GOULBURN accommodation was at a premium on Friday night when swarms of railway enthusiasts, many from interstate, descended on the city for the inaugural run of the 264-tonne Garratt steam locomotive No. 6029.
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But for locals, Alex and Anne Fry, the arrival of the big engine in Goulburn was their opportunity of a lifetime.
As avid rail enthusiasts and neighbours of the CF Rail Services’ busy workshop where the engine spent the night, they were invited to ride into the complex on the footplate as guests of the workshop’s manager Mick Cooper and the chairman of the locomotive’s restoration committee and general manager of the Canberra Rail Museum, Alan Gardner.
The following morning saw the giant engine haul a packed passenger train from Goulburn to Thirlmere’s Trainworks railway museum, thousands lining up at vantage points throughout the route to glimpse and photograph the locomotive’s passing.
Forty-two British-built 60-class Garratts were commissioned by the NSW Railways between 1952-1957.
Just four remain, No. 6029 being the only one operational and as such, the largest working steam locomotive in the Southern Hemisphere. It is expected to make several trips through Goulburn in coming months with one trip being planned for Victoria.
