Locomotive No. 1 hauled the first passenger train in New South Wales, Australia. It was built by Robert Stephenson and Company. In 1846, the Sydney Railway Company[1] was formed with the objective of building a railway line between Sydney and Parramatta. No. 1 was one of four locomotives that arrived by sea from the manufacturer in January 1855. The first passenger train hauled by No. 1 was a special service from Sydney Station to Long Cove viaduct (near the present site of Lewisham) on 24 May 1855, Queen Victoria's birthday.
Quick Facts Type and origin, Power type ...
Locomotive No. 1 |
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Specifications |
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Configuration:
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• Whyte | 0-4-2 |
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Gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
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Driver dia. | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) |
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Length | 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m) |
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Loco weight | 26 long tons 1 cwt 1 qr (58,380 lb or 26.48 t) |
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Tender cap. | 4 long tons (4.064 tonnes; 4.480 short tons) coal, 2,000 imperial gallons (9,100 litres; 2,400 US gallons) water |
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Firebox: | |
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• Grate area | 13.8 sq ft (1.28 m2) |
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Boiler pressure | 120 lbf/in2 (830 kPa) |
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Heating surface: | |
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• Firebox | 85.3 sq ft (7.92 m2) |
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• Tubes | 1,060 sq ft (98 m2) |
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Cylinders | Two |
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Cylinder size | 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm) |
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Close
A common misconception is that Locomotive No. 1 hauled the first train at the grand opening of the first New South Wales railway, on 26 September 1855. In fact, No. 1 was in need of maintenance that day and not in steam. Its identical sister locomotive No. 3 worked the first passenger train from Sydney at 9:00 am and this was followed by the official train at 12:00 noon hauled by No. 2, driven by William Sixsmith and fireman William Webster.[2]