Restored locomotive 3801 starts regional NSW tour, thousands hop on for ride

Rail enthusiasts have had the chance to acquire a stage back in time, with the legendary steam locomotive 3801 building its return to the practice tracks in regional NSW.

About 3,000 persons boarded the train in Albury across the Easter lengthy weekend as component of a condition-large tour following the train’s 12-year-long restoration.

Passengers ended up taken care of to hour-very long round journeys throughout a few days, with huge crowds turning out to see the practice departing and arriving.

The 3801 was introduced in 1943 and operated as an categorical passenger locomotive and later as a freight locomotive.

It was formally withdrawn from company in 1962.

Acknowledged for its Art Deco streamlining and iconic type, it is the only steam locomotive to have travelled to all mainland Australian states and territories.

Driver Alex Claassens joined the railway a lot more than 40 yrs back but said the prospect to generate it into Albury this weekend was a vocation spotlight.

“It has taken about 10 decades to get it back to the glory of what it is nowadays. It is really been heading completely wonderful, far better than it ever has.”

And he really should know.

“I was privileged adequate to operate on it for the duration of the numerous yrs of my job. I joined the railway in 1978, so I’ve experienced a couple of stints on this train and on this engine,” Mr Claassens reported.

“But it is heading improved now than it at any time has, and it truly is really fascinating to see the persons out in this article experiencing it due to the fact that’s why we all do this get the job done.”

He mentioned the finest section of the occupation was bringing smiles to the passengers’ faces, in particular at Easter time right after what had been a tough 12 months for several.

“There is a thing about the romance of steam, certainly from my position of check out. I was lucky enough to understand on the Zig Zag Railway quite a few several years back,” he claimed.

“But there is just something about it.

Lovingly restored

Soon after 12 a long time of painstaking restoration do the job, the steam educate is finally again in company.

Transport Heritage NSW rail functions supervisor Daniel Page mentioned the locomotive was fully stripped down and rebuilt.

“Each and every nut and bolt was eradicated. Just about every piece of it was laid out and restored, and reassembled. The boiler in the locomotive, the principal force vessel experienced a rebuild,” Mr Page said.

Right after lately becoming relaunched in Sydney, steam locomotive 3801 will now vacation in the course of NSW on a regional tour.

Mr Page reported the selection to get started in Albury was an simple a person.

“One of its initial massive journeys we selected for it to do was to provide it to Albury and the Riverina,” he said.

“It is a position the place 3801 frequently operated in the 1940s and 1950s, hauling the crack express trains and going persons all around NSW, so it is really really special to be back below in its homeland, so to communicate.”

The train will now shell out the subsequent 7 days at the Junee Rail Museum.

“In June, we are heading out to the Central West, and then in September we are heading to northern NSW, so we are genuinely thrilled to be using steam trains to nation NSW in which there is a large passion for them,” Mr Web site explained.

“It has knocked us in excess of just how quite a few people have a tale or a connection to this teach.