Matilda

Matilda is an ex-NSWGR Q(158) class 4-4-0 tank locomotive that works on Tri-ang Railways on Nerland. She is the railway's first foreign locomotive bought second-hand and began the import-export trade between Nerland and Australia's NSWGR.

Bio
Matilda was bought to Nerland by the Australian Government on the British cargo vessel 'SS Clan Cameron' as an agreement for TR to own a locomotive of Australian origin. The vessel arrived in early 1914, before WWI broke out, and was rushed into service on suburban services on TR's many branch lines and on small goods traffic. When WWI broke out, she was allowed to stay operational but McConnell was not allowed to be used for any operation due to him not up to the Railway Operating Division (ROD)'s requirements.

Basis
Matilda is based off a New South Wales Government Railways Q class 4-4-0T introduced in 1880 for suburban duties in Sydney, Australia. Six were built by Beyer Peacock & Co. of Gorton, Manchester in 1880 to replaced several older suburban tanks at the time. All were rebuilt to tender locomotives with the entire class sold to the Commonwealth Railways (known as 'D' class) for the construction of the Trans-Australian Railway in 1912. The class continued operation until the last was withdrawn by 1943 and scrapped by 1959.

Trivia
The real NSWGR No: 162 was rebuilt to a tender engine in 1910 and withdrawn in 1943 after being sold to Commonwealth Railways.

Matilda has some modifications done to her in order to run on British railway lines. These include:


 * Vacuum brake pipes fitted front and rear.
 * Change of chain and screw couplings.

Matilda's name comes from the Bango Patterson poem 'Waltzing Matilda.'


 * The same poem is also referenced as her nickname as she was said to 'waltz' while hauling passenger trains.

Matilda is one of three locomotives in the series that has an Australian origin. All the others are from Britain, the USA or Canada.

Matilda was really a gift from the Australian Government in 1914, starting the import-export trade of rolling stock with Australia.

Matilda is one of two female characters that has traumatic shock. The other being Maddie.