This is the second rebuild of 3801, and the engine is being restored to modern standards for a steam engine so that it can run commercial service as well as tourist specials. This will be one of very few engines in the world that qualify to run with commercial traffic.
Here is the pride of the Australian rail system, the 3800 series, going over the Blue Mountains before 3801 was taken into the shops for boiler restoration.
At the previous restoration of 3801 a country western song was written for the occasion of the engine going back on line for commercial and tourist service.
This documentary is over an hour of Australian history, and if you are a steam fan, you will love the action and stories. But, the best part is the story of 3801 crossing Australia from Sydney to Perth, across the whole nation. This was a first, and it was a huge project, what with finding water and coal along the way. The track to Perth has the world's longest stretch of straight track.
Some people think it is vain to marvel at the works of man, like a massive locomotive, an oil tanker, or a sky scraper. But, we must remember that God, the eternal creator, made man in his image. This means he made man to be a creator. God did not create a tabernacle for Moses. God gave Moses the plans for the tabernacle, and God let Moses create the tabernacle. God chose to come down to be present with man in the creation Moses made.
This is why young boys, and old men, stand in awe at the site of a massive locomotive steaming out of the station for a run up country.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
