Friends of the Rail Forum

The following shot could have been taken anytime between 1892 and 1964, when the 32 class 4-6-0 (formerly P class)
and the end-platform carriages worked the majority of Illawarra services. In fact it is a tour in 1984, the last time that 3214 ran and one of the last steam tours to Bomaderry (Nowra).
The 32 class were built from 1892 until 1917, 191 in number, 3201-3391. They survived as a complete class until 1956 when 3264 was deemed irrepairable after rolling down an embankment at Otford.
With continuing dieselisation, the class was withdrawn in ever increasing numbers from 1958 onwards, but the last 4 were in service until 1971. Number 3246 was the last steam loco in regular passenger service in Australia, working the Newcastle-Singleton and return commuter runs (737+720) until july 1971. The other survivors were 3214, 3229 and 3237, all as shunt and reclamation work.
Numbers 3203, 3214, 3237 and 3265 were kept after steam finished. 3203 was stopped in 1978 and 3214 in 1984. But 3237 was returned to service in 2003 and 3265 is doing trials now, so double class 32s may again be possible. The last time this happenned was in 1977 with 3203 + 3214 on a weekend tour Sydney- Cootamundra-Tumut-Cootamundra-Sydney. And what a great trip it was!!
3203 1892 Beyer Peacock
3214 1892 Beyer Peacock
3237 1893 Beyer Peacock
3265 1901 Baldwin