Z1243

Locomotive 1243 is the oldest surviving locally built locomotive being one of the "Australian eight wheeler" locomotives built at the Atlas Engineering Company Works, Sydney for the expanding New South Wales Government Railways express passenger services.[1]

NSWGR 1243
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerBeyer, Peacock & Co.
BuilderAtlas Engineering Company
Build date1882
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
 • UIC2'Bn
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 6 in (1.676 m)
Adhesive weight57,000–62,000 lb (26–28 t)
Loco weight84,000–95,000 lb (38–43 t)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		15 sq ft (1.4 m2)
Boiler pressure130 psi (0.9 MPa) as built; 140 psi (1.0 MPa) later
Heating surface1,070–1,120 sq ft (99–104 m2)
SuperheaterNone
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size18 in × 24 in (460 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort13,019–14,020 lbf (57.9–62.4 kN)
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
Dispositionstatic display

History

During the 1870s the Government came under pressure to provide work for colonial industry and the manufacture of railway locomotives was investigated. The Department of Public Works, Railway Branch awarded a contract for construction of engines based on a pattern engine and design drawings supplied by the Railway Branch.[2] At that time it was the largest single manufacturing order in Australia.

Trials of the first locomotive produced at Atlas Engineering Co commenced on 11 January 1882.[3] Locomotive 1243 was completed the following week with the only imported components of the engine being the steel axles and wheels.

1243 entered service as an express locomotive working passenger and mail mainline services throughout the state although it was later relegated to other services towards the end of its service life.

Preservation

By 1954 only ten of the original 68 Z12 class engines remained in service.

In 1955 the locomotive was restored to its original livery for the NSW Railways centenary celebrations at Sydney Central Station and for special 'Vintage Train’ excursions run by NSWGR. In 1958 1219 was originally set aside for the Powerhouse Museum transport collection.[4] but later replaced with 1243.

In 1969 a repainted 1243 in its green livery was used in making the 1970 film Ned Kelly running on the closed Captains Flat railway line with buildings simulating Glenrowan railway station.

Until 1982 1243 was used as an operational exhibit for the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum when it was restored to original condition with short smokebox and low-side tender. In 1988 1243 was placed on permanent display at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, New South Wales

Photographs courtesy of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

gollark: It also appears to have ignored coral.
gollark: *How* did Reminding 2™ remind me twice and *why* did this not turn up in testing?
gollark: That's now illegal.
gollark: It just sent reminder 3200 twice. This is NOT good.
gollark: Which apparently entirely broke at some point in the last few weeks.

See also

References
  1. "CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE MADE IN NEW SOUTH WALES". Illustrated Sydney News. NSW: National Library of Australia. 26 January 1888. p. 16. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. "DEPUTATIONS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 August 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  3. "THE ATLAS COMPANY'S FIRST LOCOMOTIVE". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 12 January 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  4. Powerhouse Museum collection – Steam Locomotive No. 1243

Further reading
  • A Compendium of New South Wales Steam Locomotives, Sydney: Grunbach,A -ARHS-NSW Division, 1989
  • Early Australian Steam Locomotives 1855–1895, Sydney: Jim Turner, 1998
  • Locomotives of Australia, Sydney: Leon Oberg, 2010
  • Tender to Tank, Sydney: R.G. Preston-New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, 1984
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.