Power type Steam Build date 1954 | Serial number 7531 Configuration 4-8-4+4-8-4 | |
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Gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
6029 is a four-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, superheated, articulated 4-8-4+4-8-4 steam engine, of the AD60 class, built by Beyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester, England, for the New South Wales Government Railways. It was restored to operational condition in 2014.
Service
6029 entered service in 1954 on the Main North line also working one the Main South and later Main Western line. On 17 February 1959 the locomotive was converted to dual control.
It was withdrawn in September 1972 and condemned on 4 January 1973. In 1974 the National Museum of Australia in Canberra acquired the locomotive and placed it in the custody of the Australian Railway Historical Society ACT Division. It was restored to operational condition and operated heritage trains for the Canberra Railway Museum. 6029 is the only locomotive of its class to operate interstate, when in 1980 it visited Victoria participating in a parallel run to Wangaratta with Victorian Railways K153. Heritage tours continued over several years until boiler problems caused it to be withdrawn from service in 1981.
In 1994 a feasibility study confirmed the requirements to get 6029 back in steam. A replacement ex-NSWGR boiler was obtained from a Victorian sawmill. Restoration commenced in 2007, being completed in July 2014 and after mainline trials, 6029 received official mainline accreditation in December 2014 with the first public trips taking place on 28 February 2015.
It was named City of Canberra by minister Shane Rattenbury on 23 February 2015.