Australia

**Australia** is a LMS Stanier Jubilee that is preserved by the Moorland Steam Railway. He is Hood's older brother and the most liked locomotive used on excursions by the MSR on the mainline.

## Bio

Australia was built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) in 1934 for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway. He was named after the Commonwealth of Australia two years after he entered service and took pride with both the reputation of his class and his namesake, which was more than half a world away. Australia was withdrawn by BR in 1965 and hoped that because of his name, the Australian Government would purchase him. His hopes were dashed when he heard that the Australian Government found that preserving a British loco was too expensive. As a result, Australia was sent to Cashmores for disposal that year with no interest of preserving him.

In 1966, he was purchased by the Moorland Steam Railway and brought to Gladsville and was stored there until the late-1980s, when restoration work began on him. In 1996, Hood blew his middle cylinder was withdrawn due to the amount of damage sustained. As a result, Australia took his place while double-heading with his visiting younger sister Leanne on Hood's trains.

## Livery

Australia is mostly seen painted in LMS Crimson Lake livery with black wheels and yellow lining on the tyres.

In his late BR days, Australia was painted in BR Lined Brunswick Green with Late Crests on his tender.

## Basis or real locomotive

Australia is based on the real locomotive. It was one of 191 built the North British Locomotive Company (NBL), and the LMS' workshops of Crewe and Derby between 1934 and 1936 for express duties. They were based on the chassis of the Fowler Patriot (Bradshaw's class) but they resembled the Stanier class 5 "Black Fives" and were nicknamed "Red Staniers". Withdrawals of the class began in 1952 when No. 45637 'Whirlwind Islands' was written off in the 1952 Harrow & Wealdstone Disaster while proper withdrawals began in 1960 with the final one retired in 1967. Four have been preserved.

No. 5563 'Australia' was built by the NBL at Glasgow in 1934 and named after the Commonwealth of Australia in 1936. It was withdrawn in 1965 and scrapped at John Cashmore Ltd in 1966.

## Trivia

Australia is seen paired with a Fowler 3,500 gallon tender. This's because the model used is only available in with the Fowler tender and as a nod to the early years of the class, which were paired with Fowler tenders on their introduction.

* It can also be that his Stanier 4,000 gallon tender was scrapped under BR at Cashmores and a spare tender from a Fowler 4F that was salvaged as pair with him.
* His Stanier tender is seen in his music video.

Despite being an express locomotive, Australia likes hauling goods trains.

Hood, Leanne, Victoria, New South Wales and Whirlwind Islands are all his younger siblings.

* Whirlwind Islands' death in the Harrow & Wealdstone Disaster lead to him not forgiving any member of the LMS Princess Coronation/ Duchess class.

Australia is named after the Commonwealth of Australia, which was still a part of the British Empire at the time he was built.

* Clyde and Cook are both from this country.

* The first reason he was introduced into the series was after Shane Sowter read an article about the former NSW Rail Transport Museum in its early days was trying to preserve Gresley A4 No. 60012 'Commonwealth of Australia' but because of costs, this was abandoned. Australia is introduced to show the possible 2nd solution. The second being Labiche's absence in The Series 1990s.

It is revealed that Australia was taken off passenger service in 1963 and worked as a goods engine until his withdrawal in 1965.

Australia was originally built with a "domeless" boiler but later had a domed boiler fitted during an overall before BR days.

* Australia is incorrectly depicted with the domed boiler in the music video.

Australia is the second locomotive in the series saved from Cashmores scrapyard. The first being Stovold.