Some locomotives are powerful. Some are historic. 3620 is both.
Weighing 130 tonnes, standing 12 feet tall, and boasting a rare Berkshire (2‑8‑4) wheel arrangement with a Vanderbilt tender, 3620 is unlike any other steam locomotive preserved in Australia.
A Lifetime of Adventure
Built in 1949 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, 3620 was designed by Dr. M. M. Loubser for The South African Railways as part of the famous 24‑class.
Her journey since then has been extraordinary:
- Served in Cape Town for decades
- Shipped to Auckland, New Zealand in 1996 for restoration
- Arrived in Australia in 2001 for the Cairns Kuranda Steam Train
- Converted to waste‑oil firing in 2003
- Travelled over 500,000km in her lifetime
In 2020, she made her final major journey; craned onto a heavy‑haul low loader, transported 3,200 km from Cairns to the Bellarine Peninsula.
A Sustainable Steam Experience
With waste-oil firing, 3620 allows us to:
- Remove reliance on coal as a fuel-source
- Provide safe disposal for regional waste oil
- Operate a large steam locomotive with a smaller environmental footprint
An innovation perfectly aligned with The Q Train’s dedication to sustainability.
Steam Powered Restaurant
3620 powers our Steam Services, usually on the first two weekends of each month. Guests enjoy:
- A rare mainline steam experience
- A one‑of‑a‑kind photo opportunity with the steam locomotive working on a gradient
- The deep, resonant sound of the Berkshire in motion
A Locomotive Like No Other
3620 isn’t just a locomotive. She’s:
- A moving piece of global railway history
- The only preserved Berkshire in Australia
- A beloved symbol of The Q Train’s passion for heritage