add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Peterborough Dentists: Tooth Extractions in Peterborough, Oral Surgery... sfdentalpractice.co.uk | Gastric Band Peterborough | Weight loss surgery Peterborough &... gatewayhealth.co.uk | Dentist Peterborough Private Dentists in Peterborough thefreshuk.com |
Steamtown Heritage Railway Centre is a railway museum located in Peterborough, South Australia. It is based on a collection of railway rollingstock housed in a roundhouse and workshops previously used by the now-defunct Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc. 
[edit] Foundation"Steamtown" was founded in 1977 to run a steam hauled tourist service on the narrow gauge railway between Peterborough and Eurelia using South Australian 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[1]. [edit] Rolling stockAll of the organisation's (revenue) passenger stock was formerly Commonwealth Railways. 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 1980's, leaving W901 as the only operational steam locomotive[2]. 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 members, including those involved with the recommissioning, undertook minor works in 2006 to minimise further deterioration[3]. NSU 55 was eventually recommissioned during 1998 after a considerable effort by a very 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. 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. Y82, which also was in Peterborough, was never transferred to the Society. It was given a cosmetic restoration in 2000. [edit] The MoveIn 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. 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. 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. [edit] An Act of ParliamentA number of issues within the organisation and the town eventually led to the operational equipment being transferred, via an Act of Parliament, to the Corporation of Peterborough (the Corporation), with management of the rollingstock being vested in the "Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc"[4]. The operations of Steamtown never recovered from this. There were significant problems attracting people who had the skills and abilities needed to realise the potential of its operations. In its later years, the organisation had little support from the local community, with many of its volunteers travelling regularly from Adelaide. [edit] OperationsThe first public train ran on 18 April 1981.  The organisation ran an average of 6 trips a year between Peterborough and Orroroo, and Peterborough and Eurelia. Its peak years were the early 1990s, where it ran up to eleven trains a year. During the late 1980s and 1990s, operations were suspended for short periods on a number of occasions. "Steamtown" ran one train to Quorn over the weekend of 17 and 18 of 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[1]. 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. Steamtown 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[5]. In its last years of operation, a restored South Australian Railways Motor Inspection Car was available for hire. The organisation had considerable problems attracting the patronage necessary to support its operations. [edit] A Last FlingThe Corporation 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, mean that the work done was too late to be of benefit. This was practically the only support the Corporation provided, despite its "commitment" to the organisation during the Asset Crisis.  [edit] The EndBy 2002, insurance costs skyrocketed for most heritage railways, leading to a number ceasing operations. This affected Steamtown, 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 civil infrastructure had deteriorated markedly. The rollingstock and civil assets that the society managed suffered from limited maintenance, mainly through lack of resources. This was compounded by the overall age of the track, as it was last resleepered by the SAR in the late 1960's and early 1970's. A report of the condition of the track was commissioned in order to establish the feasibility of resuming operations. Although disputed by a number of qualified civil personnel, the report suggested that the railway needed almost complete refurbishment with an estimated cost of $2.4 million, including new, heavier rail (60lb/yd over the 42lb/yd currently in place). This is despite similar railways running on the same railway structure elsewhere. The removal crew noted that, whilst there were some sections of track in poor condition, the track was not as bad had been made out. The proposal for disbandment was made at a public meeting in September 2003[6]. "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 Bridge, Walloway Yard to Walloway Creek and in the yard of Orroroo[7]. The funds resulting from track removal are to be used to enhance the Roundhouse Complex[8][9]. [edit] Today The Museum is managed as a "Committee of Council", and is expected by the Corporation to be self-funding. It is open to the public most days. A small fee is charged. During late 2007, the Corporation of Peterborough employed a Manager to oversee its development. Considerable effort has been put into presenting the displays, including some basic interpretive signage and consideration is being given to streamlining the collection so as to ensure it is representative of Peterborough's railway history. This included the possible return of Garratt 402, the only member of its class which travelled the entire Quorn Line, returning to Peterborough from the Zig Zag Railway Coop Ltd (NSW) [10] [11]. This deal later fell through. The "Steamtown Heritage Precint" was opened on 28 November 2009 to much fanfare by then Premier Mike Rann [12]. Including the launch of a "sound and light show". Ironically, the funding announced at this launch, if provided during the asset crisis of the 1980's, would have set Steamtown up as having the potential to be one of the finest operating steam railways and workshop facilities in Australia. NOTE - Although not mentioned during the Launch, the development of the Centre is very much the work of Ian Milne. Ian was involved with Steamtown whilst it was an operating railway, and has been in the role of Manager on and off since 2000. His work put Steamtown into a position where it could have survived as an operating railway. However, the insurance crisis, and other factors, saw the end of operations. He has worked tirelessly since to get the Precint to the position it is now. [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
|
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
