A pig goes to the pen

[aussiesteve]

G'day,
Just copped some news from the Rusty Train Museum, Thirlmere NSW that ex NSWR soot belcher 3642 is to retire from active service.
The final Main Line run will be on july 1st, heading south to Moss Vale and return.
Apparently, the "Pig" C36 class 4-6-0 needing some maintenance work.
The RTM having recently restored to action, Nanny C35 4-6-0 3526 will take over the Main Line action.
Apparently the final trip for the Pig will be in consort with the Nanny.
A bloke may hafta aim das auto down the short south for this caper.
Will hafta check the ARTC site for any TAA about this event.
Not the only soot belcher to be shortly retired, as TRP mentioned that 60009 will become a static display next year.
I guess that we can't expect these old beasties to perform endlessly.
Steve.

[tonyharker]

I've always wondered why you are so disrespectful to the venerable steam locomotive.

[aussiesteve]

G'day Tonyharker,
I am a disgruntled old bloke who is disrespectful to many things.
Soot belchers might be good to look at and take for a ride these days.
But, I doubt that many engineman would have enjoyed them during the so called glory days.
A steam era engineman was a different breed to that of today.
Yes, the sole time that I swung the banjo, I did mostly have fun.
Mind you, I had little idea of what I was doing.
But, I doubt I would have lasted for very long as an engineman if only puffer billies existed on the roster.
Oh, and the nickname of Pig for the C36 class was how enginemen referred to them.
It has stuck through the years with rail fans.
Nanny comes from the original alphabetic classification for the NSWR.
The C35 class originally being the NN class.
The P class was the original classification for the C32 class 4-6-0.
The C36 class appeared after the NSWR changed to a numerical classification.
Steve.