N class (was H220 was surviving R class etc)

["Forster Family Inc" <noelmel@wantree.com.au>]

A point of clarification, N432 was one of 3 with 'german' type deflectors
and Boxpok wheels. 430 and 431 were similar. All were nominally allocated to
Ballarat in their latter years.
N453 also had german deflectors as a result of a collision on the Melbourne-
Geelong line in the fifties. They were the only modified Ns.
I do not believe any N would have been capable of being preserved as they
were literally run into the ground and withdrawn once any form of repair was
required.
At the time orders of T and Y class diesels were being delivered so were
ideal replacements for the Ns. The last 4 in service were 463,468,475 (all
coal burners) and oily 479 and 468 & 475 ran a farewell trip to Ballan in
October 1966.
Nominally they given the same loads in the WTT as the K class but were not
as versatile as the Ks as they could not run on many brachlines as they were
too long for the 53' turntables and had to be split to be turned.
402, 460 and 468 were based at Ballarat East for many years working loco
trips and supplementing the D3s in the yard. Others which were regulars in
Ballarat in the years I became interested in locos ( 1962 onwards) were
426,452,458,466,470,476,479,482,492,493 and 498. ( I'm glad I have kept all
my notebooks from those years!)
The Ns were a fine engine and had more soul than the rubbish running around
on V/Line metals today (N451-475-what an insult to a fine class of steam
loco).

Cheers

Noel Forster
Perth WA (Ballarat born & bred)