Locomotive 3642 is a two-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, coal-fired superheated, 4-6-0 36 class express passenger steam locomotive built for the

New South Wales Government Railways New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) was an agency of the Government of New South Wales that administered rail transport in the colony, and then the state, of New South Wales, Australia, between 1855 and 1932. History The NSWGR built ...

in 1926 by

Clyde Engineering Clyde Engineering was an Australian manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, and other industrial products. It was founded in September 1898 by a syndicate of Sydney businessmen buying the Granville factory of timber merchants Huds ...

. It is one of three 36 class locomotives that were preserved.

In service

3642 entered service in 1926 hauling passenger trains throughout

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

. Originally painted black, in the mid-1930s it was repainted green. With the onset of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

it returned to black. In 1955 it was fitted with a

Belpaire boiler The Belpaire firebox is a type of Firebox (steam engine), firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium in 1864. Today it generally refers to the shape of the outer shell of the firebox which is approximately ...

.History of Locomotive 3642
Heritage Express In 1964, it was one of six members of the class to receive power reversing units.

Demise and Preservation

3642 was withdrawn from

Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot (NSW depot number 2) was a large locomotive depot consisting of two Railway roundhouse, roundhouse buildings and associated facilities constructed by the New South Wales Government Railways adjacent to the marshalli ...

in September 1969, and placed in the custody of the

New South Wales Rail Transport Museum The NSW Rail Museum is the main railway museum in New South Wales, Australia. A division of Transport Heritage NSW, it was previously known as the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM), Rail Heritage Centre and Trainworks. Transport He ...

(NSWRTM) in 1970. After being returned to service in December 1970, 3642 worked to

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

with

3801 3801 (pronounced Thirty-eight o-one) is a New South Wales C38 class locomotive, C38 class 4-6-2 steam locomotive built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways between 1943 and 1974. It is arguably Australia's most famous s ...

as part of celebrations to open the Whyalla line in October 1972. In 1973 the engine was found to have cracking in its firebox and was taken out of traffic pending re-boilering.Locomotive, Steam 3642
NSW Environment & Heritage It was stored at

Enfield Locomotive Depot The Enfield Locomotive Depot was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways in Strathfield South, New South Wales, Strathfield South, Sydney. It was part of the Enfield Marshalling Yards, which covers a considerable area in the west of t ...

, being hauled to by 5910 to

Thirlmere Thirlmere is a reservoir in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district in Cumbria and the English Lake District National Park, Lake District. The Helvellyn ridge lies to the east of Thirlmere. To the west of Thirlmere are a numbe ...

with the rest of the collection in June 1975. In 1979, 3642 was transferred to Goulburn Roundhouse to be overhauled. The work was funded by the

State Rail Authority The State Rail Authority, a former statutory authority of the Government of New South Wales, operated and maintained railways in the Australian state of New South Wales from July 1980 until December 2003. History The ''Transport Authorities A ...

who upon its return to service in November 1981, operated the locomotive on heritage trains throughout

with maintenance contracted to the NSWRTM. In 1986, it ran to

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

for ''

The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera may refer to: Novel * The Phantom of the Opera (novel), ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (novel), 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux Characters * Erik (The Phantom of the Opera), Erik (''The Phantom of the Opera''), the title char ...

'' which included a parallel run with Victorian locomotive R766. In 1989 it reverted to the custody of the NSWRTM. In 1992, it again visited Victoria with 5910 to celebrate 30 years of the standard gauge line to Melbourne. In the December 1994 issue of ''

Railway Digest ''Railway Digest'' is a monthly magazine, published in Sydney, covering contemporary railways in Australia. Overview The magazine is published by the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS), NSW Division. The first issue was in March 1 ...

'' magazine, a photograph of 3642 was accompanied by a caption stating that the locomotive had been withdrawn from service following the failure of an ultrasonic test on the rear driving axle and that there were no plans to repair the locomotive at that stage. After failing its boiler inspection in 1996, it became a static exhibit at Thirlmere. In 2006 work commenced to restore 3642 and in March 2008 it returned to service. At the end of 2008, a project to repaint the engine began. The project was completed in 2010. Prior to 3642's return to traffic in 2012, 3642 appeared at the

Hunter Valley Steamfest The Hunter Valley Steamfest is one of the major events in the New South Wales steam locomotive season and also one of the major events held in Maitland, New South Wales, Maitland, in the Hunter Region. Held over two days in April, it is usually ...

after a 16-year absence in 2008. In July 2011, 3642 was taken out of service for a re-tyre of the all driving wheels and a small mechanical overhaul returning to service in April 2012. From 2012 to 2018, 3642 had operated on the Thirlmere railway museum on shuttles to either pickton or Buxton or on mainline trips around New South Wales, but the locomotive has also appeared at day out with Thomas events from 2012 to 2018, 3642 during day out with Thomas events plays Henry although 3642's stablemate 2705 used to play Henry from 2009 up to 2012 which resulted in 3642 assuming the role of Henry during day out with Thomas events. The Locomotive remained active for many years up until 2018. In July 2018, 3642 was withdrawn from active service.Farewell 3642
NSW Rail Museum It has been maintained in operational condition. In June 2019 it was hauled to Sydney for display at the Transport Heritage Expo. In 2023, the engine would return to traffic; the engine now wears a black livery to replace its previous green livery. However 3642 is now only restricted to run on special occasions since it ran for a limited time back In 2023.

Gallery

File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 d.jpg,

Builder's plate A builder's plate is usually a metal plate that is attached to railway locomotives and rolling stock, bogies, construction equipment, trucks, automobiles, large household appliances, bridges, ships and more. It gives such information as the nam ...

File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 c.jpg, Crank File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 a.jpg, Driving Gear File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 b.jpg, 3642 at

Central station Central stations or central railway stations emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as railway stations that had initially been built on the edge of city centres were enveloped by urban expansion and became an integral part of the ...

File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 e.jpg, 3642 at

File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 g.jpg, 3642 at Katoomba station File:NSWGR Locomotive 3642 f.jpg, 3642 at Katoomba station File:3642 Steamfest.jpg, 3642 at the

in April 2009 File:3642 locomotive departing Wagga Wagga Railway Station.jpg, 3642 at

Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 57,003 as of 2021, it is an important agricultural, m ...

in 2013

References

External links

{{NSWLocos 4-6-0 locomotives Clyde Engineering locomotives Individual locomotives of Australia Railway locomotives introduced in 1926 Preserved steam locomotives of New South Wales Standard-gauge locomotives of Australia