X1004

The following history draws heavily on the published works of Peter Neve, and Ray Love.

One of four, this locomotive was built to replace the 4 original locomotives purchased by the department. Constructed in the departmental workshops around plate frames supplied by Robert Stephenson & Company, they received the tenders from the original locomotives numbers 1 to 4. Entering service in December 1877, 1004 was used for suburban passenger working mostly from Sydney to Parramatta until withdrawn around 1889. In September 1896, 1004 was sold to a construction contractor Mr Fotheringham who at the time was engaged in the construction of the line from Bogan Gate to Condoblin line. It was returned briefly to railway owner ship in early 1898, receiving an overhaul before being sold in March 1900 to the Public Works Department. This department employed the engine on southern line construction, probably on the Culcairn to Holbrook and The Rock to Lockhart lines. During this period it received repairs at Junee on a number of occassions. 1004 received an overhaul at Eveleigh in 1904 before transfer to the isolated Grafton to Casino railway for further construction train working. In 1905 it hauled the first public passenger service out of Grafton. It was then transfered to construction work on the Kyogle branch and on the South Grafton to Glenreigh section. During this North coast construction work under PWD control it retained its 78x number and may have been still officially railway property as it did not recive its PWD number 13 until 1915

When responsibility for railway construction returned to the railway department in 1917, 1004 also returned to railway ownership and continued to be used on the construction of new lines being employed initialy on the construction of the Glenreagh to Dorrigo railway. As work on this line was suspended for some time it is probable that 1004 lay idle until 1925 when it was towed to Sydney and set up stuffed and mounted outside Enfield locomotive depot as a garden ornament. In 1938 the tender was removed and used on the original locomotive No1, then on display in Martin Place. This tender is the one currently displayed with No1 in the Power House Museum. A tender from a 24class was substituted but eventualy so deteriorated as to be beyond restoration and the NSWRTM substituted a 17class tender. 1004 remained on the plynth until the 8th October 1971 when it was removed and placed in the collection of the NSW Rail Transport Museum . In the museums care it has been the subject of several thorough static restorations being a jewel in the museums collection.

Photos

Grunbach has a photo on page 33 of 1004 as it appeared originaly for suburban service with a spectacle plate fitted to the tender.

Eardley1 has a photo of 1004 carrying the 78X number and with side rods missing. This photo also appears in Byways of Steam 18 page 147.

McNicol page 9 shows 1004 in the round house at Enfield shortly after being removed from the plinth, photo taken 2nd November 1971.

Roundhouse Jan 1987 has a photo of 1004 under restoration at Thirlmere.

Roundhouse April 1989 has an article on 1004 with numerous photographs. The first appears to be the same as the one in Grunbach. The second shows 1004 in service with 3233. The third photo is the same as that in Eardley. The fourth photo shows 1004 on the plynth at Enfield, with original tender and clearly numbered 1004, showing that the engine did carry its 1924 number for a short period although not in service. The fifth photo, also on the plynth shows 1004 with the 24class tender and numbered 78. Roundhouse 4/90 and 1/91 have photos of restoration work in progress on 1004. October 1998 edition has a photo of 1004 positioned at Thirlmere station during a ceremony to mark the completion of its most recent overhaul before being placed on public display in the museum.

ARHS Bulletin July 1998 has a photo of 1004 on the plinth at Enfield. It is carrying the 1004 number.

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