300 Class Australian Standard Garratt Locomotives

Prior to the delivery of the 400 Class Garratt steam locomotives to the narrow gauge Peterborough Division of the South Australian Railways in the early 1950's, operators were faced with a shortage of heavy locomotive power. As a temporary measure, six Australian Standard Garratts were acquired from Western Australia to fill the need. This video is from early black and white movie films from the period and shows some of those locomotives in operation. (There is no audio track on this video)

[@robertcameron2808]

Thanks for the memories I used to live in Terowie the home of the 300 and 400

[@melaniedennis7598]

Extremely rare and valuable footage: thanks for making it available.

[@vsvnrg3263]

that was some classy footage taken back when cameras and film cost an arm and a leg.

[@ethanramos4441]

These really did have a notorious reputation

[@smitajky]

But as always there was more to it than it seems. The engines were enormous compared to anything that existed before. They were coal fired because in the war we had coal but not oil. However it meant crews had to work a lot harder than ever before. So they didn't like that. There was some considerable union resistance to them. But remember it was wartime and everyone was making sacrifices. I read through one of the royal commission reports and it was a lot less scathing of the locomotive than the crews were.

[@garryc7774]

Amazing, historical footage. Thanks for sharing.

[@russellharding3371]

They were such an unusual looking beast, and I'm still trying to work out what that ungainly looking addition is, to the usual locomotive...
I would appreciate any input 👍

[@peacemeal3196]

Wow - what a treasure to see! Thank you!

[@crippledtruckie6461]

I fired the 400 class and didn’t even see these though the older crew spoke of them disparagingly and preferred the 400 class

[@smitajky]

You are given the choice of shovelling coal in a hot confined cabin or turning a tap for oil. Now I wonder which one you would prefer?

[@trevorjohnston9504]

Queenscliff Victoria?

[@cozmoandfriends9238]

I’m following the restoration of g33 online here in Victoria

[@trevorjohnston9504]

Queenscliff Victoria?

[@liammatthews5656]

04:39 is that a Silverton A class in the background? (next to the coal stage) It looks too big to be something like a Y, and it doesn't quite look like a T either...

[@doggerbendrailway6002]

Wish more ASG where saved 😢