H class steam locomotive
wheel arrangement: 4-8-4

ABOVE: H 220 in "as built" condition

Number in Class 1
Construction period 1941
In service 1941 - 1956
Where built Newport
Tractive effort 55,000 lbs @ 85% boiler pressure
Where built Newport
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT  
Built to eliminate double heading on the "The Overland" between Melbourne and Ararat. 3 of these massive machines were to be built but only one, H 220 was ever completed. VR's biggest passenger loco and only 4-8-4, it never fulfilled its designers intention due to the fact that the Parwan trestle was never rebuilt to allow its great weight to pass over it in regular service. (It made at least 2 post war test runs to Ararat.) The rest of its short life was spent hauling goods trains on the North East line. It was allowed a glimpse of its intended purpose in life when it very occasionally ran in passenger service between Melbourne and Albury. After its very short service life of 15 years, withdrawal occured in 1956 and it only escaped the scrappers torch due to the lobbying efforts of the late Gerald Dee. It is now the star exhibit at the ARHS museum at North Williamstown

Whilst H 220 came to be known as "Heavy Harry" by the public and railfans it appears that this name was not in common use by employees.

BELOW: Early in its life the two domes were covered with one large dome

BELOW: H 220 during construction at Newport, 1941


ABOVE: Although designed as a passenger loco H 220 spent most of its life hauling North East line fast goods trains
however it ocassional got a run on passenger trains as seen here on what looks like a down Geelong pass
arriving Newport.
Official VR Photo.

BELOW: An overhead view of the H at Wodonga circa 1953.
photo courtesy Doug Colquhoun

 

ABOVE: The famous "into the night" photo was taken at Violet Town, (the signal you can see is Violet Town's down home departure.) The photo was actually taken during daytime and some darkroom wizardry produced this stunning photo, perhaps the most famous photo of "Heavy Harry"

ABOVE: Happily Harry was spared from the scrappers torch and has lived at the Newport museum after his very short career. photo circa 1960.