Australian Steam Trains: Beyer Garratt 6029 - In Review

[@cathycastleton]

So good to see the old Garrett getting so much love ! Hope it’s at this years steamfest ! !

[@colindavenport6648]

Thank You! Thank you, Mr. Howie. This is one of the best videos of any steam loco, I have ever seen. I was born in Manchester in England, so I am very proud to see one of Gorton Works, masterpieces alive & breathing again. Goose bumps running up my spine, with the on train filming. Excited, wasn't the word, in cloud Cuckoo land, I was. ha, Ha, I wish I could have been on this train. Best wishes everyone, Thanks again Mr. Howie. I live in Aberdeen in Scotland now. 🙂

[@HowiesRailVideos]

You're very welcome

[@GfwTrains]

What a massive locomotive. I love this engine. I am from the US and it is so different than anything we have here. I bet it is truly amazing to see in person. I really enjoy your channel's content. Thank you for sharing.

[@markschroeder2578]

A Beyer Garrett is literally two steam locomotives under one boiler! That's a water tank in front of the boiler, and a fuel/water tender behind. They normally hauled goods trains (freight trains to us in the U.S.), which they did quite well. Stay safe and healthy.

[@GfwTrains]

@@markschroeder2578 thank you for the explanation

[@davidrayner9832]

North America is the only continent where Garratts never operated. For some reason, rail companies there stayed loyal to the Mallet design.

[@GfwTrains]

@@davidrayner9832 they are such neat locomotives

[@davidrayner9832]

@@GfwTrains Yes but like the Big Boy, Challenger, 611, 4449 and every other restored steam loco, it'll never work hard again pulling passenger trains. If you want to see them doing what they were designed to do, see kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2KoiKN5hrVqm6c

[@travelingman484]

I’m from the states. I remember my older brother buying a vhs of these locos. Brings back great memories. Thank you.

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnstaring3210]

That trip up the Blue Mountains was some sort of sentimental journey as I lived in Springwood as a teen and went daily to high school in Katoomba by train (when I wasn't wagging !!) Absolutely love the steam era and have huge respect for those keeping these old engines alive.

[@ratheonhudson3311]

Those garretts are astounding working pieces of art! Ps. The editor did a fine job with the transitions and audio balancing between the clips. Just a person a compliment from me.

[@franksmith9434]

AS a Crewe apprentice we loved these Garratt locos as part of the job was changing water tank filters from time to time and the side tanks terrified us, these were easy to get at and favouites to work on

[@AustralianRailwayVideos]

I was at Canberra 2014 when 6029 was being restored, saw inside the cab and it being partially restored, it was cool!!

[@smithy2]

I haven't seen it since well before they started the restoration, used to go in the cab while it waited in Kingston

[@donotwantahandle1111]

I love the holes in the water tanks for the valve adjuster!

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Me too!

[@alexandershalin3543]

So many turns! Now I know why did you need articulated locomotives.

[@petergarratt7992]

Lovely example of this Garratt loco, South Africa also has some fine examples makes me proud to see what became of my great grandads engine when he died after designing and copyrighting the first one, video is also first class .Peter Garratt

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Wow! You can be VERY proud of your great grandad! 6029 is still gong strong & I rode behind it again in April. Hopefully one or 2 more will be restored here. I believe there are a couple of the South African ones in New Zealand as well, but not operating.

[@petergarratt7992]

Thank you in the UK at the Manchester science museum I managed to track down one of the largest Garratt, s returned from south africa and the engine stretches from the back to the front of the museum at 102 ft long not sure on meter length.

[@rossawood5075]

As Australian travelling in Africa in the mid 70's I saw some big Garrets operating in Bulawayo Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. South African Garrets were some of the most powerful built I believe, amazing engines to see and hear live, sadly but for good reason an era long gone however sadly missed, although my Godfather who drove 4-8-4 KA Pacific's in the South Island of New Zealand felt the move to diesels made life considerably easier as he aged. Excellent video for steam enthusiasts.

[@rossawood5075]

Correction JA's and KB

[@ianlowery6014]

@@petergarratt7992 31.089 metres

[@simonf8902]

The Blue Mountains (main West) line seen here, has a ruling gradient of 1 in 33. This raises the line from roughly sea level to over 1000 metres at Bell, highest station on Australian railways. Makes the Lickey incline look tame.

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Thanks for the info! Yes a very steep grade

[@thetinyman-fh5uh]

@Aussie PomI been up a 1 in 25 a few times it sounded really good.

[@JBofBrisbane]

Ben Lomond used to be the highest station in NSW, but that part of the Great Northern is closed now

[@simonf8902]

Largest Beyer Garretts ever built. And the last steam locos delivered to NSW railways and all of Australia. . Final deliveries in 1957. Total of 42

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

i wish union pacific had ordered some garratt insted of the the challengers

[@sirbarongaming2138]

​@@IndustrialParrot2816 Same

[@TrevorHeath]

Not even close to being the largest ever built. Only the largest ever build for Australia.

[@simonf8902]

What is the largest Garrett then compared to 60 class ?

