Rolling Stock
Tornado
3901 is a 5.25" Pacific owned by Graeme Belbin. It ran on the Banool Garden Railway and is still here on a long-term loan. This is our express passenger locomotive and the most powerful on the site. The copper boiler was built by Ross Style and even has a combustion chamber with Galloway tubes.
This was the first locomotive to run after we'd begun restoration of the railway and after some initial repairs it provided excellent service and was invaluable in maintaining the interest in what was a major and drawn out effort by many people. Nowadays we keep it for special occasions and generally run Bluey or Arnie instead.
BGR 1st class carriage
This 5.25" carriage proudly demonstrates the height of luxury afforded to passengers at Banool Garden Railway. A favourite among young and old alike.
BGR 2nd class carriage
This 5.25" carriage provides comfortable transport for the economically minded at Banool Garden Railway.
Bluey
1054 is a 5.25" ten-wheeler built at Toronto and bought by Phil Belbin for his garden railway. When I bought the property in 2017 this loco was in the roundhouse but in a terrible condition. In April 2017 we started a restoration and managed to fix most of the problems that were plaguing it. The original steel boiler failed years ago and its replacement is probably a copy of the original.
We guess that the 1054 number means it was finished in October 1954.
The page showing the restoration is here.
After the restoration we've re-bushed the valve gear and machined the slide valves and seats along with other minor repairs. This loco now runs so much better and is a pleasure to drive. Way different from the cantankerous beast it was when it was first named Bluey.
BGR 3rd class carriage
This 5.25" carriage was the riding car for Charlotte (5" Sweet Pea). But the low seating and unsprung bogies made it an uncomfortable ride. So the 5" bogies were replaced with some 5.25" bogies and it is now used when transporting people or equipment at Banool Garden Railway.
BGR electric loco
This 5.25" loco and car was a special order from MiniTrains. This shows that Banool Garden Railway embraces new technology as well as supporting and maintaining the old favourites. It's an excellent alternative for people who want to drive a train without the hassle of operating a steam locomotive.
Arnie
The real loco was built by A&G Price at Thames, Auckland, New Zealand. The model was built by Bob Short and the modelling detail is incredible. It might have been tested on air but was never steamed. After months of work and changes we've now steamed the loco and done some test runs. As expected it is a slow and powerful locomotive and facinating to watch. A great result for a locomotive that Bob spent so many years building.
This is a Meyer locomotive and the pistons drive jackshafts with gears to the bogie axles. The bogie design provides space for a generous firebox. The recent changes have made it much more maintainable and driveable.
The Arnie page is here.
Arnie Bum Truck
For better visibility of Arnie's controls when driving we now have a low-boy bum truck. This has an ergonomically reclined back rest for operator comfort and as well as the balanced springs and cushioned axlesboxes for a smoother ride the truck also has an amply-sized seat with anti-fatigue padding and sound- deadening matting for maximum enjoyment during extended driving shifts.
Yet another fine example of the high-quality standards maintained at this railway.
Last modified 2023-02-25
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