Historical information

VR Commissioner's Special train, steam locomotive D3-639 filling up with water at the coal hopper, Echuca Railway Station, 1962. The tender has been all polished up.

THE ECHUCA COALING STAGE.
Locomotives would stop alongside to receive coal dropped into their tenders from small overhead rail mounted tipping trays. Water could be obtained from either the elevated tank at one end or the connected standpipe at the opposite end. Locomotive firebox contents could be dumped into pits between the rails from locomotives once they were carefully positioned above them. Such locomotives then could move onto the Engine Shed area for overnight parking. Firebox fires would be re-lit when the locomotive was next needed in a day or so.

Physical description

Digital TIFF file
Scan of black and white print enlargement on textured paper (14.5 x 21 cm)