3801 Steam Locomotive Seen Today!

Summary

The author shares their personal experience of encountering the 3801 steam locomotive, a significant part of their childhood memories, and reflects on the cultural and technological changes since then.

Abstract

The author recounts their chance encounter with the 3801 steam locomotive while walking back from Sunday shopping. They recall the unique whistle of the locomotive, which has been a part of their earliest memories. The author shares their experiences of meeting their grandparents at Sydney Central station in the 1950s, where they would often get to sit in the driver's seat and help with the coal. After the locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1962, the author became a rail fan and went on many trips with the 3801. They reminisce about the excitement of capturing the locomotive on camera and the camaraderie among the rail fans. The author reflects on the changes in technology and culture since their childhood, from steam to electric transport, calculators to computers, and written letters to email and social media. They express their gratitude for the memories and the opportunity to share them with future generations.

Bullet points

The author had a chance encounter with the 3801 steam locomotive while walking back from Sunday shopping.
The author recalls the unique whistle of the locomotive, which has been a part of their earliest memories.
The author shares their experiences of meeting their grandparents at Sydney Central station in the 1950s, where they would often get to sit in the driver's seat and help with the coal.
After the locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1962, the author became a rail fan and went on many trips with the 3801.
The author reminisces about the excitement of capturing the locomotive on camera and the camaraderie among the rail fans.
The author reflects on the changes in technology and culture since their childhood, from steam to electric transport, calculators to computers, and written letters to email and social media.
The author expresses their gratitude for the memories and the opportunity to share them with future generations.

By accident, I saw a steam engine today! Beautiful 3801!

3801 Pacific Class 4–6–2, beautifully looked after. Snapped today. Picture by John Rose.

Walking back from Sunday shopping hauling shopping trolley, Heard 3801’s whistle unique in Australia’s steam locomotives, 3801 has been part of my earliest memories.

As luck would have it on railway bridge when 3801 passed by, Camera clicking and three pictures here for you.

3801 commissioned into service 1943 as express passenger locomotive, Parents and I would meet Grandma and Pa as 3801 majestically drew into Sydney Central in 1950's, Grandma had phobia over being late we were always hours early for return journey and goodbyes, Remember watching 3801 linking to carriages before sunrise, Driver would let me climb into cab, Help with coal and sit on drivers seat, Remember every detail, They cooked breakfast on shiny shovel with big steaming kettle mugs of black tea.

3801 withdrawn 1962, Became favorite loco for rail fans and I was on almost every trip, 3801 would stop before picturesque bend, Fans raced to nearest hill, 3801 in clouds of steam thundered past hundreds clicking cameras, Raced panting back climbed on board, Breathlessly excited munching snack, Drinking coffee and loudly talking about next clicking stop.

Remember all my trips, Scratches and bruises, Happily sharing stories of promised pictures undeveloped in rolls of color film, Now 3801 is preserved for grandchildren’s curiosity, Thinking about how to explain cultural change climate change and technology revolution, Steam to electric transport, Calculators to computers, Written letters to email, Web and social net invention, This will be fun.

Blessed be.

I just kept snapping 3801 Pacific Class 4–6–2. Picture by John Rose.

Now the water wagon, necessary since all steam water towers dismantled. Picture by John Rose.