Australia's famous 3801 steam locomotive [AH004]

A brief history of Australia's famous steam locomotive the 3801, and the 38 class, along with plenty of shots of her in action.
Vision used is creative commons or under fair use provisions.

[@MoreliaAustralia]

It's wonderful the 3801 is being cared for and appreciated. I used to watch the restored steam trains stop for water near Waterfall Station south of Sydney.

[@jameselliott1461]

Good to see this loco still running. Worked on her as a Fitter at BMD Loco.

[@Cleveland.Ironman]

Greetings from America. Thank you for posting these videos. That is one magnificently lovely streamlined locomotive!

[@aushistory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WBDE]

I was honored to have been given a cab ride on 3801 on it's 'Long Lunch' train when I visited Sydney to watch my wife compete as a member of the United States Equestrian Team at the 2000 Sydney Games. When hand-firing a steam locomotive in the U.S. I had always fired from right to left and it seemed that it would be difficult to fire from left to right as on 3801. It was not only the locomotive but also the passenger cars that were presented and operated in immaculate condition. I was very impressed by all of the train crew that day and for their gracious treatment of me and my mother-in-law.

[@GIguy]

Being born in 1968, I have never been on a steam train, only diesel or electric, but there’s somethings so nostalgic and elegant from that time period that I just love so much, yet I cannot explain why. I live in Toronto, Canada, I don’t even think we have steam trains in the province, I think they have them in British Columbia, but that’s a five hour flight away, I wish they would rekindle, at least a few of those trains and take a few nostalgic runs from here to Montreal to Ottawa and back, a very calming run for my neighbourhood so to speak. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I swear to God, I was a steam train engineer, because I am absolutely fascinated by everything to do with them, the only ones we have left don’t work, and they’re just there for show, but the moment I stepped into the cab, I knew what every lever was, for before they even told me, it was surreal to say the least. Anybody else out there? Wish they would bring steam trains back? I know they’re not as efficient or powerful as most diesel or electric, but that takes away none of the wonder and brilliance. Actually, a few steam trains, especially the one called big boy in the states is actually much more powerful than most modern trains, the thing is absolutely enormous, but come hell, or Highwater, before I die, I will ride on a steam train, and I will stand with the engineers and rekindle memories that I cannot explain.

[@davidhynd4435]

I've travelled behind the 3801. In the early 90s my wife and I did a day trip from Central Station (I think that's where it left from) down through the Southern Highlands and back to Sydney. I grew up in Cessnock (Hunter Valley) - a coal mining town - and the coal was still being hauled by steam locomotives well into the 70s or possibly early 80s, so travelling behind the 3801 was a nostalgia thing as well. I learned fairly quickly on that day trip that if you lean out of a window when the train is pulling hard you get a face full of soot. A lot of fun all the same. Thanks for the video.

[@Tiger351]

If I remember correctly S.M.R were still hauling coal by steam locos until late '84, I can still remember when the coal washery was still at Neath and the spur line for it crossed the road near the pub.

[@rodorodo2787]

G'day Mate!! Amazing footage... This steam loco made the crossing over the Sydney Harbour Bridge september last year with an electric loco at the rear of the train!! All the best next January 26th!! Thanks for posting this video...Regards from Bs. As. Argentina

[@terryhopkins2750]

Fabulous VLOG. Thank you for detailed information. The 3801 brings tears to my eyes. It's a reminder that this state had an incredible industrial base That has disappeared to our near sighted leaders. A repeat of the thirties. Please can we build trains here. The V-Sets are superb and there are few who want to see them go. Except for the dismal accommodation for the disabled, they are the quietest and most comfortable trains on our rails.

[@spagelsmegal]

I have the honor of riding on one of her last trips before her overhaul I will never forget looking back and seeing her sitting in the station at night

[@nannettesidebottom5960]

Brings tears to my eyes, it's so beautiful.

[@MrHelpy34]

My great grandpa built 3801 in Clyde engineering

[@aushistory]

That is such a great connection to a beautiful train, thanks for sharing.

[@repique10]

And I was the last trimmer to trim the seats that are still in the cab today.

[@v8pilot]

I have an Australian O-scale kit for a streamlined 38 class. It would make a super model if I ever found the time to build it.

