Double Garratts at Puffing Billy

After a 23 year project , ex South African Railways narrow gauge Garratt NGG 16 No. 129 was brought back to operation on the Puffing Billy railway in Melbourne , on it's first public trip it was double headed with Garratt G 42 for part of the trip , this was the first time double Garratts had run in Australia for about 47 years

[@BLKBRDD]

I’m fascinated by how these engines work. The fact that the engine itself can pivot and throttles can be synchronised is some magical engineering.

[@johnphillips592]

They are a great piece of engineering .thanks for the view and comment

[@peterjarvis9367]

Congratulations on restoring No.129! A splendid sight. We hope to have No.130 back in steam, in Wales, for 2020. That will give us four of them. We have a fifth (No.140) in pieces, being used as spare parts for the others. And of course we have your old boiler from No.129, which is a great help, as the boilers are always the longest job in an overhaul. So thank you very much !

[@jamestulk5111]

I live in Melbourne Australia and have ridden on Puffing Billy many times. When I was younger I visited Wales ahad the fortune of riding on the Blaenau Ffestiniog railway.

[@CalebsCrossingsYT]

The Puffing Billy actually has Another NG in the museum NG199, For spare parts, as well as a South African theme park has NG111 in there museum!

[@Living_Life_RN]

It sure is weird seeing G42 running with an NGG16. I’m so used to seeing the South African Garratts running on the Welsh Highland (and now also Veil of Rheidol) railway in Wales, plus seeing one under a tarpaulin in Derbyshire, that seeing one in Australia feels weird. Certainly fits in well there though, just like the ones on the other side of the globe!

[@rsinclair6560]

Wanted: 3 foot 6 inch gauge Garratts and four of those carriages to operate between Lebrina Denison Gorge and Wyena, North East Tasmania.

[@chygwelanmeneth]

Nice work John. Effectively it was equal to a quadruple-headed NA-hauled train!

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , it was a hot day but worth it , don't think we will see double Garratts that often.

[@charlestellis7021]

Good old S.A.R whistle!

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

finally NGG 16 has been restored and running on the rails

[@johnphillips592]

Yes it was nice to see , it was a very hot day but worth the effort , cheers.

[@keithjenkinson7825]

Just a little bit of a shame. Puffing Billy and no legs hanging out! All the same I have to come and see this.

[@tonyromano6220]

Wow!

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

How do the costs of running these two locos compare. Coal and water consumption etc.

[@myfavperdigon3921]

Thats a quadruplex😎

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

Is the Climax still operational or having major work done ???

[@woobyvr9654]

Still Operational, just hasn't been anything scheduled for it

[@wernerduplessis4370]

Were is the front locomotive originally from?

[@johnphillips592]

South Africa .

[@wernerduplessis4370]

I remember it as a child

[@kevkoala]

You'd think with both locos that train would've been flying! They wouldn't have even raised a sweat!

[@johnphillips592]

Yes it was very difficult to chase this train , didn't slow down on the steeper grades

[@andrewskinner8560]

Garrett’s are amazingly powerful on steep grades due to their steam capacity. But with 2 Garrett’s it’s as easy as a stroll in the park.

[@CheekyFest]

How did they get from S.A to Australia?

[@johnphillips592]

By ship to Melbourne , then by truck in three pieces

[@johnd8892]

Fantastic footage John. Glad you recorded and shared this and so much else. Was also glad to find some bigger double headed Garratts in Australia recorded 50 years or so ago when they were ceasing to be commonplace : kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4HTeGeqi62Gg7M I hope you agree that anyone interested in Garratts is likely to love this. The more views the more the NFSA is post more that they have.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks John, glad you enjoyed the footage .

[@Match2100]

Why do they always open the bloody cylinder drains going over the bridge? It's so silly! Also, G42 sounds like a bag of spanners!

[@johnphillips592]

Trains coming down to the bridge are in full forward gear with their cylinder cocks open , on reaching the bridge the driver will open the regulator slightly to blow out any moisture before closing the cocks for the climb ahead , hope that answers your question , thank you for your comment .