Disappearing Steam - NSW DVD preview

This DVD features steam in regular service on the NSW railways. The program includes the Batlow Branch, Campbelltown to Camden, Corrimal Colliery and more.
Available for $39.95 RRP from good hobby shops or directly from channel5productions.com. See website for details.
Program Copyright 2016 Channel 5 Productions

[@1950accordionman]

Steam hadn't disappeared in the 1960's I became a steam fireman on the NSW government railway in 1971, steam was decreasing in numbers but it was still around in 1971 numbers decreased a lot in 1972, there was a private steam railway at Hexham near Newcastle and they worked steam until closure in the 1980's

[@mickcarson8504]

I was 10 when these giants were around in Melbourne. Sigh, memories long gone.

[@rodcook5898]

Thanks for the feedback Mick. Yes, they were marvellous machines. rod Cook

[@inkyscrolls5193]

It's interesting, as a Briton, to see the comparison between British and Australian prototypes. To British eyes there are some notable similarities, moreso than differences, but Australian locos look somewhat 'squashed' when compared with British locos - perhaps a product of the larger loading gauge width available? Steam ended in stages here in the UK, with the most notable years being: 1960 Last standard gauge mainline loco built. 1964 Last standard gauge industrial loco built. 1966 Steam ends on the mainline in Wales. 1967 Steam ends on the mainline in Scotland. 1968 Steam ends on the majority of the mainline in England. 1971 Steam ends entirely in Northern Ireland, and in London; last narrow gauge loco built. 1985 Last NCB industrial locos withdrawn. 1994 Last Castle Donington power station locos withdrawn. 1995 Last steam operated cranes withdrawn, and last carriages using steam heating withdrawn.

[@aaronweyl2272]

And.. there still some British looking trains with bit of American styled cowcatchers. These trains must been build by the British before it came over. I also seen some Australian trains had notes of German looks in it too.

[@Thespiansewist]

I travelling though NSW by train 1970s and it was run down unreliable and steam trains diesels broke down on passenger freight All the railway cafes shutdown and sold sandwiches with thinnest pice of cheese in history The old carriages were cold or hot slow with cranky indifferent stationmaster It’s amazing that a small colonial state In 19th NSW built expensive extensive railway network then the politicians neglected dismantled old railway system 19thcentury

[@stevecallachor]

In them days engineers in Oz copied what the Poms did............ with one important difference, distances were greater and most population centres were surrounded by hills. So engines had smaller wheels and looked more like pigs than greyhounds. I think the Pacific engine design affected most of the English speaking world. India, New Zealand, South Africa copied the English. These monsters required about 80 hours maintenance for each hour of steaming. I miss them as much as anyone but nostalgia doesn't trump economics. Stavros

[@1950accordionman]

If they required that much maintenance they would never have got them out of the shed most of the lubrication needed on a steamer was done by the engine crews, coal was cheap and water was cheap, once prepared by the crew which took 1 hour a steamer could stay in traffic for 24 hours for next to no cost, diesels might be more economical but the steamers weren't that bad.