This long weekend, a vintage steam engine will be running trips around the Lithgow district. 

Beyer-Garratt locomotive 6029 was originally built in Manchester UK and first operated by the NSW Government Railways in 1954.

It’s now preserved and operated by the NSW Rail Museum and during the October long weekend it will be operating around the Lithgow district, providing short train rides for families and longer journeys for enthusiasts.

“It is a great way to experience the state’s railway heritage,” Transport Heritage NSW’s David Bennett said. 

“This is the biggest operating [steam locomotive] in the southern hemisphere.”

Saturday, September 29: Take a day trip from Lithgow to Kandos and enjoy the official ceremony and festivities at Kandos to celebrate the line's re-opening. Or, take one of two short shuttle rides from Kandos to Rylstone and return.

Sunday, September 30: Experience Australia's most powerful operating steam engine on a day-trip from Lithgow to Bathurst (and return), or one of two 1.5 hour steam train rides from Bathurst to Tarana and return.

Monday, October 1: Take a short ride behind Australia's most powerful operating steam engine on one of several trips from Lithgow to Wallerawang and return. Ideal for families and enthusiasts alike. 

Further information can be found at: www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/great-western-steam

With the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) needing additional motive power in the post-war period, orders were placed with Beyer, Peacock and Co in Manchester, UK for initially 25 (later increased to 50) freight locomotives of the patented ‘Beyer-Garratt’ articulated design.

This innovative design provided a powerful steam locomotive consisting of leading and trailing locomotive units pivoted either side of a common boiler. Articulation permitted Beyer-Garratt locomotives to traverse tight curves, while spreading the boiler weight across two engine units and provided a lower axle load and thus permitting use on secondary/lightly-laid routes.

As the boiler was slung in a frame between the two articulated locomotive units, a more efficient boiler design was possible because the firebox depth and boiler diameter was not restricted by the driving wheels or other aspects of a conventional steam locomotive frame.

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​With increasing dieselisation in the mid-1950s, the NSWGR attempted to cancel part of the order for 50 Garratts, but negotiations resulted in 42 Garratts being delivered, five Garratts in ‘knocked down’ condition to be used as ‘spares’, with the last three on the order being cancelled. In service, the engines were numbered 6001–6042.

Upon withdrawal from the NSWGR in the early 1970s, 6029 was reserved by the Federal Government as an exhibit for the (then proposed) National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

It was placed in the care of the Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division) in the interim and was active on rail tours around Canberra from the mid- 1970s. Unfortunately heavy maintenance issues caught up with 6029 and she was withdrawn from rail tour duty in 1981 due to deteriorating boiler condition; apparently the firebox tubeplate required replacement.

A new initiative to restore 6029 to operation began in late 2007 and an appeal for funds opened. A number of 60 class boilers had been in industrial use as stationary steam plant; one of these had been obtained from a Victorian sawmill by the ARHS (ACT Division) as a future swap for 6029’s expired boiler.

ARHS volunteers made steady progress with the dismantling and overhaul of 6029 and in 2008, the replacement boiler passed hydrostatic testing.

Restoration came to completion in December 2014 with the reboilered 6029 receiving authorisation for main line use.

Today, Beyer-Garratt locomotive 6029 is owned by a private syndicate and operates on a storage and use agreement with Transport Heritage NSW for use by the NSW Rail Museum.