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John Bull Prototype Sydney Steam Tram |
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‘John Bull’ displayed at Crich Tramway Museum on 16 June 2007.
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Builder |
Manchester, UK |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
2464 of 1885 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-0VB |
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This
0-4-0VB (vertical boiler) steam tram ‘John Bull’ has an interesting history,
having been imported by NSW Government Tramways in 1885 as a trial unit for
comparison against the competing Baldwin steam tram design. It was built by
the well-regarded UK company Beyer Peacock & Co with typical steam tram
features such as enclosed wheels. John Bull has two vertical cylinders which
drive the wheels via a reduction gear, whereas the Baldwin steam trams used
conventional horizontal cylinders driving directly onto the wheels via
connecting and side rods. John Bull was also fitted with an innovative ‘Wilkinson's
Patent Exhaust Superheater’ apparatus which was apparently designed to reduce
smoke emissions - a significant issue for steam trams! One can imagine that
exhaust smoke would have been very unpleasant for passengers as a steam tram
hauled their trailer cars down city streets, especially for passengers on the
open top deck of double-deck trailers. Despite the innovations of the Beyer Peacock steam tram, the Baldwin design apparently prevailed and the NSW Government Tramways subsequently ordered many Baldwin steam trams (including preserved examples 28A, 100 and 103A). John Bull is thought to have been used on certain colliery and railway construction jobs in the Illawarra between 1887 and 1888 prior to returning to the UK in 1889 where it become Beyer Peacock & Co. works shunter No.2. John
Bull was withdrawn from Beyer Peacock service in 1959 and repaired by the company
before being transferred the National Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire in
1962. John Bull can still be seen at Crich Tramway Museum where I understand it had been maintained
in working condition and occasionally used within the Crich Tramway Village
until 1987 or 1988, since when it has been displayed as a static exhibit. My sincere
thanks to my friend Chris Thompson for contributing the photos on this page,
following his visit to Crich on 16 June 2007. |
This information panel provides additional history and
technical detail for this interesting steam tram.
The Beyer Peacock & Co builder's plate, including
reference to Wilkinson’s Patent.
References
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a |
McCarthy,
K. 'Gazetteer of Industrial Steam Locomotives, Illawarra District NSW', prepared by K. McCarthy for
the Illawarra Environmental Heritage Committee. Published
by the Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division) December 1983. |
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b |
Information
board displayed alongside ‘John Bull’ at Crich. |
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c |
Information
provided by A. Bailey via email, 1 July 2020 |
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Page updated: 6 July 2020
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