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B13 No.161 A fascinating survivor on the Normanton-Croydon Railway |
No.161 was built in 1885 for the Queensland Railways, and was transferred to the isolated Normanton - Croydon Railway in 1894/5. It is an example of the long-wheelbase B13 design, and the smokebox saddle suggests it may have been last fitted with a high-pitched boiler.
No.161's original boiler was transferred to the Croydon pump where it remains derelict to this day, although the firebox has been scrapped. A second boiler was sold into the Stanhills tin field (near Croydon) in 1926 and the boiler from No. 234 substituted. This third boiler was later jacked out of the locomotive and taken to Croydon. The frames, ashpan, wheel and tender remained at Normanton railway station for many years. (35)
This photo is kindly provided by Murray Lawrence and shows the remains on No.161 at Normanton in January 1993.
No.161 has now been reunited with its original low-pitch boiler, painted in Gulflander livery and placed on display at the front of the Normanton Station.
No.161 displayed at Normanton Station - 1 September 2008. Photo courtesy of Dan Van Scherpenseel.