Essence

A quick post to describe the new photo in the main header.

Taken at Dubbo on my first ever trip there in 1964, one thing that stands out in it is the coal load in the tender. On the weekend of the photo, 3801 also was in the depot to work a tour train, & both the garratt & 3801 worked via the scenic route to Molong & on to Orange.

I had never seen any loco's ever with the amount of coal as found in both 6014 & 3801, as the latter was also coaled up that high.  I was to find out that the route was very hard with a lot of heavy grades, & it was not unusual for loco's working that route on the up to have to cut off their trains at Molong & run light to Orange for coal, thus all engines working along that route were coaled at that level which from what was said amounted to around an extra 2 & a bit tons.  That brought the amount of coal up to near 20tons in the tender.

On my next post I will put on another photo showing 6038 nearing Borenore being assisted by 5364, that shows how far back the coal is, this engine & train came out of Dubbo & was also coaled up high as per normal.

The reason I put these up is to show a bit of variation of steam locomotives & how they were coaled for in service.  6014 has been coaled as it departed loco, to go on to its train, & very full, during the trip it would use pretty well all the coal in the tender.

To me part of modelling is the aspect of variation especially as I try to capture a sense of reality, small things like the amount of coal in the tender, & where it is in the tender is part of that aspect of reality, its the same as weathering of not just loco's & rolling stock but also infrastructure & buildings.  How long did any of these stay pristine when in use after the paint shops or painters departed, & as far as the NSWGR back in the 60's freshly painted infrastructure was not the seal of death to them.