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Page added 28th February 1999.
The locomotives that are normally seen working through Lambing Flat are representative of what one would expect to observe were one able to stand by the lineside in rural NSW during the 1950's. Lambing Flat's status as a major intermediate station on a cross-country line and junction for the "pioneer" era branch to Murringo means that it is possible to observe examples of most classes of NSWGR secondary line power. The alterations involved in its new configuration with both 'legs" of the cross-country line entering and exiting at the same end of the yard, a la Binnaway, and the resulting changes in traffic patterns, has also resulted in some "big" engines (36 & 35 classes) being used on the Lambing Flat - Demondrille trains to supplement the Standard Goods locos, while the lighter engines are used on the Cowra trains. Each locomotive type on the line is rostered to haul the service most appropriate for its axle load and power classification. Here is a list of most of the locomotives currently available for service on Lambing Flat, with brief notes on their origin, the type of train they normally haul and their current status. All locos on the system have been fitted with coal, headlight glasses, crew and fire irons and have been appropriately weathered. Click on the links from the loco numbers to view more photos of that particular loco, eventually there will be shots of all of them. Standard Goods Locos.
The 280 members of the 50 class, along with
the 190 similar 53 class and 120 55 class locomotives were regarded as
the "Standard Goods" class on the NSWGR and were numerically the largest
class of steam locomotives in Australia. The 50 class was introduced as
the T(524) in saturated form in 1896 and after many rebuilds and modifications
the last members of the class were withdrawn from regular service in Dec
1972. Saturated 5096, 5069 and 5112, along with superheated 5132 have been
preserved, though none are at present in operating condition. A small class
of similar locomotives also operated on the Commonwealth Railways "Trans
Australian" line across the Nullabor. 10 of the T class were
requisitioned before delivery to the NSWGR by the British War Department
in WW1 to serve on the Western Front. They were never delivered to NSW
and saw out their lives on the Belgian Railways. More on this interesting
class can be found in the book, Standards in Steam, The 50 Class by R.G.Preston
(Eveleigh Press, 1992) which is available from the ARHS bookshop, 67 Renwick
St, Redfern NSW 2016 Australia, home site www.arhsnsw.com.au
Lambing Flat is currently host to three Standard Goods locos, and like any NSW cross-country line in steam days, could do with a few more! 5303:- This loco is a much modified old FSM kit that was available in the late 1970s. It has been modified to represent a 53 in 1940s condition with parallel boiler, but a drumhead smokebox. 5303 is currently out of service awaiting repairs to the chassis. 
5303 stands on No 2 siding, waiting for the "pick-up" to tow it to workshops for attention. 5262:-A "Classic" brass model of a North British built 50 class, distinguishably from the Beyer Peacock version by the chimney in the middle of the smokebox, rather than towards the front of the 'box, a la 5184. 
5262 shunts at the eastern end of Lambing Flat yard. 5184:- 5184 is a Mansfield Brass model that has been detailed and modified. The Turret tender is a very old FSM cast whitemetal model that has been seriously superdetailed to match the brass locomotive. 
Standard Goods locomotive 5184 arrives at Lambing Flat, "horse and cart", which was the unofficial NSWR term for an engine and brakevan combination. The MHG is a superdetailed Trax product from many years ago. The Standard Goods locos are fully employed
hauling goods trains "over the hump" from Harden to Lambing Flat, and are
often seen hauling No 9 Mixed from its connection with the Down South West
or Albury Mails at Harden to Lambing Flat, where it terminates at around
8.10am. The loco then spends a couple of hours shunting the yard
before returning to Harden as No 10 Empty Cars after the departure of No
4 Up passenger at 11.10am. The Up and Down pick-ups, (Nos 11 and
18), the conditional Goods, (85 and 86), the Through Goods, (219 and 218)
and the Coalie, (No 222) provide regular employment for Lambing Flat's
fleet of "Standards".
