Historical information

The locomotive was supplied new by Decauville to the Metropolitan Gas Company Ltd, Melbourne, for use at their gasworks in West Melbourne, where it was named Carbon suppied in 1889 (Couillet builder's number 986, Decauville serial number 90). It was named Carbon.

The West Melbourne gas works sourced its coal from Maitland, New South Wales, and the coal was brought by ship to a wharf adjacent to the West Melbourne gas plant. John Benn and Carbon were used to haul the coal over a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge railway from the wharf to the gasworks, a distance of about 450 metres (500 yards).

West Melbourne Gas Works No. "Carbon"
Wheels: 0-4-0T
Builder: Couillet
Build Date: 1890
Construction No.: 986
Empty Weight: Unknown
Weight on Drivers: Unknown
Driver Diameter: Unknown
Tractive Effort: Unknown
Boiler Pressure: Unknown
Cylinders: Unknown
Fuel: Coal
Gauge: 30

Decauville locomotives

The firm Société Anonyme Decauville located at Petit Bourg, France, was founded to manufacture light railways pioneered by French farmer Paul Decauville to transport crops from the field in 1875. Decauville began designing their own locomotives in 1882, although initially manufacture was contracted out to other builders, notably the Belgian firm Hainault at Couillet

Although not well known in Australia, in Europe Couillet was a significant builder of steam locomotives of many different gauges and sizes over a long period of time.
The locomotive was supplied new by Decauville to the Metropolitan Gas Company Ltd, Melbourne, for use at their gasworks in West Melbourne, where it was named Carbon (986)
.

Carbon ( 986 )

The locomotive weighs approximately seven tons.
It has the Couillet builder's number 986. of 1889
It was built for Decauville & Cie. of Paris, suppliers of portable and industrial railway equipment, and has their serial number of 90 of 1890.


Built in 1889 for the West Melbourne site of the Metropolitan Gas Company, it is a four-wheel tank locomotive and was named “Carbon”.
It was withdrawn from service in the 1930s and stored until sold privately in 1962.
For a few years in the 1960s it was used on a circle of track at Walhalla, before going to the Whistle Stop Amusement Park in Frankston.

Although a number of similar locomotives still exist, as far as is known Carbon is the only one still operating in its original condition.

Significance

Historic - Industrial railways - Metropolitan Gas Company Ltd, Melbourne Steam Locomotive

Physical description

Small Decauville Couillet Steam locomotive. - Iron & wrought iron frames

Inscriptions & markings

Couillet builder's number 986,
Decauville serial number 90