TThe C30T class was a class of steam locomotives rebuilt from 30 class tank engines by Clyde Engineering and Eveleigh Railway Workshops for the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.
History[]
Following the electrification of the Sydney inner suburban lines in 1926, 77 of the 30 class 4-6-4T tank locomotives were converted to tender type. This was achieved by cutting off the frames at the rear of the cab and removing the side tanks. There was no need to build tenders as there was a number on hand from scrapped locomotives or from locomotives where the original tenders had been replaced, notably 32 and 50 class locomotives. The first locomotive to be converted was 3088 which was delivered by Clyde Engineering on 22 August 1928. This company delivered a total of 10 conversions, the remainder being carried out at the New South Wales Government Railways' Eveleigh Railway Workshops. All were completed by July 1933. Some 29 of these locomotives were superheated in the period from September 1940 (3100TS) to April 1957 (3064TS). This work included fitting new cylinders with piston valves and extended smokeboxes. Most of the 29 superheated C-30Ts received riveted on 'drumhead' extensions to their smokeboxes. Some were given entirely new extended smokeboxes fully supported by the frames, giving these few a more modern, purposeful look. 3011TS, 3050TS and 3090TS were some that had these features. In their heyday, they could be found working almost every light branch line in New South Wales. Even in the very last years of steam power, they could still be found well spread over the state in such places as Temora, Griffith, Cowra, Dubbo and Narrabri West. The first was withdrawn in December 1958 with the last five withdrawn in 1972.
Preservation[]
Seven have been preserved:
- 3001 by the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, was operational from May 1984 until at least July 1996
- 3016 by the Canberra Railway Museum, returned to service in November 1989
- 3026 by the Lachlan Valley Railway, was operational until October 1994
- 3028 by the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum
- 3075 is on a plinth in Kelly Reserve, Parkes
- 3090 by the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum
- 3102 by the Canberra Railway Museum, was operational until the mid-1980s