[@gary6888]

MMMmmmmmm THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN !!!!!! TY TY TY THANK YOU !!!!!!!!

[@markrolly5486]

60 class are my dream Locos I remember standing on Cardiff Station in Newcastle one afternoon and a have a heavy freight rolled in and was placed into the relief towards Tic hole Tunnel and when I caught my train to Newcastle it was sitting in the siding waiting on the road to Broadmeadows yard before Tic hole Tunnel

[@worldcooking]

This connecting rod-crank system of the steam locomotive is interesting!

[@garyspeed8961]

remember marveling at that monster at Broadmeadow Station in 1970 when I used to commute from Sydney to Newcastle university every weekend... awe inspiring power

[@ReggieArford]

Hmmm... At least in the one run-beside (Sandgate?), the 6029 was clearly *coasting*. The valve gear wasn't moving, because the motion was in the link's center. No 'chugging" noise, either.

[@raybeattie5802]

They had an number of Garrants that the Government bought but when the diesel came on the seen they were scrapped without even having had a fire in them!

[@rohancowley8669]

So good to see it's not rusting away in Kingston anymore

[@davidrayner9832]

The two Cs and the 44 were not powering through Beecroft. That's 360 tons the Garratt is pushing without the train behind it.

[@simonf8902]

Some AD 60s were newer than 42 class diesels which began delivery in 1955 !

[@garryferrington811]

Fascinating engine.

[@bigkiwimike]

15:58 What is the purpose of the two pipes sitting out the top of the front water tank?

[@simonf8902]

It’s venting for the water tank below. As the water flows out air is let in

[@bigkiwimike]

Thanks. That makes sense. They must only put water into the rear tank and a balance pipe feeds the front. That was a problem with the NZ garretts. The balance pipe was so small they used to stop twice for water. I assume the pipes are that height to stop the water surging out of them. Cheers

[@geraldwagner8739]

What a giant! 👍

[@nathansmithbauer1826]

From an American this stuff seems normal because of the whistles, horns, knuckles, and streamliners.

[@acersalman8258]

beautiful ❤

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kamtaprasad7845]

Very Nice

[@johnsauer9067]

That is a beauty! Question: since the expendable fuel and water sit over the driving wheels (unlike a typical steamer, which needs its boiler water over the drive wheels kept to a minimum level above the crown sheet at all times), does this loco lose noticeable tractive effort as the fuel and water are consumed?

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Good question!

[@JBofBrisbane]

I imagine so, much as a tank engine would.

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Very good.

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Thanks!

[@carpocolypsenow]

whats the deal with the 3 diesel electrics in the lead? just for show or used to move the garret around when its not on show? and is the boiler diesel fired?

[@HowiesRailVideos]

The Three diesels were tere as part of a transfer movement through the Sydney metro trains area - no chance of the breakdown & disrupting the suburban passenger services. The boiler is coal fired. Front tender is water storage, coal in the rear one.

[@carpocolypsenow]

@@HowiesRailVideos produces remarkably little smoke for coal

[@8Jory]

@@carpocolypsenow If it's not working hard it will produce very little smoke. When just getting underway or hauling heavy up an incline it will puke out black coal smoke like any other. I still love these Locos anyway though

[@markschroeder2578]

These steam trains pulled by 6029 (and 3801!) are hotter than shrimp on a barbie! Stay safe and healthy, mates.

[@JBofBrisbane]

You know we call them prawns, and Hoges was just paying out on the Americans the ad was aimed at, don't you?

[@eugeniorinaldi2889]

Questo è lo Stato più democratico che abbia mai visto peccato non aver la possibilità di abitare ❤

[@Buggles1017]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nathandodge665]

What's the torque rating on the 6029?

[@dennisparrott9540]

Big power up front but why the 36 down back?

[@mabelcastillo8843]

❤ ❤ ❤I Love!!

[@mariaflorapaler499]

Kwaku from thomas?

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

I know that there are 1 or 2 Garratt’s in the US but I really think that design could have done well here during the steam era. Looks like it would have been easier to run on tracks than the articulating BigBoy and Challenger.

[@royreynolds108]

A fellow in the Houston area bought a NG16 and several cars for his railroad somewhere close to Houston. That is the only full-sized Garratt I know of in the US. From what I have learned, Baldwin had building rights to the Garratt design for the US but never built any. It is a shame. The Garratt design is meant for replacing the use of helpers.

[@HowiesRailVideos]

They were the perfect solution for a very powerful loco on lightly built tracks.

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

@@HowiesRailVideos I’m guessing that they wouldn’t fit on a lot of turntables.

[@hittmiss]

Garratts had two problems that the Big Boys and Challengers didn't have. As the Garratts used up fuel and water they lost traction and the Garratts would run out of steam on long hard pulls.

[@Romans--bo7br]

@@royreynolds108.... The Garratts would Not "work" on US Class 1 Railroads... as fuel & water were used up, the tractive effort went down, plus insufficient weight even when fully fueled, to pull the tonnage that the Class 1's haul, even in that era, and with long gradients. Eight thousand+ tons, was very common in the 1940's and 1950's.... of course, now.. 15K tons to upwards of 20k Tons with DP is quite the norm on mainline freight. Having said all that... the Garratts were Great for "light rail". Great Video!

