North East Dundas Tramway 0-4-2 Locomotives in Australia

Class G (Locobase 4881)

Data from William Prior Hales, CE, report for the Institution of Civil Engineers at the turn of the 20th Century describing in detail the construction and operation of this tramway. It is reproduced on the Light Railway Research Society of Australia's website with notes by Frank Stanford at [] (last update 1 Feb 1997, last accessed 14 November 2021). See also "North-East Dundas Tramway", Zeehan and Dundas Herald (3 December 1896) at [], last accessed 14 November 2021. Works numbers were 4198 in 1896 and 4432 in 1898. When G1 blew up at Zeehan on 15 May 1899, she was replaced by G3 (4619) in 1900.

The challenges were considerable. For example, in the 12+ miles (19.3 km) that succeeded the first 5 1/4 miles (8.5 km) of easy running from Zeehan, the railway bent through an average of 30 curves per mile on 46-lb rail. (i.e., weighing 46 lb per yard or 23 kg/metre).

These four-couples were rated to pull four 8-wheel trucks -- a total of 50 tons -- up a ruling gradient of 1 in 27 (nearly 4%) and through very tight curves. Maximum speed on the "easy" section was 12 mph (19.3 kph), 8 mph (12.9 kph) on the twisty bits. Vacuum braking was of obvious utility on such a alignment and both locomotives and waggons were so fitted.

The Zeehan and Dundas Herald described the G1 as a "splendid engine" in its 3 December 1896 report,"...a pronounced success in every way." The paper also noted that the first section of the railway would open "within a few days" to take passengers and goods to and from Zeehan to the first station 5 miles distant and close to McKimmie's sawmill.