Dorrigo:Tourist:Trains:AJH@ajhurst.org

Number of Images on this Page = 15

The Dorrigo Steam Museum

There are now a number of tourist railways in New South Wales that warrant separate treatment and discussion from the main NSWGR thread, and hence this page has been added. There is no hard and fast boundary between including an image here, and including it in the relevant class or other classification, but where there is a strong link from some other context, I'll add a separate image (as for example, ZigZag-2 )

Stewart Hughes writes:

I went to Dorrigo last week and when I was photographing the line of steam locos visible in the field there belonging to the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum Ltd., a fellow called Keith Jones came over and started chatting to me. It turns out that he is the MD and he took me to see the bulk of the collection which is not visible from the road. He spent well over an hour taking me through their collection. And what an extraordinary collection they have - and you will see from the photos - it's HUGE!

As I gradually send you the photos I'll try to identify the locos. They currently have 61 locos, 280 carriages and wagons, 19 railmotors/trailers and a Silver City Comet set! They have just signed the contract with the SRA to take over the branch line of 34 kms, following years of bureaucracy, and have so far spent $2 million on their collection. Contrary to the rumours it is not all rotting away. To accommodate the collection they have had to dig some huge earthworks to create the new sidings at the same level as the existing track - you will see that from the photos.

I took both colour and B&W photos - although the late afternoon light was a bit of a problem.

Trevor Edmonds from the Dorrigo Steam Museum subsequently wrote to me with correct details on several of the captions, and I have added these below as appropriate. My thanks to Trevor for his information!

Image : dir=tourist/dorrigo/ page=index 122280 bytes, 800x600 pixels
Date : 1985-9, catalogued 26 Nov 2000
Photographer : Stewart Hughes
Medium : email digital image, image location LocoField
Description : Stewart writes:

Here's a shot of what can be seen from the road on the old "butter siding" in the Dorrigo Station goods yard. They used to ship butter, timber and cattle down this line - very little passenger traffic - a carriage was usually attached to a freight train.

This photo I took on my first visit in the late 1980s. The scene is exactly the same today. The locos are regularly coated to protect them and even have bags of silica inside their boilers to remove the damp. This shot was taken in the morning.

You're the expert but I can see 6039, 1904 and 1923. Would you believe they paid $5,000 for 6039 ?! They also own 6042 but I'm not sure where they keep it. 6039 is in working condition apparently. 5920 is out of sight behind the Garret. Not sure what the two in the foreground are - I think they are 2-6-0's so possibly 2408, 2414 or 2535 - you will know. There are some saddle tanks in there too - but they have so many.

That's the goods shed on the right with the old station building behind it.

The locos in the foreground are two RODs (Railways Operating Division), ex J & A Brown , numbers 1984 and 2003.

Trevor Edmonds adds:

The locos are on the Potato Siding. Butter was not a Dorrigo product. Several captions have this error (since corrected: ed) . The line of locomotives (from the closest) is J&A Brown 20 (ex ROD 1984), J&A Brown 24 (ex ROD2003), SMR 14, J&A Brown 3, J&A Brown 2, Electricity Comission 7 (ex 2408), 1923, 1904 5353, 5132 and 5069. Then a gap to Garratt 6039. 6042 is currently stored at Forbes. We hope to move it to Dorrigo next year (2002).

Yes, see also 6042 at Forbes

Image : dir=tourist/dorrigo/ page=index 112922 bytes, 800x600 pixels
Date : Oct 2000, catalogued 26 Nov 2000
Photographer : Stewart Hughes
Medium : email digital image, image location C-1
Description : Stewart writes:
I do a bit of painting etc., and have just reproduced your wonderful photo of Bunnerong Power Station: 2413-1 . When I figure out how to get it onto the web I'll email it to you - it's about 400x520mm. Here's a closer shot on the Butter Siding of the 19xx class (?)

But I'm pretty sure Stewart, that that is a 24 class, in fact the very 24 class you have in your painting. I think I can make out the dim vestiges of the numeral "6" on the side of the cab: see also 2413-2 .

Trevor Edmonds writes to correct me:

The number on the loco is 7, which was its Electricity Commission number. Prior to that it was 2408. The locos in front of it are 1923 and 1904.

This page is copyright, and maintained by John Hurst.

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