[@rudycarlson8245]

Is this locomotive still in service?

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Yes, bust has not been seen much lately due to COVID restrictions & 3801 being the centre of attention at the moment.

[@rudycarlson8245]

@@HowiesRailVideos Thanks

[@rudycarlson8245]

@@HowiesRailVideos this is Australians big boy! Unique but beautiful locomotive!

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

@@rudycarlson8245 i must see as well just as soon as my dad decides to visit australia maybe i can convince him to do something like go an a scenic trip

[@TrevorHeath]

Yes and this month, March 2024 it works out of Sydney.

[@sirbarongaming2138]

What's the track gauge?

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Standard gauge, 4ft 8.5in

[@sirbarongaming2138]

@@HowiesRailVideos Right on

[@arunbhoopathyt6503]

Steamissh tonish roolish 2good luck

[@tonyromano6220]

Wow, who pays for this stuff?

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Grants, donations, fare revenue!

[@ekimbrough1413]

This engine is O.K. for enthusiast G and smaller gauges..and for short tour trains of less than8 cars. Otherwise in any other applications...its useless!

[@ekimbrough1413]

@Aussie Pom, Beyer Peacock Co. designed this locomotive at the beginning of the last century in England (and for the British Empire), at a time when British rolling stock consisted of wagons with two axles. Trains then were not as heavy or as long as they are today! To be fair to the Garratt... it was a good idea at the time, locomotive makers didn't then didn't pay much attention to the environment of belching smoke! It however, was articulated: and made for tight curves. In India and Africa this articulation was beneficial, but not so much in Britain: as the British railways were somewhat straighter and well laid! It's tractive effort was just O.K. for the time, and what it was made for: Heavy freight. But it wasn't particularly made for speed. Britain's 'Atlantics' and their 'Pacifics' did just as... or almost better in hauling freight and pulling them faster than these lumbering hulks! The main attraction for these locos was and is... its unusual design! 🙃

[@NSWGR]

@@ekimbrough1413 these locos used to take 500t odd trains up 1 in 33 grades by them selves.

[@JBofBrisbane]

No idea you have.

[@TrevorHeath]

What a load of BS, when the NSWGR changed over to diesels on their 1200T coal trains, they blew 18 traction motors on Fassifern bank before abandoning the initiative. The coal had to go by road for three years while the diesels were rebuilt. Britain's railways were built too small, all the best, most modern, British steam was exported all over the World. Heck, Britain was using oil lamps to maintain their steam right up to 1968

[@sombras.666]

MUY BONITAS PERO CONTAMINA MUCHO Y SON MUY LENTAS 👎👎👎👎👎

[@HowiesRailVideos]

Es un trozo de historia, no de uso cotidiano.

[@ekimbrough1413]

II can run uphill faster that that thing does! Oh well... It's an Aussies spectacle for tour trains.

[@daveg2104]

I get that you are trolling, but you aren't too clever at it. The AD60 class isn't built for speed. Notice it has fairly small diameter driving wheels. It was built to haul freight, including on lighter weight country lines. Sure, it can't directly compare to the big US locos, but then it can operate on racks that they can't. It is the most powerful class of steam locomotive to operate in Australia, although the D57 class had more tractive effort.

[@ekimbrough1413]

@@daveg2104 No... I'm not trolling: so 'being clever' needn't be entered in the conversation. And I agree with what you're saying. The engine was built over a century ago: in a much slower time.. a for two axle goods wagons on British rails. It was used in India at that time too! More recently, in Africa and then in your country, Australia for excursions. It actually paved the way for America's challenger articulated compound class engines (including the 'Big Boy'). But it also produced a lot of smoke and was big and bulky for what it did, but in those days few cared! It wasn't made for speed...it was made to haul the heavy freights of that time! In it's day... it was a working marvel!

[@daveg2104]

@@ekimbrough1413 Well, that is a much more sensible comment than your earlier ones. Just to point out that AD6029 entered service in 1954. The "A" stands for articulated, and the 'D" designates it as a freight locomotive, although they could use it any way they wanted to. The DC6029++ on the loco means it is a "super Garratt" and has been modified with dual controls (can be driven in either direction easily) and other changes to increase power.

[@daveg2104]

@@ekimbrough1413 Just to add, on the 2nd of March 1973, 6042 made the last run of any steam locomotive in revenue service in New South Wales, and was the ceremonial Last Steam Train. If you want to see a sad sight, Google 6042 to see it rusting away in a field in rural NSW.

[@ekimbrough1413]

@@daveg2104 wow. I must have really hit a nerve! I'm sorry about the last sentence...it did coming off as being a bit insensitive! Didn't mean it as a smite against Australians! But my comments about it in other post still stands...as well as what I said to you in my last comment about it. I seriously doubt that the CEO of Pacific National would disagree with me concerning mainline freight services!