Steamtown Peterborough Museum
Encyclopedia
Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc. (also just known as "Steamtown" or "Steamtown Peterborough") was a not-for-profit society which operated a heritage steam railway from Peterborough, South Australia
north along a section of the Peterborough to Quorn railway line.
Note: Though both the "Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc" and the "Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre" were and are known as simply "Steamtown" or "Steamtown Peterborough", only the term "the Society" will be used in referencing the Railway Preservation Society on this page to clarify which organisation is being referred to.
The Society's operations were based at various stages in the former South Australian Railways
Peterborough roundhouse
and purpose built sheds and yard.
T class 199.
The organisation was said to have arisen from the successful return to steam of sister T class 186, and the highly regarded Peterborough Centenary Celebrations of 1976.
. All had seen service on the old Ghan Line between Marree and Alice Springs. Its steam power was all formerly of Western Australian Government Railways
(WAGR/Westrail), including Pmr720, and W's 901 and 907 - 907 was never steamed.
Diesel power was also West Australian, including Lakewood Firewood Co (later CR NC class
) "1" and WAGR Z 1151. The society obtained two Commonwealth Railways NSU class
locomotives (55 and 62), from those remaining in Marree, during 1993. These were delivered in January 1994.
Early trains were run with Pmr720. However, tubes in this locomotive failed in the late 1980s, leaving W901 as the only operational steam locomotive. Plans were made to recommission 720, but this never eventuated.
Tender first operations, minimalist maintenance and limited expertise, led to problems with 901 in later years, with a number of trains being diesel hauled, or supported by small diesel power. Following the last train, 901 was left full of water, causing concern regarding the condition of her boiler. Former Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society members, including those involved with the recommissioning, undertook minor works in 2006 to minimise further deterioration.
NSU 55
was eventually recommissioned during 1998 after a considerable effort by a small band of volunteers. Major problems were encountered replacing failed cylinder liner seals. Track conditions throughout the Roundhouse and on the "mainline" created significant problems for its operation. It is understood that it never worked more than a few kilometers out of Peterborough.
Whilst T199 was the first locomotive to be obtained, it was never steamed (being described as "sound condition" , with a rusted tender). This was, in part, because of the availability of roadworthy locomotives in WA, including the V, S, W and Pmr Class locomotives. Serious consideration was given to the heavy V and S classes, however track conditions and the operational pressures they would have created ruled them out. In the end, W's 901 and 907 and Pmr720 were purchased and shipped to Peterborough for a total of $25,200.
Y82, which also was in Peterborough, was never transferred to the Society. It was given a cosmetic restoration in 1999, and was moved to a plinth near the towns Main Street
The Society saw the need to establish its own facilities, and proposed to establish its own depot on a block of land bordered by the Quorn line, the Towns Main Street, and the railway dam. This was seen as an ideal site, as it had mains water, power, sewage, Perhaps as a consequence of being the site of the former railway hostel. It was proposed that, with little work, a triangle could be installed. ANR agreed to provide the land at a nominal rent of $50.
The Depot was eventually located at the western end of Peterborough. Construction commencing on 10 June 1980. It is unclear why, after the efforts to locate the Depot next to the railway, it was located here. The Depot was not connected and made rail accessible until a number of working bees completed track-laying during late 1983.
The Society operated out of its Depot for a number of years, but moved most of its operational rolling stock into the roundhouse and diesel shop after the withdrawal of Australian National Railways.
Options considered were the Gladstone
–Willmington line, also of 3'6" gauge, and at the time still carrying large quantities of grain, the Clare Valley
Line (which required re-gauging from 5'3" gauge), in order to take advantage of the tourism potential of the Clare Valley, and the Victor Harbor Line, with the main consideration being a base at Goolwa. This line was later transferred to the management of the Australian Railway Historical Society
, Inc.
, to the Corporation of Peterborough, with operational responsibility for the rolling stock being vested in the "Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc".
The operations of the Society never recovered from this. There were significant problems attracting people who had the skills and abilities needed to realise the potential of its operations.
The organisation ran an average of 6 trips a year between Peterborough and Orroroo, and Peterborough and Eurelia.
Its peak years, in terms of train operations, appears to be 1981, when it ran a total of 27 trains, including a trip to Quorn. In subsequent years it ran up to eleven scheduled trains a year. During the late 1980s and 1990s, operations were suspended for short periods on a number of occasions, mainly due to motive power availability.
