TAMWORTH relived the glory days of steam at the weekend as the 5917 chugged into the region, with only a couple of issues that come with age.
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More than 2000 people rode the rails in the vintage, open air windowed carriages from the 1930s hauled by the 1952-built 59 class steam locomotive.
Although there were a couple of mechanical issues on Saturday, it was smooth running yesterday after the engine was repaired.
The spring rigging broke on the engine, meaning the first shuttle to Kootingal was cancelled on Saturday morning, with most passengers accommodated on later shuttles and others refunded.
“Everyone was really kind and patient and we are just so appreciative about the way it was handled,” Lachlan Valley Railway communications manager John Healey said.
“People were really gracious and accommodating and we got everybody away.
“The second shuttle ran under diesel and we then got back on track with the steam engine. It’s nearly a 70-year-old piece of equipment and things break.”
Mr Healey thanked everyone who assisted in getting the steam engine back on track, including the Lachlan Valley Railway workers who worked with locals from Tamworth and Werris Creek, and Keith Jones, who drove parts from Dorrigo and met halfway with people from Tamworth.
Mr Healey thanked Scanlon’s Concrete, who supplied and trucked the coal for Lachlan Valley Railway, and the NSW TrainLink staff who “bent over backwards to help”.
“(Yesterday) it was all running to time and we had lots of happy people,” he said.
Mr Healey said the highlight for many people, other than the pleasure of travelling under steam, were the compartments.
“We do have one open-seating plan car and there have certainly been no qualms about that, but people have been really big on the compartment carriages,” he said.
Lachlan Valley Railway have promised to return with steam, but Tamworth could be waiting a couple of years.
“We have a lot of centenaries down south next year, but we’d love to come and do a full- blown North West tour out to Gunnedah and up to Armidale,” Mr Healey said.
The train steams out of Werris Creek this morning.