Historical information

7A
Built in 1905 and painted Canadian red & dark brown, this locomotive was issued to the Wangaratta to Whitfield line and saw service on all four lines with most of its service on the Upper Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook line. It was temporarily withdrawn from service in 1958 and returned to service at Belgrave in 1962 for the reopening of this line where it has seen almost continuous service since. 1979 saw the early two-tone green colour scheme applied to this loco as a trial even though it never historically carried it, but its physical configuration was not altered accordingly. It is now painted its original livery of Canadian red & dark brown and will eventually be returned, as far a possible, to its original condition with a low bunker, narrow ash-chute, etc.

Loco: 7A
In service Saturday, 6th May 1905
Livery Canadian red & dark brown
Owner Puffing Billy
Gauge 762 / 2' 6"
Status Preserved - Operational

Service History :
May 1905 Wangaratta - initial allocation of a new locomotive
May 1905 - Apr 1906 Wangaratta
Jul 1906 - Nov 1910 Colac
Feb 1911 - Jul 1912 Moe
Sep 1912 - Dec 1917 Colac
Mar 1918 - Sep 1921 UFTG.
Nov 1921 - Sep 1923 Colac
Dec 1923 - May 1925 UFTG.
Jun 1925 - Aug 1925 Workshops
Sep 1925 - Aug 1927 UFTG.
Aug 1927 - Feb 1928 Workshops
Mar 1928 - May 1928 UFTG.
Jul 1928 - Moe
Sep 1928 - Mar 1930 UFTG.
Apr 1930 - Sep 1930 Workshops
Oct 1930 - Oct 1936 UFTG.
Nov 1936 - Moe
Dec 1936 - Aug 1945 UFTG.
Dec 1946 - May 1953 Colac
Sep 1953 - Oct 1954 Moe
Dec 1954 - Jun 1955 Workshops
Nov 1955 - Dec 1957 UFTG. - Stored
Feb 1958 - Apr 1962 Workshops
May 1962 - Belgrave - In active service at Puffing Billy Railway Belgrave

Significance

Victorian Railways - Narrow Gauge NA class steam locomotive number 7A

Dates that 7A worked on the Gembrook Line
Mar-1918 to Nov-1921
Dec-1923 to Jun-1925
Sep-1925 to Aug-1927
May-1928 to Apr-1930
Oct-1930 to Nov-1936
Dec-1936 to Dec-1946
Nov-1955 to Feb-1958
May-1962 - Returned to Gembrook line
Oct - 1977 - Transferred to ETRB ownership

Physical description

Steam Locomotive with wrought iron frame with cast iron cylinders

Inscriptions & markings

7A