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2029 NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere |
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2029 displayed at Thirlmere on 6 March 2011.
The high quality of restoration is evident and the loco had
also been recently cleaned.
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Builder |
NSW Railways, Eveleigh Works |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
28 of 1911 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
2-6-4T |
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The Z-20
class originated in 1889 with 12 examples of 2-6-4T locomotives built by
Beyer Peacock & Co as a tank-engine version of the successful A(93) class
0-6-0 tender design and were originally known as the E(10) class. These were followed
by 14 examples converted from A(93) class 0-6-0 locomotives, becoming the A/E
class, and complemented by 7 further examples built new by the NSW Railways
including preserved example 2029. The 33 locomotives were grouped as the Z-20
class at the 1924 renumbering. The class
proved useful on developmental lines across the NSW Government Railways network,
where their small driving wheels augmented by leading and trailing wheel
provided good guidance and traction on steep, curvaceous and lightly-laid
routes. The class were well-suited to bi-directional running, hence were
especially useful on shorter lines with no turning facilities at the terminus.
Ron Preston's classic book ‘Tender into Tank’ provides an excellent illustrated
overview of Z-20 class history and operations on lines such as the branches
to Castle Hill, Carlingford, Morpeth, Kurrajong and Camden. The class were
also favoured by industrial users with many ex-NSWGR locos ending their
careers at various colliery, sand & gravel, steelworks and other enterprises,
but alas none of those survived. 2029 is now the last survivor of this
fascinating class, having been retained for the NSWRTM (now NSW Rail Museum)
collection. A thorough
static restoration of this locomotive was undertaken by NSWRTM volunteers
during the 1980's and 90's, resulting in a very high standard of presentation
and authenticity. The magnificently restored 2029 is now a prime exhibit in
the display hall at Trainworks, Thirlmere. The
following YouTube item from BelbinVideo provides magnificent colour footage
of Z-20 class locos working on the 1:19 grade of Kenny Hill on the former
Camden Tramway, including 2029 in company with various sisters, some C(30)
class 4-6-4T locos and even an ancient 41-class diesel! ‘Historic
16mm film of the Camden Line, shot in the 1950s.’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFPEUfe8Yr4) |
Detail of 2029's tank side, showing the builder's plate. 6 March 2011.
This old, scanned print from 1983 shows a rather weathered 2029 at Thirlmere prior to its restoration.
References
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a |
‘A Compendium
of New South Wales Steam Locomotives’ compiled
by Alex Grunbach, published
by the Australian Railway Historical Society, New South
Wales Division, 1989. |
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b |
‘Steam
Locomotive Data’ July 1974 edition, compiled
by J. H. Forsyth for the Public
Transport Commission of NSW. |
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Page updated: 16 June 2025
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