Steam in Australia Victoria & New South Wales

A rare view of railroading at the height of Australia’s steam era. Highlights include a holiday excursion train for school children meandering along the shore in South Geelong to Queenscliff. In the richest gold mining town in Australia is another kind of gold for trolley enthusiasts: a fleet of 4-wheeled trolley cars built by J. G. Brill of Philadelphia, or manufactured from Brill designs, all at work in vibrant street and onboard scenes.

In New South Wales 30 Class passenger steam leaves from Sydney and works in the environs beyond. The unusual looking, but powerful Garratt locomotives take on the heavy job of hauling coal, often in the infamous brakeless 4-wheeled wooden coal hoppers designed in 1863. High-speed streamlined 38 Class Pacifics are featured pulling the “Newcastle Express”. 36 and 50 Class engines race up the Tickhole grade. The wide variety of motive power includes switchers, express, passenger and freight engines, some nearing a hundred years in age and all in daily operations. This is working Australian steam as it really was!