H 220 is a 3-cylinder express passenger locomotive designed by the Victorian Railways and built at Newport Workshops in 1941.  The Victorian Railways intended to build three H-class 4-8-4 locomotives for use between Melbourne and Ararat on the interstate route to South Australia, where heavy express trains were being hauled by double-headed A2-class 4-6-0's.  However wartime constraints prevented the second two locomotives being completed, together with the necessary bridge strengthening on the line to Ararat and weight restrictions dictated that H 220 could only be used on the North-East line to Albury / Wodonga.  When built it was the largest and heaviest locomotive in Australia; together with the severe route restrictions caused by its weight, it understandably earned the nickname "Heavy Harry".

H 220 was withdrawn in 1958 but fortunately was set aside and later placed on display at the Australian Railway Historical Society (Victoria Division) Railway Museum at North Williamstown.

Page updated:  24 November 2013