1899 Narrow Gauge Recoding¹

It has always been assumed that the prefix 'N' on the narrow gauge codes had been applied since the start of the narrow gauge running. However information and inspection of official records has revealed that this may not be the case.

This investigation also answers a question in regard to the engines that ran on the 2'6" lines. The locomotives had number plates with 'A' but were referred to as '^NA'. This was alluded to in the publication 'Speed Limit 20' but no details given.

The information currently determined is itemized below in the hope that more information may come forward as more research is conducted. Note: 'XX' is used to represent various class letters.

• The headings given in the official 'Rolling Stock Register' for the rolling stock show XX 2'6" Narrow Gauge where XX is the class. The class letters given clearly show the letter N is appended at a later date. This may be a minor point but the doubt initially raised by the author was 'Why describe the gauge of the stock when the class letters do so?'. This is shown by the code being written by the clerk centrally down the respective column for the initial wagons but at a later date, the prefix + code has been written centrally down the column with the early records being appended with an "N" to the left of the written code, ie not constrained within the column lines.Hardly a clerical "error" given that the era of clerical work demanded accuracy and penmanship. Perusal of these entries show that history is not about "recording the data" but understanding how the data was written.

• Official documentation photographed by Daryl Gregory shows the narrow guage UU page. Other pages have been photographed for the other classes.

• Annual Reports between 1900 and 1905 show narrow gauge codes as either XX or ^NXX. This shows that a change was made but there was confusion when information may have not been passed on. The author raises the point that if the classes were always known with a prefix there would be no mix-up. Broad gauge and narrow gauge codes are represented in different tables.
• A locomotive outline diagram for the '^NA' class was found with a date of 1900. The diagram is headed simply 'A', no prefix 'N'. The 'A' is centred on the page which indicates that that was the only letter used; no letters have been removed. There were many steps taken to arrive at a diagram; from the drafting room and colation of the asset Registers ( which is what the Rolling Stock Registers really are ).

• Correspondence from Victorian Railways to the New Zealand Railways in 1902 indicates the prefix 'N' on all codes in use. New Zealand was interested in the 2'6" gauge lines and had requested the VR for information.

• The 1904 Diagram Books show the prefix 'N' in use on all classes. The same 'A' diagram as mentioned above had the prefix 'N' added to the class letter. This would explain why the loco number plates are cast with a single 'A', yet the class known as '^NA'; "N" being a reference to the class NOT 'Insert number here'. With knowledge of internal working, the recasting of loco number plates to show the prefix 'N' would have been considered expensive and not warranted. Particularly when the lines were not profitable and the change would be cosmetic in nature. A.E.Downs in his book 'Speed Limit 20' makes passing reference to the fact that the locomotives entered service as 'A' but "...they later became known as the NA class...".

• Photographs of some carriage rolling stock between 1900 and 1912 show the prefix 'N' in most unusual places. This is generally an indication of lettering being added after the main letters have been painted on. Photographs show that this lettering 'style' was copied when the recoding was done in 1910. By unusual for example the lettering '^N1ABAB' or 1910 relettering such as 'N7B' is interpreted by the author as evidence of additional lettering after the main lettering has been applied. No class lettering is split with a number in the middle. Unless the original lettering of  '1ABAB' has had the letter 'N' appended as a prefix and there was lack of space between the '1' and the 'A'. As for NB 7 ( photographed as  N7B ), it was not built until 1906, the lettering defies explanation. UNLESS one understands the methodology of how wagons and rolling stock are dated. Until a wagon or rolling stock item leaves the workshops and is placed "on the line", it may have a class and number but will not be recorded in the asset register. Once ready for service and leaves the workshops it is recorded as an asset. So perhaps NB 7 was built earlier for traffic and originally lettered but never entered service until 1907. Some examples will help:
• OO wagons: 6 x built 1 x 1899, 5 x built 1902. Strange - the wagon was was unsuccessful for what it was built for. So five more were built in 1902, some three years later? Maybe not. Lets assume six were built in 1899-1900. The failure of the first prevented the other wagons going into traffic and until some traffic use was found, they languished at Newport.
• Photographs in the VR Newsrail of rolling stock that was classed and numbered but never entered service as the code was changed.
• Tait BT 201 was built from the carriage of the original 441T. The 'gap' in numbering was not filled for another two or three years.

• Correspondence for 1898 shows a derailment occurred at the Laceby Ballast Pits ( near Wangaratta on the Whitfield line ) during line construction. The wagons mentioned were three 'QR' wagons, no prefix 'N' mentioned. The image below was supplied by Daryl Gregory, from photographs by Matthew Walker. This image forms part of the correspondence.

• Photographs of the official first train to Whitfield, March 1899, show the use of the prefix 'N' on cars where the class and numbers can be determined.

• Clerical records written at the time ( 1897 to about 1902 ) clearly show the vehicles being 'written up' without the prefix 'N'. The 'N' has been added in at a later date ( see above )

From all of the above information the author is proposing a theory for the possible change and an approximate date. The data cannot merely be dismissed as mistakes or ignored. That is not research. The date seemed to have been about 1902. The reason seems to be quite interesting.

The first narrow gauge line was isolated in the North East region of Victoria. The codes adopted for the rolling stock were identical to broad gauge equivalents. As the line was new and 'narrow gauge' the buzz of the times it would have seemed that any call for parts or rolling stock equipment from Wangaratta would obviously be 'narrow gauge'. The two main depots for loco and rolling stock maintenance were Benalla and Wodonga. Only Wangaratta would be servicing locomotives or rolling stock and narrow gauge ones at that. The author postulated that perhaps with other narrow gauge lines opening ( Colac, 1902 ),  the terminal facilities were shared by both broad and narrow gauge interests. A request for 'QR' parts or loco 'A' equipment would immediately draw the response 'Broad or Narrow?'. Indeed, there are stories out of 'Puffing Billy' at Belgrave that a mix-up did occur. No details, though. I reiterate, if the coding was clearly defined there would be no mixup

However, the postulated date of 1902 did not hold as more data narrowed the gap of early codes after 1897 and prefix 'N' codes before 1902 were referenced.

The available data suggests that the prefix 'N' was not applied to stock until the opening of the line to Whitfield and the running of the first official train. This means that during the line construction the rolling stock codes were as for broad gauge; ABAB, QR, Loco A, etc. It appears that close to line opening date in March 1899, the classes of rolling stock were hastily altered to show a prefix 'N'. Perhaps the mix ups or incorrect equipment deliveries to maintain rolling stock would have been a logical 'trigger' to generate the change.

Until more data comes to hand, a more accurate relettering date is not available. On that basis these pages are a provisional history and a full history will never be known. A history of the NG is not complete unless the outstanding unknowns are also mentioned. To not mention this information is a dis-service to readers who will assume that the history is clearly defined.

Sources:

• Public Records Office, Railway correspondence 1898, 1902
• 1897 Diagram Book and amendments
• 'Speed Limit 20' by A.E.Downs, 1963 print
• 1904 Diagrams Book
• 1886 'Register' entries
• Paste up originals of Annual Reports, c1900 - 1902
• Photographs of the era
• Mathew Walker photographs of correspondence

This research was triggered by the research efforts of Rob O'Regan who questioned some information and had a history of clerical work background and an understanding of accuracy.

Notes:

1. I have used 1899 as a starting point for the page to provoke discussion and further research
2. In the interest of continuity I have presented the narrow guage rolling stock histories in my database as if the prefix N was at the introduction of the lines.
3. The data and notes are presented to show 'something' happened. The story has not yet been told.