By Goya Dmytryshchak
Australia’s largest locomotive – known as Heavy Harry – is set to get a $150,000 roof over his head at Newport.
Built at the Newport Railway Workshops in 1941, he is Victoria’s only heritage-listed steam locomotive.
And Harry sure is heavy – in fact, he’s the heaviest non-articulated steam locomotive in the Southern Hemisphere, coming in at 264 tonnes when operational.
Williamstown MP and Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne on Friday visited the Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at Newport to announce the he would be better protected.
“Heavy Harry is a unique part of Victoria’s rich railway history and is now being preserved for future generations to enjoy,” she said.
“The locomotive has an intriguing history and is the only train of its type in the world, so we are delighted to be able to protect one of the icons of Victoria’s steam train era.”
The H class locomotive H220 was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2008.
He is listed as being of state significance for representing the peak of steam motive power technology in Victoria, being the only example of its class built and being the most powerful steam locomotive in the Victorian rail network.
He was withdrawn from service in 1958 as steam power was replaced by diesel electric motive power in Victoria.
The museum, which houses steam, diesel and electric locomotives and various other vehicles and railway artefacts, is open to the public on weekends.
