X1073

TypeAccident Crane
Wheel ArrangementT-T-D-D-T
Entered Traffic24/12/1929
Year Withdrawn1999
FatePreserved Richmond Vale Railway
BuilderCraven Brothers, Vauxhall Works, Reddish, Stockport
Builders NoC5479
Match TruckL514
Sling TruckL1438
Lifting capacity (blocked up)70 tons at 21ft radius
50 tons at 25ft radius
35 tons at 30ft radius
Lifting Capacity (free on rails)12 tons at 21ft radius
6 tons at 25ft radius
Length33' 7" over buffers


Chronology

8/11/29Arrived in Australia aboard the SS Huntingdon
1/1/40Allotted to Enfield
29/7/48Used with 1072 at Rocky Ponds derailment.
?/?/52Used with 1048 to recover 5441 which had rolled down an embankment between Scarborough and Wombarra.
15/5/52Used with 1072 to rerail 5586 between Berowra and Mt. Kuringgai.
?/?/54Used to install 105 ft turntable at Werris Creek
1/7/63Alloted to Enfield
23/8/63Used with 1056 to rerail 3817 & 6003 following collission at Geurie
1/7/64Alloted to Enfield
1/7/65Allotted to Enfield
25/12/65Used to rerail 4407 & 4539 which had collided at Robertson. 1073 was hauled to the scene from the Illawarra end by 4502.
1/7/66Allotted to Enfield
1/7/67Undergoing Overhaul at Eveleigh Shops
?/3/68Reentered service with diesel drive
1/7/68Allotted to Enfield
21/6/69Attended derailment of CH coal hoppers at Ashfield. 1073 lifted the hoppers while a Taylor and Hubbard crane provided temporary support for the overhead wiring structures.
1/7/69Allotted to Enfield
15/9/69Attended Spirit of Progress Derailment between Bowral & Mittagong, hauled to scene by 48138.
1/7/70Allotted to Enfield
20/9/70Used together with 1072 to rerail 3822 at Tuggerah. 1073 lifted tender end.
1/7/71Allotted to Enfield
1/1/72Allotted to Enfield
6/5/72Used with 1060 to rerail 4462, 4525, 4537 and 11 wagons after a collision at Robertson. 1073 lifted at the Wollongong end.
1/7/72Allotted to Enfield
23/11/72Used with 1072 to rerail petrol tankers at ?
1/7/73Allotted to Enfield
1/1/74Allotted to Enfield (on loan to Broadmeadow)
1/7/74Allotted to Enfield
1/7/74Under overhaul Eveleigh Workshops
?/9/74Released from workshops allotted to Enfield
18/1/77Used to rerail 4620 at the Granville disaster.
?/7/90Used together with 1072 to rerail 8009 at Narromine
14/11/90Used to rerail 48141, 48131,48135,48155 and 6 wagons derailed at Gunnedah Abbatoir.
1/1/97Allotted to Broadmeadow
30/9/2000Moved by road to Richmond Vale Railway

1073 and its mate1072 were among the most successful of the accident cranes, after their arrival they dominate the major rerailing jobs and lasted well beyond the end of steam. Originally steam powered 1073 was rebuilt to diesel drive in 1969 using a 6 cylinder GM 671 engine, an Allison Torqmatic gearbox and a final drive unit designed and built in the railway workshops.

Photos

The photos on this page were taken by Jeff Mullier and show various stages of the move of 1073 to Richmond Vale.

Grunbach page 258 shows 1073 and 1072 salvaging 3822 at Tuggerah in 1970.

Oatespages 81 and 82 have photos of 1073 and and 1056 rerailing 6003 at Geurie

Railway Digest September 1990 has a photo of 1073 rerailing 8009 at Norromine.

Railway Digest February 1991 has a photo of 1073 at the Gunnedah Abbatoir derailment.

Railway Digest September 1993 has a photo of 1073 at the Geurie collission of 1963.

Byways of Steam 2 page 32 shows 1073 lifting the new 105' turntable bridge into place at Werris Creek. Byways of Steam 4 has another photo of the same event on page 128.

John Thompson's 38 class book has a number of photos of 1072 and 1073 working together to rerail 38 class, including 5 photos of the Rocky Ponds accident and one of Tuggerah.

The 60 Class page 197 has 4 photos of the Guerie accident. Also a photo of 1072 and 1073 rerailing 6007 at Islington Junction.

Roundhouse April 1995 has a photo of 3129 hauling 1073 from Enfield to Chullora on 31/3/1960. This was apparently a common job, a crane from Enfield being taken to Chullora on Mondays to do any outdoor heavy lifting jobs. The jib of 1060 can just be seen in the background. The April 1996 edition has a another photo of 1073 doing general lifting work Chullora workshops. Roundhouse October 1998 has two photos of 1073, 1060 plus a Taylor and Hubbard light crane (rail mounted) erecting overhead at Lewisham on 18/8/1968.

Locomotive Profile - 43 Class page six has a photo of a 43 class passing the scene of the 23/11/72 derailment at ?, 1073 and the jib of 1072 can be seen.

The Australian book of Trainshas a photo of 1073 and 1072lifting a 57 class.

The Railways of Australia by Stephen Brooke has two photos of 1073 rerailing 4620 at the Granville disaster.

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