The Preservation Society ran one train to Quorn
over the weekend of 17 and 18 October 1981; the last steam hauled train to travel the line between Peterborough and Quorn, home of the Pichi Richi Railway
. Pmr720 was the only Pacific locomotive to visit Quorn. The Society ran a number of other trains to Bruce, Hammond and Carrieton, using available "NT" class locomotives, to recover track and civil infrastructure. Much of this was used within the "Depot" at Peterborough West.
The Society also hosted what were believed to be amongst the first organised motor section car (or Speeder
) runs in the country. These ran between 1994 and 1998, in association with a live band at Eurelia.
In the Society's last years of operation, a restored South Australian Railways Motor Inspection Car was available for hire.
The Society had considerable problems attracting the patronage, and technical skills, necessary to support its operations but in later years, the majority of active volunteers came from outside the district.
At a meeting to discuss the future direction of "Steamtown" (as the Society was known) in October 2004, Mayor Whittle said "Contrary to rumor, council is not Hell-bent on closing Steamtown. It is realistic to say that trains are never likely to run again, due to issues such as track maintenance, insurance, lack of volunteers and money to do what other railway societies are doing".
Prior to the cessation of operations in June 2002, a Steering Committee, made up of the Federation of North East Councils, the Northern Regional Development Board, and the Flinders Ranges Area Consultative Committee, as well as Society representatives, was established. This, in turn led to the establishment of a project to formalise development of the workshops precinct as the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre
.
The rollingstock and civil assets that the Society managed had received only limited maintenance, mainly as a consequence of lack of resources, including volunteers with appropriate expertise. As the track was last resleepered
by the SAR in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it too was starting to deteriorate. At the meeting to discuss the Society's future, "facts were presented showing that since the 1970s, the Society had seriously underspent in maintenance on track infrastructure" which was now a problem to be overcome before the trains could run again.
A report of the condition of the track was commissioned in order to establish the feasibility of resuming operations. The report suggested that the track needed major refurbishment at an estimated cost of $2.4 million.
A business and marketing plan prepared by a consultant explored the financial viability of the operation under limited criteria. Figures quoted for attendance numbers of the precinct, as suggested to Council, appeared to be wildly optimistic.
Despite claims its priority was the retention of the Society and its assets, Council Minutes suggest that work had already commenced to implement the "Steamtown Peterborough (Vesting of Property) Act 1986".
The proposal for disbandment was made at a public meeting in September 2003. "Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Incorporated" as a legal entity, was dissolved 13 January 2005.
Work to remove the railway commenced on 14 September 2008 and was completed 17 December of that year. Track was left over Pekina Creek, Black Rock Yard
, Black Rock Bridge, Walloway Yard to Walloway Creek and in the yard of Orroroo. The funds resulting from track removal, with some funds from the District Council, have been used to enhance the Roundhouse Complex and to develop a "Sound & Light Show".
Black Rock Yard hosted the first of a proposed annual Kalamazoo race on 27 March 2010. The event was reported as being very successful.
Peterborough, South Australia
Peterborough is a town in the mid north of South Australia, in wheat country, just off the Barrier Highway. At the 2006 census, Peterborough had a population of 1,689....
north along a section of the Peterborough to Quorn railway line.
Note: Though both the "Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc" and the "Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre" were and are known as simply "Steamtown" or "Steamtown Peterborough", only the term "the Society" will be used in referencing the Railway Preservation Society on this page to clarify which organisation is being referred to.
The Society's operations were based at various stages in the former South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
Peterborough roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and purpose built sheds and yard.
Foundation
The Society was founded in 1977 to run a steam hauled tourist service on the narrow gauge railway between Peterborough and Eurelia using South Australian RailwaysSouth Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
T class 199.
The organisation was said to have arisen from the successful return to steam of sister T class 186, and the highly regarded Peterborough Centenary Celebrations of 1976.
Rolling stock
All of the Society's (revenue) passenger stock was formerly Commonwealth RailwaysCommonwealth Railways
The Commonwealth Railways were established in 1912, as part of a government department, currently called the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, by the Government of Australia to construct the missing link in the east-west transcontinental railway and...
. All had seen service on the old Ghan Line between Marree and Alice Springs. Its steam power was all formerly of Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
(WAGR/Westrail), including Pmr720, and W's 901 and 907 - 907 was never steamed.
NC class
NC class locomotives were originally built for the Lakewood Firewood Company Pty Ltd and were last used in commercial service by the Commonwealth Railways and Australian National.-Description:...
) "1" and WAGR Z 1151. The society obtained two Commonwealth Railways NSU class
Commonwealth Railways NSU Class
The NSU class was a Commonwealth Railways diesel locomotive built for service on the Central and North Australia Railways.- History :By the end of World War 2, the Commonwealth Railways, like every other operator, were surviving on a ragged and worn out collection of rollingstock on their Central,...
locomotives (55 and 62), from those remaining in Marree, during 1993. These were delivered in January 1994.
