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Wallaby Gatekeeper for the ILRM&S, Albion Park |
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Wallaby displayed under
a weather roof at the entrance to the ILRM&S at Albion Park, seen on 3 May
2015.
The blue livery is probably not original, but rather
inspired by a certain famous tank engine.
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Builder |
Hawthorn Leslie & Co, Newcastle upon Tyne |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
2988
of 1913 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-0ST |
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“Wallaby”
appears to be a standard industrial locomotive design from Newcastle upon
Tyne builder Hawthorn Leslie & Co, with several similar machines preserved
in the United Kingdom. It was
purchased new by C. & G. Hoskins for their Ironworks at Lithgow, later
moving to the Port Kembla steelworks of Australian Iron & Steel
(AI&S) where it worked with a varied fleet of industrial locomotives
shuffling around the steelworks and NSWGR exchange sidings. Wallaby
was withdrawn from AIS service in 1963 and plinthed at the AIS Visitor's Centre,
Coniston, together with locomotives Burra, 2535 and Badger. The steam locomotives exhibits at the
visitor’s centre were later disposed of by AIS, presumably due to maintenance
costs, with Wallaby donated to the nearby Illawarra Light Railway Museum
& Society in 1979. Wallaby was
placed as gatekeeper at the Albion Park museum entrance. A weather roof was later added, which has
provided good protection from the elements. Wallaby
appears to be well cared for by volunteers at the Illawarra Light
Railway Museum & Society and I have always found her to be well
presented. In more recent years
Wallaby’s lined maroon livery (which I believe was authentic to the original)
has been replaced by blue livery, presumably based on “Thomas the Tank Engine”. An
information board displayed alongside Wallaby (as reproduced in a photo
below) provides further information and technical details for this interesting
industrial locomotive. A very large
and diverse range of steam locomotives once served the various industrial
operations situated in the Illawarra; each of these have been documented in
Ken McCarthy’s book “'Gazetteer of Industrial Steam
Locomotives, Illawarra District NSW'” which makes for interesting reading for ferroequinologists. |
A second view of Wallaby
at Albion Park on 3 May 2015.
The distinctive “AIS” circular plate can be seen attached
to the cabside.
This information board is displayed alongside Wallaby. 3 May 2015.
An earlier visit to Albion Park on 13 October 2002 found Wallaby wearing lined maroon livery.
References
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a |
K.
McCarthy "Guide to the Main Exhibits - Illawarra Light Railway Museum
Society",
published 1992. |
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b |
Information board (photographed above) displayed with Wallaby. |
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c |
McCarthy, K. 'Gazetteer of
Industrial Steam Locomotives, Illawarra District NSW', prepared by
Ken McCarthy for the Illawarra Environmental Heritage Committee. Published by the Australian Railway Historical Society
(NSW Division) December 1983. |
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d |
Webmaster's
observation or comment |
Page updated: 25 May 2015
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