Z1243
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.jpg) 1243 at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1243 is a preserved former New South Wales Government Railways Z12 class steam locomotive. Built in 1882 by Atlas Engineering Company, Sydney, it is on static display at the Powerhouse Museum.
During the 1870s, the Government of New South Wales came under pressure to provide work for colonial industry and the manufacture of railway locomotives was investigated. The Department of Public Works, Railway Branch awarded a contract for construction of engines based on a pattern engine and design drawings supplied by the Railway Branch.[1] At that time, it was the largest single manufacturing order in Australia.
Trials of the first locomotive produced at Atlas Engineering Company commenced on 11 January 1882.[2] Locomotive 1243 was completed the following week with the only imported components of the engine being the steel axles and wheels.
1243 entered service as an express locomotive working passenger and mail mainline services throughout the state, although it was later relegated to other services towards the end of its service life.
