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Mount
Lyell No.2 (Abt
No.2) West Coast Wilderness Railway |
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Mount Lyell No.2 was normally displayed within the TTM’s
replica roundhouse but is seen here positioned outside during shunting
operations.
This photo was kindly contributed by Stuart Dix.
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Builder |
Dubs
& Co, Glasgow |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
3594 of 1898 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-2RT |
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Mount Lyell No.2 (Abt No.2) was built by Dubs & Co, Glasgow in 1898 for use on the Abt-rack railway linking the rich mining town of Queenstown with the port of Strahan. Eventually 5 of these Abt 0-4-2RT locomotives were purchased for use on the rack-railway section of the route, together with several conventional steam locomotives including three chunky Baldwin 0-6-0T engines and - much later - two third-hand New Zealand Railways Wf-class 2-6-4T locos. Abt No.2
was donated to the Tasmanian Transport Museum (TTM) by the Mt Lyell Mining
& Railway Company after closure of their line in 1963 and was normally
displayed within the TTM’s replica roundhouse at Glenorchy, Hobart. Abt
No.2's curatorial value was enhanced following the rebuilding of surviving
sister locomotives Abt No.1, No.3 & No.5 for operation on the West Coast
Wilderness Railway, as it was the only survivor which remained exactly ‘as
withdrawn’ in design and construction. A full
history of the Abt tank locomotives and Abt No.2 is provided in the exhibit
guidebook ‘Locomotives of the Tasmanian Transport Museum’. (The webmaster
considers the Tasmanian Transport Museum as a fine museum with a variety of
well restored railway, tramway and road exhibits, and thoroughly recommends a
visit!) Lou Rae has
written several excellent books on the railways of Tasmania's West Coast,
including ‘The Abt Railway & Railways of the Lyell region’ which
provides a full account of the building and operations of the Mt Lyell Mining
& Railway Company, together with competing interests. Update – September 2026: Abt No.2 has now rejoined her sisters on the West Coast Wilderness Railway
at Queenstown, having been purchased from the Tasmanian Transport Museum in Glenorchy
in 2019 and rebuilt by The Engineering Company at Wynyard, Tasmania.
Apparently Abt No.2 received a new boiler and extensive overhaul during these
works, arriving at Queenstown in October 2023 and subsequently returning to
traffic after a period of fettling and commissioning. Facebook photos show Abt No.2 now wears an attractive
lined maroon livery, rather than the authentic lined green livery.
Contributor Tristan Verhoeff has kindly provided (below) some recent photos
of Abt No.2 in service on the West Coast Wilderness Railway; the lined maroon
livery complements both the passenger coaches and the loco’s copper & brasswork. |
Mount Lyell Abt No.2 sporting its attractive (if
unauthentic!) lined maroon livery.
Photo contributed by Tristan Verhoeff and dated 27 June
2026.
A second view of Mount Lyell Abt No.2 in lined maroon
livery running on the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Photo contributed by Tristan Verhoeff and dated 27 June
2026.
Abt No.2’s old boiler has been plinthed at Rinadeena
station, where it is displayed with an interpretation board.
This old rivetted boiler was replaced
during No.2’s recent return to service circa 2000.
Photo contributed by Tristan Verhoeff and dated 27 June
2026.
References
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a |
L. Rae, 'The Abt Railway & Railways of the Lyell
region', published by Lou
Rae, PO Box 508, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7006. |
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b |
Dix, A.,
Beck, D., and Dix M. 'Locomotives
of the Tasmanian Transport Museum Glenorchy
Tasmania', published by the Tasmanian
Transport Museum Society, October 1991. |
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c |
L. Oberg,
'Locomotives of Australia', published
by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, Brookvale NSW. 1982 reprint. |
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d |
West Coast
Wilderness Railway website, Accessed
12/8/2024. |
Page updated: 17 September 2026
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