Hopes for a new museum in Victoria, involving a move from Newport

[bikkuri bahn]

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

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So Heavy Harry, or locomotive H 220, hauled goods along the Albury line for 15 years until it was superseded by diesel power and retired to the Newport railyards where it was built.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

 

more:

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/heavy-harry-waits-patiently-for-plans-to-get-him-back-on-track-20120708-21pi8.html

[keitaro]

lol "all it needs is the backing of the state govt"......... Good luck

[The_Ghan]

Interesting story.  How did the H class compare with, say, the Heavy Mikado?  Both were designed for a similar type of service, albiet the Mikado the H class by some 20 years.  For some reason, I thought the Mikado was lighter and more powerful.  Love to hear what the steam experts have to say on this .... Mark? 

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[Davo Dentetsu]

lol "all it needs is the backing of the state govt"......... Good luck

 

Could be worse, it could have been a WA loco.  Then you definitely know bugger all would have happened... :D