W22 Justin Hancock

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W22 Justin Hancock - Return to Steam

W22 spent its 9 years in service with the Silverton Tramway company running narrow gauge ore trains out of Broken Hill, her use being taken over by the new diesel electric locomotives being introduced at the time. W22 was preserved at the Puffing Billy Steam Museum at Menzies creek in Victoria, before being acquired by Pichi Richi Railway, where she spent several years in the open. Poor boiler condition resulted in the boiler of ex. WAGR W916 being used. W22 underwent a complete rebuild, resulting in a basically brand new locomotive being produced, the original locomotive in very poor condition.

Saturday 19th April 2003, saw W22 re-enter service, hauling her first revenue train in over 30 years out of Quorn bound for Port Augusta, with a train of ex. SAR narrow gauge passenger vehicles. At Woolshed flat, she crossed her Western Australian counterpart W933 on the Afghan Express heading for Quorn. W22 placed car Flinders on the rear of W933's train, before continuing onto Port Augusta.

Photo's by Ian Stradling, Stephen Michalak and Peter Michalak

	Having just arrived from the Quorn depot, W22 is coupled to its train, which had been placed in the platform the evening before by diesel NT76.
	W22 stands ready to depart for Port Augusta.
	With a blast of its whistle, W22 draws its train slowly out of Quorn station.
	W22 steams out of the Quorn yard.
	W22 has put away two cars into the western leg of the Woolshed flat triangle to clear the crossing loop.
	With an exchange of whistles, W933 arrives at Woolshed flat with a train from Port Augusta.
	W22 is seen here approaching Saltia road bridge
	Crossing the Saltia road bridge.
	Having arrived back at Quorn on Easter Sunday, W22 runs around her train and returns to the depot. The late afternoon light, makes this shot even more spectacular.
	On board the train (Easter Sunday) W22 is struggling hard to keep the train moving, as it approached Summit.
	W22 is seen here rolling off the eastern leg of the Woolshed Flat triangle.