| Weight | 281t (later 291t) |
| Length | 108ft 7ins |
| Driving Wheels | 4ft 7ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 200psi |
| Cylinders | Four Outside – 19.25in x 26in |
| Tractive Effort | 59,560lbf |
| Valve Gear | Walschaert |
This locomotive was built in 1954 by Beyer Peacock for the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) in Australia. It was one of 42 built to a Beyer-Garratt patent which consisted of a boiler carried on a separate frame in the centre of the locomotive and supported by the frames of the two engines, one at each end. The locomotive thus consists of three parts: a front engine unit carrying a water tank, an intermediate chassis pivoted to each engine unit supporting a boiler and cab, and a rear engine unit carrying a coal bunker and water tank.
These class AD60 locomotives were the only type of Garratt to operate on the NSWGR. They were designed to have a light axle load and were intended for hauling feeder branch-line services to the main lines where heavier main-line locomotives could continue with the load.
The initial order placed with Beyer Peacock in 1949 was for 50 locomotives but following a change in policy by the NSWGR to move to diesel traction the order was amended to 42 complete locomotives plus spares for a further 5. The sets of spares parts did not include engine unit frames. The last three locomotives were cancelled completely and were subsequently delivered to the South African Railways. The locomotives supplied to the NSWGR were delivered in their five major component pieces – front engine, rear engine, boiler-cab, rear bunker and front water tank. These five sub-assemblies were then built into a complete locomotive in NSW. The first locomotive entered service in July 1952.
The locomotives were the most powerful to operate in Australia.
Early trials established that the bunker was insufficient to allow the locomotives to operate from Enfield to Goulburn resulting in the bunkers being enlarged. This locomotive which carried the number 6029 was one of the ones given a larger bunker in 1959.
Ventilation of the cabs caused considerable concern and consequently, the class was banned from working through single-line tunnels.
Owing to the length and noise of the locomotive, crews found difficulty in hearing warning detonators. To rectify the situation, tubes were fitted to convey the sound from the leading wheels to the cab.
When it became apparent that the Garratts would see more service on main lines than on the lighter branch lines, it was decided to increase the tractive effort of a number of the class by enlarging the cylinder diameter and by altering the weight distribution by removing liners from the bogies. This increased the axle load on each of the driving wheels by approximately 2 tons with 30 locomotives treated. To distinguish these improvements the double plus sign ++ was painted after the number and they were nicknamed Super Garratts. These 30 were also fitted with dual controls for bunker first running and denoted DC. To accommodate them, 105-foot turntables were installed at Broadmeadow, Enfield and Werris Creek depots.
The class initially entered service on the Main North and Main South and later Main Western line as far as Dubbo and Parkes. Because of their light axle load they were cleared to operate on the Crookwell, Captains Flat, Temora, Narrandera and Bourke lines.
The first member of the class was withdrawn from service in 1955. A few were withdrawn in 1961 after suffering damage in major collisions. The rest were withdrawn from service as a result of the introduction of diesel traction from 1965.The last (number 6042) was withdrawn in March 1973 and is one of four preserved.
Locomotive 6029 was withdrawn from service in September 1972 and was condemned in January 1973.
The National Museum of Australia acquired the locomotive and placed it in the custody of the Australian Railway Historical Society’s Canberra Railway Museum. It worked from Sydney to Goulburn in December 1974 before hauling a special charter to Canberra in January 1975.
The locomotive was restored to operational condition and operated heritage trains for the Canberra Railway Museum. It became the only locomotive of its class to operate interstate when it visited Victoria in 1980. Heritage tours continued over several years until boiler problems caused the locomotive to be withdrawn from service in 1981.
In 1994, a feasibility study determined what was needed to get 6029 back in steam. A replacement ex-NSWGR boiler was obtained from a Victorian sawmill. Restoration commenced in 2007 and was completed in July 2014. After main line trials, 6029 received official mainline accreditation in December 2014, with the first public trips taking place in February 2015.
In 2017, it was put up for sale when the Canberra Railway Museum went into liquidation and was purchased by Phillip Davis and David Sommerville.
6029 is the only preserved AD60 class locomotive in operating condition.
The locomotive is based at Thirlmere.
There are three other members of the class preserved.
- 6039 – Beyer Peacock works number 7541
- 6040 – Beyer Peacock works number 7542
- 6042 – Beyer Peacock works number 7544
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