Re: 6029 Restoration - what's happening?

["Trevor Edmonds" <tedmonds@tmx.com.au>]

I have been off the air for a couple of days. Seems I have a few queries to
catch up with!!!

Darren Yates wrote in message...

<<6039 shouldn't be too far away from running order.>>

6039 is in very good condition, and would only need a thouorgh tone up to be
a runner. Her biggest problem will be to get the water tanks fixed. The 60
class were built with thinner than usual tanks to reduce weight, but this
left them with an ongoing problem with rust holes. The boiler and
mechanicals are all in very good order.

<<6042 was left out at Forbes in pretty ordinary condition before being
dragged up to Dorrigo.>>

We do own 6042, but she is still at Forbes. Since we bought her, she has ben
getting the standard weatherproofing treatment and has been stabalised. She
will possibly be moved to Dorrigo next year.

<<My tip is that it will be used for spares for 6039, which was just
serviced before the end of regular steam. Since 6039's done little work
since then, it should still be in good nick... Trevor????>>

We should not need to canibalise 6042 for 6039. The intention is to keep
both. As you mentioned 6039 received a heavy overhaul just before being
withdrawn. Thats why we picked her (we had 18 to pick from).


bf0017@hotmail.com wrote...

<<6039 is supposed to be in excellent order.  It was the last locomotive in
regular service to go through 'shops and saw minimal service before
withdrawal (cracked frame, subsequently repaired - used in tour service in
1977).  6039's boiler is stored dry reputedly with sacks of silica gel to
keep it dry.  Mechanically 6039 is about as good as a Garrat can be.>>

The cracked frame was never a major problem, the railways just did not need
to keep 6039 in traffic, so they did not waste their time fixing it.

<<Has 6042 gone from Forbes?>>

See my comment above. Its on the list of rolling stock to be moved, but
there are higher priorities at the moment. The Silver City Comet set should
be the next to move.


<<Is the spare 60 Class boiler (6018?) at Dorrigo causing confusion?>>

Probably. It was used in a saw mill at Murwillumbah. It was donated to us in
1989. As Chris Stratton mentioned, its currently near our BHP Porter.

<<6042 was the second last Garrat to be overhauled.  It was in good
condition when it went to Forbes but 20 years in the weather may not have
done it too well.>>

It appears to have survived reasonably well, but 6039 is definitely the
better of our Garratts.

Darren Yates wrote...

<<Sorry all, I assumed it had gone to Dorrigo based on info from the DSR&M
web site http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dsrm/Newlist1.gif  If you look at the
loco list, it includes 6042. I assumed they had already moved it.>>

The list is all the locomotives we own. There are several in off site
storage (including 6042, 42102, 4420, 4521, 4706 and 4822). This list is
getting smaller. The two BHP Newcastle diesels were the last to move.

The web site is not official. It has been created by one of our members. As
for the discussion regarding how much information should be published on the
web, I am not completely in agreement with our policy. I think the policy
will soften over time.

If there are any queries that I have missed, let me know.

Trevor