FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

G'day all...
This is one of those sad photos.... the more you look at it, the more FE and FC bits you see (not to mention the FB and EK bits) and wonder about the waste.... :(
This is the Simsmetal yard at Mascot, circa 1973.... about the time a new machine capable of shredding up to 500 cars per day into small pieces of scap metal was about to begin operation at the yard... :-/

(http://photo.starblvd.net/hewart/4-1-5.jpg)

Cheers...  

Hewart,

Since you say that the picture is at A.G. Sims & Co Mascot, circa 1973, the locomotive remains can date the picture a tiny bit more precisely.

There are three sets of driving wheels and no bogie or truck wheels.  All the sets of driving wheels have small crankpins, indicating coupling rods only.  The centre set of driving wheels have a crank axle, with eccentric sheaves fitted.  This indicates that teh steam locomotive had 6 driving wheels only, with inside cylinders and valve gear.  Being NSW, they must be part of the remains of a Z-19 Class 0-6-0 steam locomotive, similar to:  http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~ajh/trains/nsw/19class/1919-1.jpg  
and:  http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~ajh/trains/nsw/19class/1923-2.jpg   .


The pieces of frame with spring gear is simialr to Z-19 Class arrangements, and the dome in the foreground is the same size as a Z-19 type.  Note that it is liberally covered in asbestos, as the boiler would have been.

These locomotives entered service in August 1877 and the final ones were withdrawn in August 1972.  The one in our photograph would have been one of the 10 or so that were withdrawn in July 1971 when new Diesel Locomotives replaced them as Darling Harbour & Alexandria yard shunters.  They were scrapped by mid 1972.

Four of them survive: 1904 (8/1877 to 8/1972) at Dorrigo, 1905 (8/1877 to 5/1968 and the construction locomotive for the Harbour Bridge) at the NSWRTM Thirlmere, 1919 (?/1878 to 11/1971) at Glenreagh and 1923 (?/1878 to 8/1972) at Dorrigo.