was built by Caird & Co. The ship's master at that time was Mr D. McRichie. According to ARHS Bulletin no. 149 (old series) of March 1950, the Assaye sailed from England in March 1878 and arrived in Sydney on 19 August 1878.

Click on picture for larger image; use your 'Back' button to return to this page  In the Canberra yard  1210 at Royalla siding  Canberra station  Adding coal to the firebox See also: Video - MPEG file or MOV file (17 seconds; 1210 hauling the Spirit of Tuggeranong from Royalla on 1 October, 2000) OR

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