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Coal
There are extensive coalfields in northern New South Wales and in 1975 steam was still in charge on a couple of associated railway systems operated by Coal & Allied Industries. These were the former J & A Brown line between Hexham and Stockrington No.2 mine, about six miles long, and the South Maitland Railway with a rather more extensive system.
Most, possibly all, of the locos I saw in 1975 have since been preserved.
Newcastle
Three retired coalfield locos were present at Broadmeadow,Newcastle depot of the New South Wales Government Railways in May 1975.
0-6-4T 5 started life on the Mersey Railway, Liverpool, England before emigrating to Australia when that railway was electrified. Built in 1885 by Beyer, Peacock, it worked on the coal railways of J & A Brown. Behind it is a venerable Kitson 0-6-0ST dating from the 1870s.
Another ex-J & A Brown loco was 2-8-0 24 built by the Great Central Railway in England in 1918 for the Railway Operating Department. After war hostilities ceased, some of the type were sold to J & A Brown for hauling coal.
At Sandgate, Hexham, was no. 3, another Kitson 0-6-0ST of 1878 and an Avonside Engine Co 0-6-0ST, probably 1916 of 1922, both for preservation.
Richmond Vale Railway
The former J & A Brown line from Hexham to Stockrington was still in operation in May 1975. At Hexham I found this fine Kitson 2-8-2T, 10 'Richmond Main', engaged on shunting wooden bodied wagons which were used extensively on the system.
The spec card from Kitson shows the loco's vital statistics. Three of this type were supplied to J & A Brown - 9 in 1908, 10 in 1911 and 11 - the latter had been scrapped in 1966.
No. 10 looked the same in 1975 as it did in 1911, maybe a tribute to the original design.
10 performs some vigorous shunting on Saturday afternoon, 10 May 1975.
Sister loco 9 'Pelaw Main' was spare. There were also two South Maitland Beyer Peacock 2-8-2Ts for line work.
South Maitland Railway 2-8-2Ts, 17, pictured, and 23 were at Hexham, drafted in to replace the ROD 2-8-0s, the last of which had worked until 1973.
An ex-NSWGR 4-6-4T, 3013, was also present, not in use, but may have been workable.
Above: The sun sets on ROD 2-8-0s 20 and 21 put out to grass at Hexham, alongside a line of vintage wooden bodied wagons.
Right: One of the Beyer, Peacock 2-8-2Ts earning a living on the Hexham - Stockrington line.
The scene at Stockrington No. 2 mine, terminus of the system in 1975.
History of the J &A Brown system can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Vale_railway_line#No._9_Pelaw_Main,_No._10_Richmond_Main_&_No._11_Hexham
South Maitland Railway
A few scenes below on the South Maitland Railway where the Beyer Peacock 2-8-2Ts reigned supreme. The railway had stations from its days as a common carrier with passenger services, signal boxes, semaphore signals, double track and much more. In 1975, there were still wooden hopper wagons, though larger steel bodied ones had appeared as seen in a couple of pictures.
No. 27 recently ex-works makes a superb sight in the sun. The SMR had the resources to carry out heavy overhauls on its locos.
Steam ran into the 1980s when the large capacity New South Wales Government Railway steel hoppers were worked by doubleheaded 2-8-2Ts.
Also in Newcastle at Commonwealth Steel, Waratah, I took a picture from outside the fence of this H K Porter 0-4-0T of 1915 which was BHP Newcastle 4. In addition there was a Barclay 0-4-0ST 'Juno' which looked well-kept and was probably spare to a diesel. Both locos were subsequently preserved.
Cement
One Saturday morning in April 1975 I boarded the 'Central West Express' at Sydney Central heading for Lithgow and possible working industrial steam.
It was a relatively chilly morning and before the train left at 8am, one of the station staff dragged a lead footwarmer into my compartment! And, yes, it was warm.
Upon arrival at Lithgow at 10.36am, I changed onto the 10.51 service for Mudgee for the short journey to Portland, due at 11.17am. From the station, I walked to the Commonwealth Portland Cement Co factory, getting there about midday.
Alas, too late to see the loco working, but at least it was in steam. The loco was outside cylinder 0-6-0T Andrew Barclay 1470 of 1916 in green livery.
It had that morning worked five trips to Portland station with its cement wagons. I was shown AB 1470's boiler certificate which was valid for a year from 17 September 1974.
I was allowed to wander round which was much appreciated by me.
Under repair was No.3 Andrew Barclay 1234 of 1911, also green, but smaller than AB 1470. One tank and the cab had been removed and new copper firebox stays had been fitted.
In the factory under cover was a third loco, ex NSW Government Railways 2-6-2ST 2605, Dubs 2794 of 1892. This was the spare loco.
Steam working here lasted until 1983 and all three locos were subsequently preserved.
Four views above showing AB1470 in the loco shed, having just finished work on a Saturday morning.
Ex NSWGR 2-6-2ST 2605, opposite, still saw use, being spare engine.
At Eskbank House, Lithgow, was this Manning, Wardle 0-4-0ST 1802 of 1912 which originally shunted at a local ironworks. When this closed many years ago , it went elsewhere, working for Australian Iron & Steel Co.
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