Early trains were run with Pmr720. However, tubes in this locomotive failed in the late 1980s, leaving W901 as the only operational steam locomotive. Plans were made to recommission 720, but this never eventuated.
Tender first operations, minimalist maintenance and limited expertise, led to problems with 901 in later years, with a number of trains being diesel hauled, or supported by small diesel power. Following the last train, 901 was left full of water, causing concern regarding the condition of her boiler. Former Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society members, including those involved with the recommissioning, undertook minor works in 2006 to minimise further deterioration.
NSU 55
Commonwealth Railways NSU Class
The NSU class was a Commonwealth Railways diesel locomotive built for service on the Central and North Australia Railways.- History :By the end of World War 2, the Commonwealth Railways, like every other operator, were surviving on a ragged and worn out collection of rollingstock on their Central,...
was eventually recommissioned during 1998 after a considerable effort by a small band of volunteers. Major problems were encountered replacing failed cylinder liner seals. Track conditions throughout the Roundhouse and on the "mainline" created significant problems for its operation. It is understood that it never worked more than a few kilometers out of Peterborough.
Whilst T199 was the first locomotive to be obtained, it was never steamed (being described as "sound condition" , with a rusted tender). This was, in part, because of the availability of roadworthy locomotives in WA, including the V, S, W and Pmr Class locomotives. Serious consideration was given to the heavy V and S classes, however track conditions and the operational pressures they would have created ruled them out. In the end, W's 901 and 907 and Pmr720 were purchased and shipped to Peterborough for a total of $25,200.
Y82, which also was in Peterborough, was never transferred to the Society. It was given a cosmetic restoration in 1999, and was moved to a plinth near the towns Main Street
Operating Facilities
In the early days of the Society, Australian National Railways ("ANR") allowed rolling stock to be stored within the Roundhouse Complex.The Society saw the need to establish its own facilities, and proposed to establish its own depot on a block of land bordered by the Quorn line, the Towns Main Street, and the railway dam. This was seen as an ideal site, as it had mains water, power, sewage, Perhaps as a consequence of being the site of the former railway hostel. It was proposed that, with little work, a triangle could be installed. ANR agreed to provide the land at a nominal rent of $50.
The Depot was eventually located at the western end of Peterborough. Construction commencing on 10 June 1980. It is unclear why, after the efforts to locate the Depot next to the railway, it was located here. The Depot was not connected and made rail accessible until a number of working bees completed track-laying during late 1983.
The Society operated out of its Depot for a number of years, but moved most of its operational rolling stock into the roundhouse and diesel shop after the withdrawal of Australian National Railways.
The Move
In the early 1980s, a group of members, centred around the Society committee, realised that the future of the organisation was limited in Peterborough, and investigated options for relocating the Society elsewhere. It is understood that the committee believed that limited tourist traffic in Peterborough was a primary issue, along with apparently limited support from the local community. Indeed, the Society suffered a severe loss of skills as "the railways" reduced its staffing in the town.Options considered were the Gladstone
Gladstone, South Australia
Gladstone is a small rural town in the Mid North of South Australia in the approach to the lower Flinders Ranges. At the 2006 census, Gladstone had a population of 629....
–Willmington line, also of 3'6" gauge, and at the time still carrying large quantities of grain, the Clare Valley
Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Main North Road as the main thoroughfare....
Line (which required re-gauging from 5'3" gauge), in order to take advantage of the tourism potential of the Clare Valley, and the Victor Harbor Line, with the main consideration being a base at Goolwa. This line was later transferred to the management of the Australian Railway Historical Society
Australian Railway Historical Society
The Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
, Inc.
An Act of Parliament
A number of issues within the organisation and the town eventually led to ownership of the rolling stock being transferred, following a Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry and subsequent Act of ParliamentParliament of South Australia
The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. It follows a Westminster system of parliamentary government....
, to the Corporation of Peterborough, with operational responsibility for the rolling stock being vested in the "Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc".
The operations of the Society never recovered from this. There were significant problems attracting people who had the skills and abilities needed to realise the potential of its operations.
Operations
The first public train ran on 17 April 1981, as part of a weekend of celebrations.The organisation ran an average of 6 trips a year between Peterborough and Orroroo, and Peterborough and Eurelia.
Its peak years, in terms of train operations, appears to be 1981, when it ran a total of 27 trains, including a trip to Quorn. In subsequent years it ran up to eleven scheduled trains a year. During the late 1980s and 1990s, operations were suspended for short periods on a number of occasions, mainly due to motive power availability.
