Australia's Last Steam Railways: The South Maitland and Richmond Vale Railways

The South Maitland and Richmond Vale Railways were a significant network of standard-gauge lines serving collieries in the New South Wales coalfields, with passenger services introduced in 1902. The New South Wales Government Railways took over passenger services from 1930 until 1961, followed by diesel railcars until 1972. The railways used a fleet of British-built steam locomotives, ranging from six coupled saddle tanks to several originally built for use in the Mersey Tunnel, and thirteen ROD tender locomotives constructed for use in France during the First World War. Steam operation ended on the South Maitland system in 1983, leaving the Richmond Vale operation as the last commercial steam working in Australia until 1987.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2024
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

The South Maitland and Richmond Vale Railways, two extensive networks of standard-gauge lines, played a crucial role in serving collieries in the New South Wales coalfields. The first section of the South Maitland Railway opened for coal traffic in 1893, with passenger services introduced on a portion of the growing SMR system from 1902. The volume of traffic was so significant that sections of the route were double-tracked and signalled. The New South Wales Government Railways took over passenger services from 1930 until 1961, and the SMR continued with diesel railcars until 1972. The RVR operated passenger trains for miners until 1959. The railways utilized a diverse fleet of locomotives, including British-built steam locomotives ranging from six coupled saddle tanks to several originally built for use in the Mersey Tunnel, as well as thirteen ROD tender locomotives constructed for use in France during the First World War. However, the last working locomotives were a fleet of Beyer Peacock 2-8-2 tank locomotives. Steam operation on the South Maitland system ended in 1983, leaving the Richmond Vale operation as the last commercial steam working in Australia until it ceased in 1987. A section of the Richmond Vale Railway has been preserved as a museum line, and many locomotives have survived. John Woodhams has documented the history of these railways through a captivating collection of previously unpublished images.

Weight: 304g
Dimension: 163 x 233 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398110212