Passenger Power 3516:- This is a slightly modified Bergs Brass model and is painted in the lined green livery that the 35 class carried during the 1940s. It is hard to justify a green 35 on LF but I like it!  3610:- An unmodified Austrains Belpaire Pig.  36? :- An unmodified and un-numbered Austrains plain black roundtop Pig. 36? :- An unmodified and un-numbered Austrains lined green roundtop Pig. 3324:- No self respecting NSW layout would be without a representative of what was arguably the Department's single most useful class of motive power, the justly renowned P class, and Lambing Flat is no exception. In fact, we would like to have a few more of these extremely useful and versatile 4-6-0s! 3324 is a first run "Classic" brass model and has had the usual extra detailing added. The full size 3324 was a "regular" in the Young area at the end of the steam era and the model was weathered exactly to the photograph that appeared in the 1977 NSWRTM calendar. 
3324 stands in the loop waiting for authorisation to proceed onto the main line and head another train towards Cowra. 1706:- A modified Mansfield brass loco, it handles the lighter passenger trains to Cowra and is often rostered on the Murringo Pass. 
1706 waits outside the station with an LFX dogbox to attach to a passenger train. 1248:- This modified Trax brass model is one of my favourites, and has been "tweaked" so that not only does it look good, it can also haul a reasonable load. It is usually mated to a six wheel tender, but a Baldwin tender is also available to ring the occasional changes. It has been weathered to represent a loco, that while old, is the "shed favourite" and is kept reasonably clean. Like 1706, she handles the lighter passenger trains to Cowra and takes her turn on the Murringo trains. 
1248 poses for her portrait while waiting for the Outer Home to clear. Light Line Power 3063T:- 3063T is a Trax brass model of the superheated version of this class and has two tenders available, an ex 50 class bogie tender and a six wheel ex P class tender. As befits a Cowra based engine she normally runs with the 6 wheel tender and her ex 50 class bogie tender is now attached to visiting loco 3001T, as the standard bogie tender attached to the original Trax brass model had the airtank arrangement at the rear of the coal space incorrectly modelled. 3063T's bogie tender has had the air tanks on the rear of the tender moved forward, and a new rear coal space bunker fitted in the correct position. 
3063T shunts a first series steel S truck. The S truck is one of the extremely rare Craftsman etched brass kits with added detail. 2402:-
2402 is a Classic brass model and despite being the most recently acquired
(and most expensive) brass loco, it has been a bit of a disappointment
to the "Traffic" branch as it will not run smoothly or reliably, even after
being fitted with a North West Shortline gearbox, a new can motor and a
flywheel personally turned by The Great Guru of Lindfield, (who caused
great hilarity by apologising that the flywheel was 60 microns out of round!)
Despite every effort short of completely rebuilding the chassis, (which
is next on the list) it still refuses to run reliably enough to satisfy
the DS and normally languishes at the rear of the fiddle yard. It
would be very useful hauling trains to and from Cowra, as well as sharing
the Murringo line working but due to its poor performance it is rarely
entrusted with the responsibility of hauling a train.
Tank Engines 1316:- This
is the second oldest locomotive currently "on the roster", though it is
currently out of service waiting attention to its chassis. It is
a Trax brass model with the usual additions.
3112:- This
3rd run Berg's brass model is not only the oldest locomotive available
for service, it is also the first brass loco I ever purchased, way back
in 1979. It has had extra pickups added and has been painted and
weathered, but is otherwise in completely original condition, even down
to the original motor. It still runs smoothly and reliably and while
it will one day be "taken into shops" for a "tone-up", its reliable performance
means that that day may be some time off. With 1316 out of service
3112 maintained the mixed service to Murringo single-handedly at Burwood,
but for some reason has not yet re-appeared with the new arrangements.
Diesels 4820:-
Only one diesel sees occasional use on Lambing Flat, and that is 4820,
which is a Trax rtr plastic body on a K&M mechanism. It has not
yet been given "the treatment" as far as weathering and superdetailing
goes, but it is a nice runner and I have a soft spot for the prototype,
as I saw (and rode on) it many times when I was a teenager. On Lambing
Flat 4820 fills in on any service if a steam loco is not available, and
also gets a run on those odd occasions I feel like running a "diseasel"!
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