The J 550 Steam train was one of sixty 2-8-0 locomotives built for the Victorian Railways by Vulcan Foundry of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. The first 30 locomotives (J 501 – J 529) were built as coal burners, and the second 30 (J 530-J 559) as oil burners with a distinctive circular oil tank mounted in the tender coal space.
J 550 became the last steam loco in revenue service for Victorian Railways when rostered on the 6:00am Bendigo pilot on May 25 1972. J 550 had been displayed at the old Mirboo North station from 1974.
In 1985 it was acquired by Steamrail Victoria as a future swap for A2 986, which had been plinthed at Warragul and was wanted for overhaul and restoration at Newport.
After a period in storage at Newport, J 550 was moved to Warragul in 1986 and plinthed in replacement for A2 986. J 550 was displayed at Warragul with an oil-burner J-class tender, but with the cylindrical oil tank removed from the tender.
After many years plinthed at Warragul, J550 was acquired by a preservation group and transferred to Noojee on 27 March 2013
38 field Squadron RAE and the 2 Recovery Company RAEME which was part of 3 EME Services Unit, were brought in to help relocate the train, taking sections of track and placing them in front of the locomotive and then moving the Loco, taking up the last section of track behind and moving it to the front again, 2 Recovery Coy using an International Mk 5, 5 ton Wrecker, an International M62/M543 Medium Wrecker and an unusual looking Land Rover.
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
In 1965 2 Recovery Company (Comm Z) was located to Korumburra and Warragul, with its Headquarters in Korumburra. As this was a Corp change most of the serving members had to be retrained as RAEME tradesmen. In 1973 the unit became the recovery platoon element of 3 EME SERVICES UNIT. Its role was to provide recovery and driver training for soldiers in Third Military District, (3MD), and later all districts.
The unit also served in direct support of 3MD / 4 Brigade operations and tasks.
The unit continued to carry out many specialist recovery support tasks. In 1988 the unit became 3 Recov Coy. ( LSF).
The Coy HQ was in Korumburra, with I Recovery Platoon in Korumburra/ Warragul and 2 Platoon in Homebush Sydney. In 1992 Homebush & Warragul depots closed. 2 PI. was relocated to Baxter (VIC). Baxter closed 1997, with 2 Pl then relocating to Korumburra. In 2002 3 Recovery Coy relocated to Dandenong.
Because of the “pool of recovery knowledge” and the equipment capability this unit has, over the years been instrumental in many interesting and varied recovery tasks.
Some of these include;
The recovery on guns from Pt Nepean, (1976),
recovery of winch and 16 tonne boiler from Outrim (1978), Extraction and recovery of the “disappearing gun” from the South channel fort, in Port Phillip Bay (1980). Gun shields from Pt Lonsdale (1981) and Winch and gold stamping battery, Swifts Creek 1988. General Morseheads caravan to the Australian War Memorial 1995. Relocating Australia’s last WWII B24 Liberator Bomber from the Latrobe Valley to Werribee 1996.
These are just a few of the unit’s “battle honours”, and over the years this unit has recovered such bizarre items as refrigerators, LARC’s, tanks (of varying size and vintage), plant equipment and even the odd steam train!
We have supported many and varied units and activities in every state of Australia. We have moved national historical items, for the Australian War Memorial, and have been called out to assist Victoria Police in recovering civilian cars involved in accidents, on more than one occasion.
The unit has, in the past, been the “centre of gravity”, with reference to Army Reserve recovery training. For close to twenty years (from the mid 60’s to mid 80’s) the unit had the role of providing recovery training to the CMF/ General and Army reserve soldiers. The unit also recognized the requirement to conduct driver training. For many years the unit conducted simultaneous driver/recovery training. To fulfill these twin requirements the unit managed to deploy to such exotic places as, El Dorado, Hattah (little desert country), Boola State Forest, Eden, Swifts Creek, and eventually Yackandandah.
Sources; ‘Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under’
RAEME ‘Craftsman’ magazine
Mel Constable
RAEAV Collection PV 1054(9)
Subscribe to have our posts emailed to you automatically
Royal Australian Engineers Association of Victoria Inc. 