| Driving Wheels | 4ft 0ins |
| Weight | 73 tons |
| Boiler Pressure | 150psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 18in x 26in |
| Tractive Effort | 22,380 lbf |
In 1892 Dübs and Company in Glasgow supplied 20 large tank engines which were fitted with Webb radial axles at the bunker end. They were originally designated as class I17 engines. They were reclassified as the Z26 class in the NSWGR renumbering scheme of 1924.
The locomotives were originally intended to be used to bank freight trains over the Blue Mountain line but were found to be unsuitable for the task due. They had insufficient water capacity and proved to lack the flexibility required for the tight curves on the line.
Several were sent to Waterfall for working coal and blue metal trains. The remainder of those based in Sydney were employed on shunting duties at Darling Harbour and Alexandria goods yards. Others were stationed at the old Hamilton locomotive depot for working trains from the interchange with the South Maitland Railway at East Greta to Newcastle.
The locomotives employed from Waterfall were replaced in 1905 by larger engines between Sydney and Waterfall but they still continued to be used to haul coal hopper wagons to Waterfall and assist northbound trains through Otford Tunnel.
Most of the locomotives in the class were withdrawn in the 1920s but were returned to service as shunters after several years. They were then mainly employed at western centres such as Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange whilst several were sent to Albury to assist at this busy break-of-gauge station and others to Port Kembla.
From 1942 until 1956, two of the class were engaged in shunting carriages at Sydney Central Station. They were removed from this duty when overhead electric wiring was installed as filling the locomotives with water was considered to be a hazard. They were replaced on these duties by class C30 engines of which 3112 gas been preserved.
The first locomotive was withdrawn on the NSWGR in September 1956 with only nine remaining by 1961. The final two representatives of the class in service were 2604 and 2606, which were to be found at Bathurst until 1970.
This locomotive (2606) was built in 1891.
After a long working life it became one of the last two in NSWGR service when it was withdrawn from service in 1970 along with classmate 2604. Prior to this the two locomotives had been employed on shunting duties at Bathurst.
The locomotive was set aside for preservation as the class representative at the NSW Rail Transport Museum, Enfield. It was transferred to Thirlmere in 1975.
At Thirlmere the locomotive was placed on display in an unrestored condition until 1988 when it was given a quick clean and repaint to unlined black livery.
The locomotive was moved to the roundhouse at Broadmeadow for undercover storage as part of the project to upgrade the NSWRTM Thirlmere to the Trainworks museum.
One other Z26 class locomotive has been preserved – Works number 2794 NSWGR number 2605
The first locomotives for the NSW Railways were four 0-4-2 locomotives supplied by Robert Stephenson & Co, which arrived in Sydney in January 1855 for the opening of the Sydney to Parramatta railway. No.1 was built by Robert Stephenson & Co as their builder’s number 958 of 1854.
No.1 was withdrawn from NSW Railways service in 1877, however instructions for its preservation were not made until 1884 by which stage it apparently required considerable refurbishment. No.1 became an exhibit at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Sydney however it did make four external appearances for special events, the last being display in the Central Station forecourt for the 1955 NSW Railways’ Centenary celebration.
No.1 was extensively restored in 1980 in preparation for opening of Sydney’s new Powerhouse Museum, which superceded the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. During restoration No.1 was confirmed to predominantly comprise components of loco No.1, together with some components from sister locos Nos.2, 3 & 4. These components may relate to normal workshop attention during its service life, or the 1884 refurbishment.
In 1987 No.1 was placed on display in its current position as a prime exhibit in the Powerhouse Museum, together with three period passenger carriages.
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