6029

6029 is a four-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, superheated, articulated 4-8-4+4-8-4 Garratt steam locomotive, of the AD60 class, built by Beyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester, England, for the New South Wales Government Railways. It was restored to operational condition in 2014, and was named City of Canberra between 2014 and late 2017.

6029
6029 crossing the Murrumbidgee River Railway Bridge, Wagga Wagga in June 2015
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester
Serial number7531
Build date1954
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-4+4-8-4
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 7 in (1.397 m)
Adhesive weight282,000 lb (128 t) or 317,000 lb (144 t)
Loco weight562,000 lb (255 t) or 582,000 lb (264 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity14 long tons (14 t), later 18 long tons (18 t)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		65 sq ft (6.0 m2)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface3,030 sq ft (281 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area750 sq ft (70 m2)
CylindersFour
Cylinder size19 1⁄4 in × 26 in (489 mm × 660 mm) or 19 7⁄8 in × 26 in (505 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort59,560 lbf (264.9 kN)
Factor of adh.4.73 or 4.99
Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
ClassAD60
Numbers6029
First run24 April 1954
WithdrawnSeptember 1972
Current ownerPhillip Davis and David Sommerville
Dispositionoperational
Distance travelled 996,827 km

Service

6029 entered service in 1954 on the Main North line also working one the Main South and later Main Western line. On 17 February 1959 the locomotive was converted to dual control and had an extension to the coal bunker, increasing its coal capacity.[1]

It was withdrawn in September 1972 and condemned on 4 January 1973. In 1974, the National Museum of Australia acquired the locomotive and placed it in the custody of the Australian Railway Historical Society's Canberra Railway Museum. It worked from Sydney to Goulburn in December 1974 before hauling a special charter to Canberra on 5 January 1975.[2]

It was restored to operational condition and operated heritage trains for the Canberra Railway Museum. 6029 became the only locomotive of its class to operate interstate when it visited Victoria in 1980, participating in a parallel run to Wangaratta with Victorian Railways locomotive K153. Heritage tours continued over several years until boiler problems caused the locomotive to be withdrawn from service in 1981.[1]

In 1994, a feasibility study determined what was needed to get 6029 back in steam. A replacement ex-NSWGR boiler was obtained from a Victorian sawmill. Restoration commenced in 2007, being completed in July 2014. After mainline trials, 6029 received official mainline accreditation in December 2014, with the first public trips taking place on 28 February 2015.[1][3][4][5]

On 23 February 2015, the locomotive was named City of Canberra by Shane Rattenbury, the Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly.[1][6] In 2017, it was put up for sale by the liquidator of the Canberra Railway Museum and purchased by Phillip Davis and David Sommerville.[7][8] Due to the locomotive no longer being based in Canberra, its City of Canberra nameplates were unofficially removed in late 2017, and given to two unnamed people. This was due to the locomotive not being based in Canberra and for historic reasons, AD60s were not allowed to travel though single line tunnels during their service and of which 3 exist between Bungendore and Queanbeyan on the Bombala railway line, the locomotive's nameplates (City of Canberra) were unofficially taken off in late 2017.

Importance

6029 is the only preserved AD60 in operating condition. It is also the only "Super-Garratt" in preservation, thanks to modifications made during the locomotive's service life. However, the second throttle handle has not been connected to the main throttle since its restoration, so the unnecessary second brake stand has been removed, which also increases space in the cab of the loco.

  • Front view
  • Rear view
  • Driving wheel
  • Lubricator
  • Connecting rod
  • Cab view

References
  1. 6029 Australian Steam
  2. "Garratt's Last Fling" The Railway Magazine issue 894 October 1975 page 493
  3. Massive restored steam train completes first test run in Canberra ABC News 25 July 2014
  4. Project 6029 Project 6029 blog
  5. Beyer-Garratt 6029 Inaugural Trip Canberra Railway Museum
  6. Whitford, Richard, ed. (2015), Federal City Express, Canberra: ARHS(ACT div), p. 1
  7. Canberra Railway Museum forced to sell off historic train carriages ABC Radio Canberra 13 July 2017
  8. 1953 Beyer Garrett AD60 Class 4-8-4 + 4-8-4 Articulated Steam Locomotive Slattery Auctions

Media related to AD6029 at Wikimedia Commons

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