In excess of 50 years after the famous Cootamundra Tour in 1970, I believed it a superior time to replicate on my activities with 3827, considered by a lot of to be the ideal undertaking and using 38 of all. I was extremely lucky to experience in the cab of the loco on the Newcastle Flyer, and expertise a couple of quite fast runs guiding this loco. Her lifetime ended prematurely, as she was confined to the scrappers torch in April 1970, whilst a sister loco, 3820, which did not conduct as properly, survives to this day as a static exhibit.
Information and facts for this short article is compiled from different resources, specially the collection of the late John Lacey, who remaining me his timing books, my very own records, details from Robert Wilson, and some others. Back in the 1960’s we had been a shut network of buddies, all devoted to recording the last times of steam in NSW.
I had heard from quite a few resources that 3827 was sleek using on the tracks, specially at velocity. The nature of a steam loco with the 6 driving wheels, intended that balancing the wheels was vital to the comfort of the crew, as was the laying of keep track of. The 36 course or “Pigs” had been notorious for tough using at velocity, while 3616 with its Geisel injector, was an exception. Of the 38s that I rode in, 3810 stands out in that division It was quite rough at speed, and much more than a small terrifying!
Con Cardew
In the course of the 1960s, I had travelled driving 3827 on the Newcastle Flyer on numerous events. A person time I caught the mid-working day Flyer from Gosford to Wyong and Mr Con Cardew hopped in the cab. I feel he seriously preferred this motor for its steaming energy. We driven along from Ourimbah to Tuggerah at a continuous 75 mph, one of my improved operates above this segment. At Wyong I introduced myself. His comment, “if you experienced instructed me you had been timing the operate, I would have long gone a lot quicker.”Mr Cardew was assistant main mechanical engineer, and would frequently look when 3827 was rostered to haul the Flyer.
My mates and I experienced a individual interest in recording the timings of trains, influenced by the late O.S. Nock of the Uk. With me it became somewhat of an obsession. I would journey in these express trains as usually as I could, minimal by my pocket dollars. To journey the Newcastle Flyer you had to shell out 30c to book a seat.
The Werris Creek Day Tour
The very first of my quickly operates with 3827 was in 1969 on the Werris Creek day tour. This was on February 22, 1969 a day following my birthday. This was the initially of a selection of outings to see just how far you could vacation in a working day from Sydney. On this event 3828 hauled the train from Sydney to Broadmeadow, maintaining Newcastle Flyer occasions with a 2 hour 21 minute operate including stops at Strathfield and Hornsby to decide on up travellers. 3813 took around for the run to Werris Creek, the load currently being a MCS additionally NCR set, all 6 wheel bogie vehicles. Right after leaving Sydney at 6.30 am, the coach achieved Werris Creek at 2.56.
3813 was serviced and turned though we headed out to Gap Crossover, then at 4:16, we headed south. It was a continual operate to Broadmeadow, attained at 9.20 pm. 3827 changed 3813 for the operate dwelling to Sydney with driver, Bob Salter at the throttle. I knew Bob from some of the Flyer rides I had timed. He also drove 3801 on the Flyer Centenary in May well 1969 from Newcastle to Sydney. The two trains had been assisted from Gosford to Cowan by a 46 class electrical. He was one of Broadmeadow’s elite motorists.
Following a slow run to Morisset attained at 10:04, he opened the 38 up for the operate to Gosford. We stopped at Gosford 25 minutes and 12 seconds right after passing Morisset, an average pace of in excess of 62 mph, just 6 seconds slower than the famed 1964 pace run which went sailing straight through Gosford.
She attained 80 mph among Warnervale and Wyong building it a person of the quickest operates I ever expert powering steam
Newcastle Flyer
My subsequent encounter with 3827 was on the 13th of November, 1969. On the event it was the evening flyer working late out of Gosford. Mr Richardson was the driver, John Lacey was timing and I was in the cab! What a thrill. Sailing via the night air in a 38 at speed, we managed the start to prevent journey to Morisset in 27 minutes 31 seconds, at one particular phase exceed a 60 mile an typical from a standing commence, anything which I only witnessed a hand whole of moments. We topped Warnervale lender, a 1 in 66 at 60 mph, to demonstrate the electric power of the 38, and top speed was 75 mph, just in advance of Warnervale.
What I can inform you is that a 38 at speed gobbles up a whole lot of coal and h2o and the lousy fireman labored definitely challenging to keep the electric power to climb those hills at speed. I recall the motor functioning sleek as silk, as I sat in the inspectors seat most of the way. As it turned out this was my only cab journey on the flyer, but a quite excellent one! I alighted a Morisset, I feel for a connection again home. This was in the center of my last Large Faculty Examinations, andonly a thirty day period following the final steam prepare ran from Sydney heading south. I am shocked I passed anything, supplied between tests I was driving trains up and down the small north!
Cootamundra In A Day.
My ultimate encounter with 3827 was right after it was returned to Sydney at the conclusion of 1969. The Cootamundra Day Trip on January 17th 1970 is potentially the most talked about run of all time. With a 6.26 am departure and the very same consist as the Werris Creek tour, we reached Goulburn 3 hrs 15 minutes afterwards, a leisurely stroll at Intercapital Daylight periods.
The loco was despatched to the depot for servicing, ensuing in an 18 moment late departure from Goulburn with inspector Stuart Bates on board, ready to give everyone a thrill. Apparently the lubricator experienced a fractured url, and just after 80 mph throughout the Bredalbine Plains all was likely effectively. Immediately after a photo halt previous Jerriwa, 3827 opened up for the downhill run into Yass Junction. By milepost 193 ½ we strike 80 mph, and from milepost 194 ¼ to 196, we averaged 86.3 mph with a prime speed of 90 mph.
This was the fastest operate I ever had at the rear of steam in NSW, and the moment once more 3827, on its last legs, was in charge.
The ARHS Bulletin at the time documents that out of Picton 3827 on that tour manufactured 2560 hp, according to them the ideal ever by a 38 on tour.
As you can see, there is authentic justification for 3827 being thought of legendary. There are various particular encounters mentioned here to again it up!
As for the stories of 100 mph jogging, I am very sceptical. The 38 only has small driving wheels in contrast to the 100 mph as well as locos of Europe and the US, having said that 90 MPH is not undesirable for those people very little wheels driven by only 2 cylinders. In between my friends, we recorded perfectly over 200 journeys, most never exceeded 75 mph.
In 1971 it was made a decision to repeat the Cootamundra working day excursion, this time with recently retired 3820, earmarked for preservation. It did not match the general performance of 3820, whilst the crew experimented with to fly down the hill into Cootamundra. Following we read a roar from the throttle opening, all over again with Mr Bates in demand, it promptly approached 80 mph. As we rounded a curve I observed flames coming from the connecting rods, not a superior indicator! The throttle was promptly lower off and we drifted into Cootamundra, the place the crews attempted to manufacture a new white metal bearing.
Postscript.
This received us back up the hill, including a stunning photo prevent, but shortly immediately after she was retired and a 44 class hauled us back again to Sydney. We will by no means see these visits yet again, but isn’t that what legends are all about?