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BB181/4 No.1072 ‘City
of Lithgow’ Zig Zag Railway |
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Happy days on the Zig Zag Railway as No.1072 (in lined
black livery) storms across No.1 Viaduct on 31 March 2007.
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Builder |
Walkers
Limited, Maryborough |
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Builder’s Number
& Year |
540 of 1956 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
4-6-2 |
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No. in class |
55 |
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The BB181/4
class 4-6-2 locomotives represent the final development of one of the
Queensland Government Railways' most successful locomotive types. The earlier
B181/4 class had been introduced in 1926 and grew to 83 units for
passenger and fast freight service. A further 55 units were constructed after
World War 2 incorporating improvements such as roller bearings and
anti-vacuum (snifting) valves, together with Australian designed SCOA-P
wheels which provided greater strength and lower weight. These improved
locomotives were known as the BB181/4 class, with 35 constructed
by Vulcan Foundry, Lancashire and 20 by Walkers Ltd, Maryborough. No.1072
was one of the final twenty BB181/4 Class 4-6-2 passenger
locomotives constructed by Walkers Ltd, Maryborough between 1955 and 1958. It
entered service with Queensland Railways in January 1956 and was retired in
March 1970 after a short working life of only 14 years. It seems
that No.1072 was retained by Queensland Railways for a few years after
withdrawal as it was available to be sold to the young Zig Zag Railway Co-op
Society around 1975. (It would be interesting to know what other
non-preserved QR locos remained in storage at that time.) No.1072 was duly
acquired by the Zig Zag Railway and delivered to Lithgow, NSW. Here it
received the name ‘City of Lithgow’ in recognition of support provided by
Lithgow Council, with impressive brass nameplate affixed above the driving
wheel splashers. A spare
BB181/4 boiler was also obtained at the same time and remains in
storage, together with a spare C17 boiler. No.1072
was restored to operation and entered Zig Zag Railway service around 1981 and
generally remained in service since, excluding periods of overhaul. At the Zig Zag Railway it
is commonly known as ‘The Bety’ as apparently this is its telegraphic code
for safe working & communication purposes. (There were times during the
1980's when a little excessive freeplay developed in No.1072's side rods and
the webmaster has fond memories of No.1072 clanking loudly up and down the
Zig Zag Railway, with no need for a bell or whistle to announce its
approach!) An
excellent reference for further information about the BB181/4
Class locomotives is ‘Locomotives in the Tropics, Volume 2, Queensland
Railways 1910 – 1958’ by John Armstrong. Update: As of
February 2024, No.1072 is stored at Bottom Points workshop awaiting overhaul.
Hopefully resources can be found to return this fine machine to operation soon. |
In this view No.1072 ‘City of Lithgow’ and train have just
arrived at Clarence station on 31 March 2007.
Shortly it would be uncoupled and run
around its train in preparation for another trip down to Bottom Points.
Polished metal boiler bands nicely compliment the lined
black livery.
1072 in attractive lined Brunswick Green livery awaiting departure at Top Points, circa 1999.
(Ahead is a newly installed signal gantry - sans signal arms - that was commissioned shortly after.)
1072 working upgrade across No.1 Viaduct with a set of
modern ex-Brisbane SX suburban carriages, circa 1999.
The SX stainless steel cars in Zig Zag Railway service were
later sold to Auckland, New Zealand for further public transport use.
References
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a |
Armstrong,
J. 'Locomotives in the Tropics, Volume 2, Queensland Railways 1910 – 1958’, published
by the Australian Railway Historical Society -Queensland Division, 1994. |
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b |
‘Locomotives
of Australia - 1985 to 2010’ (Fifth Edition), by Leon Oberg, published
2010 by Rosenberg Publishing Pty Ltd. |
Page updated: 27 February 2024
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