Ng15 123 Steam Locomotive

One of the Friends of Bennett Brook Railway asked me if I had any footage of Ng15 123, a two foot gauge steam locomotive, named "Fremantle", operating at Whiteman Park. In response, I have put together a video of 1920x1080 HD clips I shot in 2010 and 2011, telling about a day in her life, commencing at the workshops, moving down to Mussel Pool Station, then travelling up to Whiteman Village Junction before going in an anti-clockwise direction around the Bushland Loop, before returning back to Mussel Pool. As the locomotive was filmed over a period of at least two years, you will see different crews and weather conditions. The video shot on the footplate was taken by my Wife when I drove Ng15 123 on my day's steam experience in June 2011. At the end of the video I have also added a bonus of a few minutes of lesser quality footage shot in 2007 when she was coupled up to Ng15 118s tender. (Ng15 118, named "Elizabeth" is currently out of service awaiting restoration.)

[@Niko69420]

Always a pleasure watching steam locomotive videos. Back in Poland in the 1920s, my great-grandfather was a train conductor! And I’ve always been into steam locomotives!

[@terrymercer2379]

Samuel Anketell has asked why they did not use sand to assist them going up the bank to get their carriages. The locomotive was cold; had just got steam up, so the sand, (which in the Ng locomotive, is in the sandbox on the running board, not on top of the dome) was damp and would not run. At 12:12 in the video, you can see the driver, at Mussel Pool, trying to break up the sand to get it running once it dries out from the locomotive's heat.

[@BennettBrookRailway]

Thanks very much for posting this. Great footage!

[@kerryjames7150]

Great t o see Simon again .

[@jaidencracknell2326]

pretty nice footage, good news is she could be back in steam maybe even this year

[@ivanolsen8596]

When I saw 123 my blood pressure jumped, I thought it was
the G class 123 that was 1 of several stationed at Fremantle
for wharf duties due to their light weight. I fired on 123 on
many occasions using coal and billets of wood during coal
strikes. Old 123 had kero lighting as she was built in 1887
in the UK, I can't remember the maker.
Last I heard of her she was removed from a park in
Rockingham after an unfortunate accident.
Did this 2ft gauge come from the Queensland cane trains?
I dont recall any 2ft used in WA.
Thanks Terry, looking forward to your next video.

[@Millsy1033]

2ft gauge was used in WA in many areas, including Wyndham Jetty Meat Works, Maylands Brick Works, Great Boulder Gold Mine and the Lake View & Star Gold Mine.
This locomotive (NG123) Was made in France, 1949 for the 2ft gauge railways for Namibia and South Africa. It was acquired by the West Australian Light Railway Preservation Association in 1984 for use at the Bennett Brook Railway in Perth that opened that same year. The railway was built entirely from scratch for tourism and preservation purposes and has no historical significance.
The locomotive you are referring to (G 123) is a WA Government Railways G Class locomotive that ran on the 3ft 6in mainlines of WA. It is now called the Koombana Queen and is preserved at the Hotham Valley Railway, south east of Perth, in storage awaiting an overhaul. G 123 was built in 1897 by Dubs & Co in Scotland. Its sister locomotive, G233 has recently been restored to operating condition by the South West Rail Heritage Centre.

[@Trainanatic]

Hope to see this in steam this year!

[@kerryjames7150]

I used to Ng 15 123 .

[@Raptor50aus]

Thanks Terry to posting this video, are you still involved with the Bennett Brook railway? If you find any wrecked rc planes on the train journey they might be mine :) I was flying at Whiteman WAMASC from 1992 upto 2018

[@terrymercer2379]

Thanks for your comments. No, I have never been involved in any official way with BBR; I am just someone who loves what they are doing and have achieved, and shot movie of the operations for my own enjoyment, long before I became aware of the potential of UA-cam to share my passion with others. I did inquire about joining up, but my other pursuits precluded it.

[@MySteamChannel]

Great, thanks...I would love to visit but illness prevents travel.

[@sydney3963]

I love your channel and your inspiring videos. This content needs P r o m o s m!!!

[@terrymercer2379]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am no expert, but love all things which run on rails, fly through the air or live on and in the sea.

[@ANALaniJA381A]

GREAT WORK TERRY I LOVED ALL YOUR FOOTAGE OF FREMANTLE IT WAS AMAZING AND WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO ATLANITC PLANET AND WYNDHAM AND FOTTE DAY MAY 2008 AND WHEN IS THE NG15 123 RETURNING TO SERVICE AND WILL IT BE RUNNING WITH THE WINTER SET ON ITS NEXT ASHLEY DAY J TANKER, PARTY COACH, AQ4745, AQ1788, DANCEFLOOR AND AQB2970 AND WILL IT BE GOING ANTICLOCKWISE ON THE LOOP

[@terrymercer2379]

Thanks for your kind words. I am working on Betty Thompson at the moment, and then I will do the diesels. I am going through my archives now, finding old footage.

[@andgate2000]

Get some staff or a 4x4 to push.

[@gerhardsteenkamp8759]

The steam on the treks don't help. Whay don't thy sand on the treks?!!!

[@terrymercer2379]

The sand in the sand box will not come out until the locomotive gets hot. It takes a few hours to dry out.