Re: 6039 [was 6029 thread] 6042

[bevanwall@ozemail.com.au (Bevan Wall)]

6042 holds special memories for me. It was common practice for Garrats
to "pay their way" by hauling loads from Enfield to Broadmeadow after
receiving attention at Eveleigh. Early in 1972 two Garrats were being
worked on at Eveleigh - 6042 & 6039. Work was finished on 6042 first,
and it hauled no.637 goods north on14/04/72. I'd been told that this
was going to happen and so went out to Enfield that morning (had to
truant school to do it) hoping to get a cabride. It turned out that
the driver was just about to retire and hadn't driven a steam loco for
a few years and was really excited and had been rostered on to this
job at his request and was more than willing to share the experience
with an enthusiastic teenager. I was appointed "official
whistleblower" for the trip (boy did that whistle get a hiding) and
was given lessons on how to drive a Garrat on steep grades. I can
clearly remember giving my friends who belonged to the Asquith Boys
High School Railway club and who had all suddenly needed to go to the
toilet because they had been hearing the loco comimg (as I said, I had
been giving the whistle a real workout)  the finger as we blasted past
the school. The full page photo that appears opposite the title page
in the 60 Class book by Ken Groves, et al, was taken on this trip. It
turned out that this trip was to become historically significant. Most
enthusiasts assumed that 6039 would also haul a load when its overhaul
was completed, but it was sent north light engine as were the few
other steam locos allocated to Broadmeadow or Port Waratah during
those last few months of regular steam. Consequently, 6042's working
of no.637 goods on 14/04/72 became the last occasion on which a steam
loco in regular service hauled a goods train out of Sydney.
Bevan Wall.