Max Thum
Climax 1694 goes over the iconic Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge, heading out deeper into the Dandenong Ranges and eventually Clematis. Climax 1694 is one of the last operational examples it's Class B type in operational use. The distinctive feature of the Climax locomotive is that the cylinders do not directly connect to the driving wheels. Instead they drive a cross shaft near the centre of the locomotive. From there the drive is transmitted to the small driving wheels through rotating shafts, universal joints, and bevel gears. The driving wheels are mounted in two four-wheel bogies so that they can easily follow sharp curves in the track. None of these features are found in normal steam locomotives. The result is a locomotive that is extremely powerful for its size, and that will cope with sharp curves and steep grades with ease. But this is at the cost of speed, Climax locomotive No.1694 is just about flat-out at 13 km/h (8 mph). Belgrave | October 2022 #lineside #narrowgauge #steam #trainspotting
