Sectioned Beyer Garratt locomotive model 6001
Made by State Rail Authority of New South Wales in Chullora, New South Wales, Australia, 1963-1975.
This sectioned and operating locomotive is a 7¼-inch (18.4 cm) gauge, 1:8 scale model of the Beyer-Garratt engines built by Beyer, Peacock & Co., Manchester, England. The model carries the number “6001” and represents the first of the Beyer Garratt AD60 class heavy goods locomotives supplied to the New South Wales Government Railways from 1952. These were the most sophisticated steam locomotives in use in NSW just prior to the withdrawal of steam from the State’s railways. They were the ultimate...
Steam locomotive model, AD60 class Beyer Garratt "6001", 4-8-4 + 4-8-4, sectioned, operating, 7¼-inch gauge, 1:8 scale, metal, made by apprentices of the NSW Government Railways, Eveleigh and Chullora, NSW, 1963-1975
The Beyer Garratt 7¼-inch (18.4 cm) gauge steam locomotive model is of an all-metal construction which is half cutaway to reveal its internal operation. It is a large and complex model with a wheel configuration of 4-8-4 and 4-8-4. The design of the Beyer Garratt engines saw them split into these sections to help spread the weight over rails built for smaller, lighter and less powerful locomotives. The model comprises a tender, locomotive and then another tender, with driving wheels on the front and rear tenders. The cabin has moveable controls and two miniature seats which are removable. The model is powered by electric motors which operate the wheels though the engine itself is stationary.
By the middle of the twentieth century steam locomotives that were increasingly faster and more powerful were being produced. Mechanical stokers delivered fuel to the firebox, doing away with shovelling coal, locomotives were adapted to burn oil and pulverised coal, and every aspect of the mechanical working was improved. But across Australia railway infrastructure had often been built on the cheap and could not subsequently accommodate modern locomotive development. The rails were not strong enough to take the weight of the giant locomotives, the curves were too tight, the bridges too light and the turntables too short.
One innovative locomotive design that did not require expensive track rebuilding was the NSW Railways AD60 class Beyer Garratt. (The 'A' denoted an articulated locomotive while the 'D' referred to is four sets of driving axles.) As the wheels were located beneath the front and rear units, a larger single boiler and fire grate could be used, generating enough steam for both engines. The massive 260-ton weight of the Beyer Garratt was carried on 32 wheels so that the load was spread sufficiently to enable operation on most lines.
The Beyer Garratt was designed by Herbert W Garratt, an English engineer who worked in Australia. It was patented by the British locomotive manufacturer Beyer, Peacock & Co. The world's first Beyer Garratt locomotive was built in 1909 for the North East Dundas Tramway in Tasmania. A total of 109 locomotives were used in Australia in all States except the Northern Territory, with 42 in service in NSW from 1952. The last of the 60 class ran in NSW in 1973.