Re: The Last of the Beyer Garratts
Author: Ed Immel
Date: 07-25-2017 - 10:22
There are a number of Garrett's in operation. The Puffin Billy operation in Melbourne, Australia normally uses a 30 inch gauge Garratt for their lunch train. The 2-6-0+0-6-2 has the same gauge as the Portland Zoo Railway but has a cab one can comfortably stand up in. There is also a large standard gauge 4-8-4+4-8-4 (No 6029)that sees excursion service in Australia. I was able to ride double-head Garrets while on my R&R from Australia. Sounded like quadruple Northerns! The Sandstone railway in South Africa has a number of narrow gauge Garrets in operation while the Welsh Highland Railway in Great Britain uses 2-foot Garratts for most of their trains. They also occasionally steam up the first Garratt constructed which is in their collection. There are also a number of newly constructed 15-inch gauge Garrets at museums in Great Britain.
I understand that there is a 2-foot gauge Garratt at a private game farm in Texas. Anyone have a photo of it in operation?