The Preservation Society ran one train to Quorn
Quorn, South Australia
Quorn is a township and railhead in the Flinders Ranges in the north of South Australia, 39 km northeast of Port Augusta. At the 2006 census, Quorn had a population of 1068.Quorn is the home of the Flinders Ranges Council local government area...
over the weekend of 17 and 18 October 1981; the last steam hauled train to travel the line between Peterborough and Quorn, home of the Pichi Richi Railway
Pichi Richi Railway
The Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society is a non-profit railway preservation society and operating museum formed in 1973. The society, managed and staffed by volunteers, operates heritage steam and diesel trains on the restored 39 km section of track between Quorn and Port Augusta in...
. Pmr720 was the only Pacific locomotive to visit Quorn. The Society ran a number of other trains to Bruce, Hammond and Carrieton, using available "NT" class locomotives, to recover track and civil infrastructure. Much of this was used within the "Depot" at Peterborough West.
The Society also hosted what were believed to be amongst the first organised motor section car (or Speeder
Speeder
A speeder is a maintenance of way motorized vehicle formerly used on railroads around the world by track inspectors and work crews to move quickly to and...
) runs in the country. These ran between 1994 and 1998, in association with a live band at Eurelia.
In the Society's last years of operation, a restored South Australian Railways Motor Inspection Car was available for hire.
The Society had considerable problems attracting the patronage, and technical skills, necessary to support its operations but in later years, the majority of active volunteers came from outside the district.
A Last Fling
The District Council supported a manager for the organisation in its later years, who made a significant contribution to turning around the organisations fortune. However, the underlying problems, and rapidly deteriorating assets, particularly civil, meant that the work done was too late to be of benefit to the Society , this is despite the Council's input of $199,000 towards the maintaining of the Society.At a meeting to discuss the future direction of "Steamtown" (as the Society was known) in October 2004, Mayor Whittle said "Contrary to rumor, council is not Hell-bent on closing Steamtown. It is realistic to say that trains are never likely to run again, due to issues such as track maintenance, insurance, lack of volunteers and money to do what other railway societies are doing".
Prior to the cessation of operations in June 2002, a Steering Committee, made up of the Federation of North East Councils, the Northern Regional Development Board, and the Flinders Ranges Area Consultative Committee, as well as Society representatives, was established. This, in turn led to the establishment of a project to formalise development of the workshops precinct as the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre
Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre
The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre is a static railway museum based in the former railway workshops located in Peterborough, South Australia....
.
The end
By 2002, insurance costs skyrocketed for most heritage railways, leading to a number ceasing operations. This affected the Society, which stopped the operation of its trains when its public liability cover expired in June 2002. By the time the insurance crisis had resolved the following year, the Society was experiencing great difficulty pulling together a management committee.The rollingstock and civil assets that the Society managed had received only limited maintenance, mainly as a consequence of lack of resources, including volunteers with appropriate expertise. As the track was last resleepered
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
by the SAR in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it too was starting to deteriorate. At the meeting to discuss the Society's future, "facts were presented showing that since the 1970s, the Society had seriously underspent in maintenance on track infrastructure" which was now a problem to be overcome before the trains could run again.
A report of the condition of the track was commissioned in order to establish the feasibility of resuming operations. The report suggested that the track needed major refurbishment at an estimated cost of $2.4 million.
A business and marketing plan prepared by a consultant explored the financial viability of the operation under limited criteria. Figures quoted for attendance numbers of the precinct, as suggested to Council, appeared to be wildly optimistic.
Despite claims its priority was the retention of the Society and its assets, Council Minutes suggest that work had already commenced to implement the "Steamtown Peterborough (Vesting of Property) Act 1986".
The proposal for disbandment was made at a public meeting in September 2003. "Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Incorporated" as a legal entity, was dissolved 13 January 2005.
Work to remove the railway commenced on 14 September 2008 and was completed 17 December of that year. Track was left over Pekina Creek, Black Rock Yard
Black Rock, South Australia
Black Rock is a hamlet in South Australia on the Black Rock Plains at the intersections of the roads connecting Peterborough, Jamestown and Orroroo, including Wilmington–Ucolta Road , in the mid-north section of the state....
, Black Rock Bridge, Walloway Yard to Walloway Creek and in the yard of Orroroo. The funds resulting from track removal, with some funds from the District Council, have been used to enhance the Roundhouse Complex and to develop a "Sound & Light Show".
Black Rock Yard hosted the first of a proposed annual Kalamazoo race on 27 March 2010. The event was reported as being very successful.