Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division)

Steam Locomotive 3016 Superheated steam locomotive 3016 began its life in 1903 as a S(636) class 4-6-4 tank engine. It was used to haul Sydney suburban trains. These locomotives were designed to handle Sydney's increasing suburban traffic over heavy grades on the Northern, North Shore and Illawarra lines. The first batch of 35 locomotives (including 3016) was built by Beyer Peacock and Company, UK, and placed in service in 1903-04. Between 1905 and 1917, the English company supplied another 60 engines of this class while a further 50 were built at the Eveleigh Workshops in Sydney. 3016 was converted from a 4-6-4 tank engine to a 4-6-0 engine with a coal and water tender in 1930, after electrification of the Sydney suburban system resulted in surplus suburban tank engines. She saw many years on country service, working from such depots as Narrandera, Cowra, Werris Creek and Temora. After steaming 2,033,200 miles or 3,253,120 km (the most for any of its class), the engine was withdrawn from service in February, 1972. 3016 was bought by the Society in 1977 and members restored it to working condition between 1986 and 1989. It was used for many of the Society's steam trains on the Michelago Tourist Railway until it was withdrawn in January 1999 for repairs. Staff at the NSW Rail Transport Museum undertook the riveting of the smokebox and boiler as commercial work along with the reassembly of the locomotive at their Thirlmere depot. After steam trials, 3016 returned to service at its Canberra home in April 2007 (see the January 2007 issue of The Kingston Mail) and has since been hauling steam excursion trains.

Click on picture for larger image; use your 'Back' button to return to this page    Hauling a tour train    Leaving Royalla station    Cab view of 3016    Stripped down, awaiting repairs    Steam trials, following repair

Return to steam locomotive index