Re: Steam speed in Australia

[robson <robson@cia.com.au>]

Jonathan Lau wrote:
> 
> I have read and keep hearing that 3827 was the best 38 Class. I noticed that she
> was cut up not long after her withdrawal in 1970.
> 
> In the appendix section of the "38" book, it says that she was withdrawn
> "because of dieselisation". Most other 38's were withdrawn because of defects &
> accidents. If she was still in a reasonable mechincal condition, why wasn't 3827
> preserved?


Because the NSW Government Railways had a policy of not selling steam
locomotives into preservation. Except for the locos under deed of gift to the
N.S.W.R.T.M. at Enfield, all other locos were going to Sims for scrap. That is
until rail preservation groups started becoming active around mid 1973. The
Hunter Valley Steam Railway & Museum and Lachlan Valley Railway were the first
new groups to preserve standard gauge NSW steam locos. 3827 had long gone by
then, as had 3818, which was for a time a stationary boiler at the Homebush
Abattoir.

Rob