(AUS)Heavy Harry waits patiently for plans to get him back on track

[Pakenhamtrain]

From The Age:

Heavy Harry waits patiently for plans to get him back on track

July 9, 2012 Adam Carey

 

 

HEAVY Harry never had a chance to show the world what he was made of.

The colossal steam train was built in 1941 to transport passengers between Melbourne and Adelaide. But at 260 tonnes, the biggest locomotive ever built in Australia was so heavy the railway bridges couldn't support its weight, and with the the war happening there were no funds to strengthen them.

So Heavy Harry, or locomotive H 220, hauled goods along the Albury line for 15 years until it was superseded by diesel power and retired to the Newport railyards where it was built.

It still sits there now, rusting slowly in the sea-salty air, the star exhibit of a run-down railway museum nobody visits.

 

The museum has been ''closed for maintenance'' since February 2010, when its small, ageing group of volunteers chose to shut it because of safety fears.

 

 

Read more: http://www.theage.co...l#ixzz2075VdADB

 

 

 

 

Of course you're wondering what it looks like:

 

 

 

 

I'd imagine Harry hasn't moved much since 1958. A fair bit of trackwork would be required to even get it near the mainline. There is an old siding in the Newport Workshops which sort of links up with the museum. H220 isn't on that bit of track. A few bits of rollingstock would have to be moved to get there.

 

 

 

 

It would then have to move 70Km to it's new site. Even then the track between Baxter and Moorooduc would have to certified for 260 tonnes.

 

 

 

 

Then of course you would have to get accredition so it can actually go.

 

 

 

The other rollingstock can easily be moved my truck. Mind you on some they would have to be a touch careful. There's some rather unique and last of it's kind stuff in there.