Alison

Richmond Vale Railway Museum

This photo dates from the webmaster’s visit to the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on 20 May 2023.

Alison had recently been repainted by RVRM volunteers and is shown displayed within the Richmond Main Colliery grounds.

The magnificent old mine management building is prominent in the background, and hosted a model train display that day.

Builder	Andrew Barclay, Sons & Co, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Builder’s Number & Year	1738 of 1922
Wheel Arrangement	0-4-0ST

‘Alison’ is a standard 16” cylinder shunting locomotive supplied by the well-known Scottish builders Andrew Barclay, Sons & Co. Together with sister b/n 1739 it was built to stock, with completion dates recorded as 21 December 1922. The pair were initially supplied to the Consolidated Construction Co Ltd, London and sent for building work at the Clydesdale Steelworks, Mossend, Scotland, where they were known as No.5 (b/n 1738) and No.6 (b/n 1739). After about one year of work the pair returned to Andrew Barclay and refurbished for resale.

Alison was purchased second-hand but virtually new by Goninan & Company, Newcastle, NSW, and then resold to the operators of Cessnock No.1 Colliery at Kalingo. Alison changed hands again in 1933 when sold to John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd (commonly known as Lysaght’s) for shunting duties at their steel rolling mills, initially in Newcastle and later their Port Kembla operations.

Following retirement, Alison was donated in 1972 to the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM) together with fellow Lysaghts shunter ‘Kathleen’. It seems the two locos were cosmetically restored around that time, as the webmaster remembers them both resplendent in fresh lined green liveries. Both were placed on display among the museum collection within the Enfield roundhouse.

Alas the Enfield roundhouses were demolished in 1975 on the excuse that the site was needed for a container terminal. Together with other NSWRTM exhibits, Alison moved to the new museum site at Thirlmere site and was placed on open-air display. Alas the attractive lined green livery deteriorated rapidly due to exposure to the elements and was rather rust streaked by 1983, when she was shunted out of public view onto the long-term storage sidings.

After 26 years of storage at Thirlmere, Alison moved to the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on 9 November 2009 and placed on display within the grounds at Richmond Main Colliery. Here, cosmetic repainting was commenced by museum volunteers.

Against the odds, Alison’s sister (b/n 1739) has also survived, becoming ‘Juno’ which is stored among the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum collection.

Update – May 2023:

A visit to the at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on 20 May 2023 found Alison had received a full repaint, which vastly improved her looks! I’ve added some photos from that visit on this page. Some of the Alison’s brasswork and other fittings were yet to be reattached, such as the nameplate, window frames, generator and headlight. The connecting and side rods had been stored in the cab for many years and I’m sure they are still around, and hopefully will one day be refitted.

A second view of Alison at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on 20 May 2023.

An earlier visit to the Richmond Vale Railway Museum found Alison in the early stages of repainting.

The brass safety valve bonnet is highlighted in this view.

Alison newly arrived at the Richmond Vale Railway and placed in the museum grounds, as seen on 18 April 2010.

The livery of lined green apple green with red headstocks, running boards and wheels was very worn by the time of this photo.

Alison has since been cosmetically restored by Richmond Vale Railway volunteers.

An earlier photo of Alison hiding from public view on the long-term storage sidings at Thirlmere on 17 March 2003.

It seems someone has liberated one of the handsome tapered buffers.

At this stage, various components such as the side rods were stored within the cab.

A view of the other side of Alison on long-term storage sidings at Thirlmere, dated 6 March 2005.

If I remember correctly, rock-throwers had made short work of any glass shortly after its move to the storage sidings in 1983.

The faded lined apple green livery is still visible, even if heavily weathered.

References

a	Kramer, J. 'The Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum - an Illustrated Guide', published by the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum, 1987.
b	Wikipedia page for Andrew Barclay, Sons & Co, retrieved 2 March 2021
c	L. Oberg, 'Locomotives of Australia', published by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, Brookvale NSW. 1982 reprint.
d	Eardley, G. H. 'Locomotives: A Guide - Enfield Railway Museum', published by the NSWRTM, 1973.
e	Email from J. Mullier received on 7 October 2010

Page updated: 20 August 2026

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