NSW Steam Loco Drama At High Speed
When Enginemen Used To Thrash 38 Class Steam Locomotives To The limits
The last 38 was taken out of regular service in December 1970. After 27 years hauling many prestigious trains, often at faster schedules than the diesels that replaced them.
During steam days, there were a couple of record attempts. The most famous, the SPER trip with 3801 to Newcastle that just failed to do the journey under 2 hours. The other speed trip I recall was with 3818 to Goulburn, which fell short of the 3 hours. In both cases it was due to checks in running, not the capability of the loco.
In 1971, with quite a few 38s still serviceable, the idea occurred to see how far a 38 could go in a day. The result was trips to Cootamundra and to Werris Creek and return in a single day.
The Southern line presented something special for steam. Once you passed the hills between Sydney and Goulburn, the countryside opened up, providing the possibility of long high speed running. 3827 hauled the first trip to Cootamundra, and I was on board. Inspector Stewart Bates boarded at Goulburn and the fun began.
Across the flat and straight Bredalbane Plains, we clocked 80 mph, at this stage one of the fastest steam runs for me. Then after flying through Jerrawa and up the hill, we started the descent into Yass Junction. The driver opened the throttle and we hurtled down the grade reaching 90 mph for about a mile. I had heard that 38s could go this fast, but only witnessed it briefly on a special with 3616 and 3801 thrashing through Illabo at 90 mph on a tour.
With such a successful trip, the RTM decided to run another a few weeks later, this time with 3820. The load was slightly lighter, and again, after a considerable caning by the crew, 3820 nudged 90 mph into Yass Junction. Another attempt was made north of Cootamundra with disasterous consequences. Looking out the window as the train rounded a wide curve at just under 80 mph and accelerating, I saw a flame coming from the valve gear. The big end bearing had caught on fire. We rapidly slowed a limped into Cootamundra.
While lunch was taken a crowd of fitters and others manufactured a new bearing, and we eventually left under steam power, although rather behind schedule. By now it was late afternoon, enabling a great sunset shot of the train.
Soon after, 3820 failed and we were hauled home by a 44 class diesel. Not a great end, but a very entertaining and interesting day out.
A third trip to Cootamundra used 3813, the other 38 which hauled flyers until the end. This one I didn’t ride on, but was far more sedate. By this time the enginemen just wanted to get back home!
There was a day trip to Werris Creek as well in 1969. This featured 3827 between Gosford and Broadmeadow and 3813 for the rest of the journey. On the way back, Bob Salter, a Broadmeadow Driver I knew well, opened the throttle between Wyee and Wyong, and we notched up 78 mph, with an over 70 mph average between Warnervale and Wyong.
Regrettably, steam is restricted these days. Last time a 38 ran it had the boiler pressure reduced and was restricted to 100 kph or 60 mph. Locos now have speedos and speed recorders fitted, so there is little likelihood that these feats of speed will ever be repeated. Makes you yearn for the good old days!
“Lenses South” is a new book due out in May that captures many images from those days. There are several shots of the Riverina Express south of Goulburn, but my favourites are those between Campbelltown and Goulburn with soft winter lighting, massive steam trails, and beautiful scenery.
192 pages of beautiful colour photos. A must for any collection. http://lensessouth.com
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Nice work John
Great article.
In the late seventies we were on a Special from Newcastle to Sydney drawn by a 36 class with Cl Cardew driving. Clocked at speed of 92 to 93mph (bit scary) & unofficialy pulled into Central slightly under 2 hours. I’ll never forget it.
Wow, did anyone get timings on that run? Where did the pig hit 90 mph? I would suggest Wyee to Wyong on the up. I know Con was a bit crazy at times. We have some of his photos in “Lenses South”
I disagree with the words ‘ thrashing’ or ‘ caning’ a loco. Working an engine hard, or driving it to its capacity is neither of these! I have ridden enough 38′ s on the main south to know.
I read a report of a trip on a loco working up a grade in England when the boiler pressure and the valve chest pressures were the same, and the comment was the crew were unfazed by this remarkable state of affairs. Well so what; why would they be?? Isn’t that what is supposed to happen when an engine is working hard?
Yass Junction is at the bottom of 10 miles of 1 in 75, so the driver does not have to ‘ cane’ his engine, all he has to do is let her go and take it easy on the brakes!! Keeping his engine on the rails at 90mph through the 50mph curves before Yass, though would be a challenge. Like to know how he did it. I did see an empty wheetie come through YJ at all of 70mph once, so I suppose it can happen.
Same with the ‘speedway’ through Ingelburn: downhill all the way from Campbelltown.
80 mph on the Bredalbane plain is the work of the loco because it is flat so it is different.
The grades in NSW meant that the driving wheels on all our locos had to be smaller than comparable locos in England or America, so speed suffered.
I am fond of steam, and like stories about it, but being a purist, I like to keep things accurate, and dislike stories ‘hyped up’ for the benefit of folks who did not know what steam engine operation was really like in real life.
Keep up the good work.
Sorry I upset you Graham. Unfortunately those who were not around in those days would have no idea of the excitement of a 38 passing at speed with its “little” wheels turning ;ole crazy as you pointed out compared to the enourmous English and US counterparts! they did indeed make a mess of 3820 accelerating to that speed. Remember this engine was rather old and not in as good condition as it could be. 3827 on the other hand was always considered very smooth. My cab rides in 36 class were always rather bumpy and it would have been very interesting to be in 3616 at 90 mph with a 38 pushing it along. Anyway 3827 stopped at Yass Junction, so it would have slowed well before the curve.
Thanks for your contribution. It ads to the story. Believe me, there was one Con (C.A.) Cardew who was known to “thrash” a few locos in his time! He would wind a 38 out full screw and open the throttle wide at times. Many firemen feared him.