Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway 1854 0-4-0WT locomotive (NRM ACY 00616)

Australia's first steam locomotive, the 0-4-0 well tank of the Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway Company. It was first set in motion on 30 May 1854. Designed by the company's chief engineer, James Moore, it was built by foundry business Robertson, Martin & Smith. Moore utilised a ballast wagon for the chassis and cylinders and related mechanisms from a pile-driver. The locomotive hauled ballast wagons and performed other work, for which it had been built, during the 15 weeks in which track was finished off. After the opening of the line on 12 September, until 1 December, it hauled regular scheduled trains during three periods when the locomotive that inaugurated the public passenger and freight services suffered major breakdowns. For more than 50 years afterwards it operated as a contractor's locomotive and shunter in Victoria and South Australia – see Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company 1854 0-4-0 locomotive (NRM ACY 09615) and workers ca 1900s.jpg and Ex-Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway 0-4-0 loco with mail car at Outer Harbour, SA, 1908 (NRM ACY 07546).jpg.