5408 No 258 pick-up shunting Wyong October 1972
Posted: 08 Jun 2009, 14:13
Posted on behalf of Dennis Mitchell, the photgrapher:
It is late 1972 and the chargeman has a problem! The diesel 4305 (a bad recommendation for a pick-up anyway!) has failed. There are no spare diesels; the only 59 left is on 269 pick-up, and the union has a ban on garratts working pick-up trains! Solution: ring Port Waratah depot, "Do you have a spare steam loco for the up pick-up?" And that is how 5408 ends up on 258 pick-up in the very late steam era.
If you look closely, you will notice the name DUBBO on the sand box. This was 5408's home until may 1972, as shunter, until the 73 class diesel shunters put her out of work. Port Waratah gave her a home to work out her remaining days. But the oil shortage of late 1972 saw these old 2-8-0's back on the short north for the first time in years.