Dübs     Works No 2635    Class Z24    2413    2-6-0        NSW Government Railway, Australia    Gauge 4ft 8½in

Driving Wheels4ft 0ins
Weight46 tons
Boiler Pressure140psi
CylindersOutside – 18in x 26in
Tractive Effort20,855 lbf

In 1889 Dübs and Company in Glasgow built the first of 25 locomotives for the New South Wales Government Railway (NSWGR) which were initially classed as B55 locomotives. They were coded as the Z24 class in the NSWGR reclassification in 1924.

This locomotive was built in 1891.

The locomotives were originally supplied with round-top boilers, sloping smokeboxes and stovepipe chimneys.  As boiler renewals became necessary between 1903 and 1908 they received Belpaire boilers, new smokeboxes and cast-iron chimneys. 

They were employed on main line freight traffic until being displaced by newer locomotives and moved to branch line duties.

The first locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1929.

In 1961 this locomotive was one of four sold to the Electricity Commission of NSW for use at Bunnerong Power Station Port Botany where it became No.6. Until 1966 it was the 117 acre site was largest power station in the southern hemisphere, with a capacity of 375 MW from eleven turbo-alternators. It was able to supply up to one third of the state’s electricity needs at the time. There were four class Z24 locomotives employed at the power station and three (2408, 2413 and 2414) have been preserved.

The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1975 and donated to the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS) at Canberra and placed on display at the Canberra Railway Museum.

In May 2002 the locomotive was moved to the Junee Roundhouse Museum where it was placed on static display.

The Junee Roundhouse Museum opened in April 1994 after work by local peop le following the closure of the Junee Roundhouse the previous year.

Three other class Z24 locomotives built by Dübs and Company are preserved.