{"id":5707,"date":"2023-01-20T10:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T00:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=113685f42d65bf4a9a226c7741f64cba"},"modified":"2023-01-20T10:15:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T00:15:00","slug":"c30t-on-the-tumbarumba-branch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=5707","title":{"rendered":"C30T on the Tumbarumba Branch"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

NSW
\nC30T on the Tumbarumba Branch.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of the
\ndisappointing aspects of trying to model the Tumbarumba branch around 1970, was
\nthat very few locomotive classes were used. 
\n<\/span>After about 1961, virtually all the traffic was handled by 48 class
\nalcos, with CPH railmotors for the passenger trains.  <\/span>Steam working on the branch virtually
\nstopped, with only the occasional steam special hauled with C30T, and the rare standard
\ngoods on special workings.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lachlan Valley maroon livery 3026 with a shuttle train heading to Ladysmith, passes Rocky Hill in 1985.  My photo converted from slide <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

Prior to
\n1961, C30Ts handled most of the goods trains, with help from D50 standard
\ngoods..  <\/span>One had to go back to the 1920,
\nand 30s to find Z19s and Z25s<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

This blog
\npost though will concentrate on the C30T, mainly through photographs, and
\ninclude a modelling angle at the end.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Pictures
\nfrom the Tumbarumba and Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage booklets<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Tumba
\nrail have been producing a series of A5 sized booklets, showcasing the line,
\nand publishing a number of photographs accumulated over the years.  <\/span>These are a great resource for my modelling,
\nand I have received permission to include some of the pictures with
\nacknowledgement in my blog.  <\/span>(Apologies
\nin advance for the poor quality of the scans).<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3080 at Tarcutta in 1954 –  I K Winney photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3060 passes Shell Siding in 1960 with a long goods – Barry Lynch photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3060 just east of Copland street crossing – April 1960 – Barry Lynch photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3001 at Tarcutta in August 1953 – Jim Powe photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3060 on Wagga turntable – around 1960<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Steam
\nexcursion.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

The ARHS,
\nand Rail Heritage groups run a number of runs to Tumbarumba in the 1960s
\nand  <\/span>early 1970s.  <\/span>Some of these pictures have been uploaded to
\nthe internet to be shared.  <\/span>I also have
\ninterviewed Pete Neve \u2013 who has supplied me with some of his pictures from the
\n1965 double header trip<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1965 tour – at Humula<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1965 Tour 3142, and 3020 taking water – at Borambola – Graham Pegg picture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1965 Tour train arrives at Tumbarumba – Graham Pegg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3020 on the Tumbarumba Turntable – Graham Pegg photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Remarshalled for the return trip. Tumbarumba Potato Shed in the background. Graham Pegg photo 1965<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3020 and 3142 returning to Wagga – Graham Pegg photo 1965<\/p>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1965 tour train crosses Mannus Creek – Pete Neve photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3020 (and 3142 hidden) crosses the bridge just north of Humula – Pete Neve photo 1965<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Lachlan
\nValley steam shuttles to Ladysmith<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

After the
\nline was cut near Tarcutta by flooding in October 1974, the only steam loco
\nthat ventured onto the line was Lachlan Vallery\u2019s C30T 3026.    <\/span>I was fortunate in being able to travel
\nalong the line to Ladysmith, hauled by 3026. 
\n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Green 3026 taking water in 1983 – my photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3026 approaches Lake Road level crossing – my photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One trip, Tender first to Ladysmith – My photo 1983<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
After run-around, the train is ready to depart – My 1983 photo converted from slide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Modelling
\na C30T.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

In the
\nearly 1980s, Bergs Brass Models had the C30T made in HO.  <\/span>It was a must have.  <\/span>I purchased mine from Peter Pan, in Canberra
\nfor $285.  <\/span>I painted my model in colours
\nclose to Lachlan Valley, and numbered it 3026. 
\n<\/span>It was, and still is a solid model, with some shortcomings in detail, an
\nextended firebox into the cab, and openframe motor.   <\/span>But, this was the only model for some time,
\nuntil Trax brought out their excellent C30T, with bogie tender around
\n1988.  <\/span>Quite a rare model if you can find
\none<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bergs 3026 – repainted to LVR colours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bergs 3008 – bought on ebay around 2017 cheaply as it didn’t run.  Problem was the cummutator pickups on the open-frame motor had worn out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3028 – bought privately a few years ago.  Paint job is excellent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Another Ebay purchase, only last year.  The original Bergs 6 wheel tender had been replaced by someone with a brass bogie tender – possibly from a Bergs 32 class.  A far more suitable arrangement, as all the photos, apart from 3026, that I can find, had bogie tenders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trax C30T.  What a difference in the details!  Samhonga quality model from the late 1980s.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Later,
\nFootplate Models\/DJH produced a C30T kit, with Portescap gearbox\/ motor, and 6
\nwheel tender.  <\/span>I bought a kit at the
\ntime, and it sits in storage, awaiting assembly<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

For those
\nwanting plastic RTR, Wombat Models produced a great looking and running model
\nin about 2017, initially with a 6 wheel tender, but the second batch also
\nincluded a bogie tender.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wombat models C30T with 6 wheel tender crosses my model of the Kyeamba Creek bridge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