[@nmccw3245]

She’s a great looking steamliner. 👍🏻

[@praeamble]

I can't tell whether I prefer the streamlined or non-streamlined version more, they're both very appealing in their own way :)

[@aushistory]

Re the 1974 steam ban in NSW... Phillip Shirley, the then C.E.O of the newly formed Public Transport Commission", from England who hated steam trains. He ordered a stop to all steam operations on NSW govt tracks, stating "There is no sense in prolonging the past". Also, , during an inspection of Eveleigh had seen 3813 in pieces being overhauled, partly funded by preservation funds, and ordered it to be immediately sent to AG Simms the scrap merchants at Mascot, where it went and in pieces. Only 11th-hour negotiations saved the bits from total destruction, but 50 years later, it is still in bits.

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

3813 is at Dorrigo and will never be assembled even as a static exhibit It is still in pieces a d I suspect no one will be able to save it PITY

[@gibbsey9579]

@@michaelnaisbitt7926 Maybe when Keith Jones kicks the bucket there will be a clearing auction.

[@Matty12787]

I was lucky to see her a fair few times at Steamfest in Maitland NSW. Beautiful engine!

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

You forgot to mention that 3801 also one time even met Flying Scotsman in 1989

[@Tiger351]

My paternal grandfather drove for NSW railways in the late steam/early diesel era and drove the 38 class a fair bit on the Newcastle Flyer runs. It was kind of sheer dumb luck that more people weren't killed in that Cowan crash, I was working as an apprentice electrician at Elcar Chullora when what was left of the driving motor car of the electric came in, everything forward of passenger vestibule door was gone ( a good 5-6 metres of heavy welded stainless steel structure including the central spine of the frame ). Originally it was planned to rebuild it as a driving trailer car ( back in the days of 10 car sets ) but that never happened and it got cut up and scrapped in the months before Elcar closed.

[@TrainsForNSWVlogs]

What liveries did the 10 car sets have? When were they abolished? What was their configuration and what series did they use? Eg DJ, DI

[@garryferrington811]

That's a beautiful engine.

[@IIGrayfoxII]

I use to see this train doing the cockatoo run every week and the tracks where it ran are about 40m from where I live. Oddly enough the last 4 digits to the phone for eastern heritage is 3801, a key fact that the website shows the phone number as xxxx-yy-zzzz rather than the more standard notation of xxxx-yyy-zzz

[@michaellilly2550]

3801 reminds me of Norfork and Western's Class J series, especially 611

[@flamingfrancis]

The design is from the C38 / Pacific class popularised in USA.

[@PeterK153]

Great loco. To often in the repair shop in its preservation years

[@blake9358]

Most the Steam engines were brought to Australia from Britain, I did she one that was built in Queensland one from South Australia, all the WAGR steam locomotives were British built. All the Diesel Alcos operating in Australia were American units assembled at various locations in NSW the class 40 were from Canada

[@flamingfrancis]

A popular forerunner of the C38 / Pacific class was the C36 class. In total some 95 of them were built based largely on the 35 class. The 36's were built in Sydney from 1914 at the mighty Eveleigh workshops and then mostly at Clyde. The former workshops came on line in late 1880's and the latter around ten years later.

[@praeamble]

"It became known as the grey nurse." "Why the grey nurse?" "Because it way grey." "Oh, I see. No, wait-"

[@aushistory]

A grey nurse is a shark fround in Australian waters. The grey colour, and the streamlined look of 3801-5, likely contributed to the name.

[@AndrooH]

She's back in action, here's vision of her crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqSnln98gNdgb6s

[@albertofranchi6408]

Super beautiful

[@landonbussieres1125]

Ngl, the black and red color scheme kinda slaps. I dig it.

[@acersalman8258]

Beautiful very beautiful you made things wonderful good useful make human life happy you science education original God bless you and protect you from strangers savagery ,,,,,❤❤❤❤there's different between trains us Europe Australia, designed , horn , quality all it good wonderful everyone have special shape but I think us Australia English better little

[@victorpaul904]

🇮🇳💐🍁🥰🥰👌✌️✌️👍🍁💐🇮🇳

[@fp3359]

Be very carefull with this gem. Greetz from Holland