An
\nopportuntity? <\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

I was
\nchecking out the Trains, Planes and Automobile site in 2019, and noticed they
\nhad an assembled DJH C30T for auction. 
\n<\/span>Just one photo \u2013 looked OK.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Picture from the TPA catalogue.  Not even with the tender the correct way around. Hopeless,  Lighting is also poor.  TPA charge sellers around 18% seller commission, and I would expect for that, they would a) test the model, and b) have better lighting for their catalogue images<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As I live
\nno-where near TPA\u2019s auction rooms in Katoomba, I could not check in person, so
\nI placed a modest online proxy bid, and waited. 
\n<\/span>To my surprise, I won the loco for around $300 including commission and
\npost.  <\/span>Just over a week later, the loco
\narrived at my place, and I now understood why others did not bid.  <\/span>Not only was one tender axle missing (TPA
\nlost it), the others were loose.  <\/span>Many of
\nthe tender castings were broken or missing. 
\n<\/span>The loco body sat high on chassis at the cab end.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Missing axle on the tender when it arrived al my place.  The poor body to chassis fit is not obvious in this picture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Underside of tender.  The pickup for the wheel is visible, as is the poor standard of soldering<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
More poor soldering on the drawbar attachment end<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The red wire is the link from the drawbar to the Portescap motor. It was routed in such a way that the body would squash this wire when attached to the chassis. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I had
\nintended to replace the 6 wheel tender with a DJH D50 tender \u2013 (I had
\npreviously purchased a part assembled D50 cheap), so I wasn\u2019t too phased with a
\ndamaged tender.   <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The part built  D50 kit.  I had thought I would use the tender of this kit to replace the C30T tender.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As I was
\nfixing the chassis problem, caused by a poorly routed motor wire, I was
\ninterrupted on the workbench.  <\/span>Loosing
\nfocus, my shirt sleeve caught the body, propelling it off the workbench,  <\/span>Thus the body ended up damaged on the wooden
\nfloor.   <\/span>Unimpressed, and  <\/span>after taking some damage pictures, the whole
\nlot was placed in a clear Klip-it container, almost forgotten until I completed
\nWagga station<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The damage caused by the fall to the floor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Repair<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Tender.<\/span><\/i> 
\n<\/span>In the intervening 3 years, I had sourced a replacement axle.  <\/span>When I was shorting out one of the insulating
\nbushes on this axle, (drill a hole, and insert a wire that touches both the
\naxle, and the wheel casting), I then saw the phosphor bronze pickup wipers in
\nthe tender.  <\/span>So, the original builder had
\nchosen an inferior method for pickup that only collected power on 2 of the 3
\naxles.  <\/span>A good look at the tender shows a
\nshoddy assembly job, but this also explained why the axles were loose.  <\/span>The solder joins holding the axles were cracked.  <\/span>Simple resoldering repaired.  <\/span>However, .in the process of reinserting the
\naxle, the axle box fell off.  <\/span>Cause easily
\nidentified, no tinning on the brass, and the subsequent use of low-melt solder
\ndid not provide a firm connection of the whitemetal axle box casting.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Body<\/span><\/i>. 
\n<\/span>It was then I found some bubbling paint on the cab to footplate
\njoin.  <\/span>This paint easily flaked off when prodded.  <\/span>Cause most probably inadequate cleaning of
\nthe body prior to painting.  <\/span>The cab was
\nbent back into roughly square, and resoldered. The funnel, and headlight were glued
\nas I could no longer access the inside of the boiler for a lowmelt soldering
\nfix.   <\/span>However, for strength, I inserted
\na brass pin into the base of the funnel, and drilled out a corresponding hole into
\nthe boiler.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Chassis.<\/span><\/i> 
\n<\/span>I reattached the motor wire in such a way that it was no longer affected
\nthe reassembly.  <\/span>To my relief, the loco
\nmechanism was quite smooth.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Testing
\non DC<\/span><\/i>.  <\/span>After reassembly, the loco runs smoothly.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
After repair.  The missing tender balance bar is seen with a ghost image on the brass. Most of the axle boxes had also had the springs missing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Future
\nwork<\/span><\/i>.  <\/span>My original idea to mate this loco with a DJH
\nD50 tender, but unlikely now, as I now have both Wombat, and Bergs C30T with
\nbogie tenders.  <\/span>And I am now aware that
\nD50s, with original tenders were also used on the branchline, with pictures
\nshowing 5040 with a stock special in 1960, and 5163 shunting a returning Tumbarumba
\ntrain in Wagga  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

With all
\nthe damage, and shoddy work, I just can\u2019t justify spending significantly more
\neffort on this loco.  <\/span>I may just touch up
\nthe paint by hand, and weather.  <\/span>Not sure
\nthat fitting DCC will be on the agenda  <\/span>either. 
\n<\/span>Maybe sell it to raise  <\/span>funds?<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Buying a
\nmodel on the basis of one photograph is risky. 
\n<\/span>And more so, when the seller does not provide any guarantees on its running
\nquality.  <\/span>Yes, I spent too much.  <\/span>Another lesson to be learnt.  <\/span>But, it was good to at least turn a bunch of
\nparts into a working loco, and it is one more task ticked off my huge
\nlist.  <\/span>And I am back into building
\nlocos.  <\/span>Now, maybe the D50 can be completed.
\nIt has sat around for over 5 years<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Until next
\ntime. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

 NSW
\nC30T on the Tumbarumba Branch.<\/p>\n

One of the
\ndisappointing aspects of trying to model the Tumbarumba branch around 1970, was
\nthat very few locomotive classes were used. 
\nAfter about 1961, virtually all the traffic was handled by 48 class…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":13242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2261,2262,2234,2263,2264,2265,2215],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bergs","category-djh","category-ho","category-lachlan-valley","category-nsw-c30t","category-railway-tours","category-trax"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5707"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5708,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5707\/revisions\/5708"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}