National Railway Museum (Port Adelaide)
Encyclopedia
The National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia, is the current site of the Port Dock Station
Railway Museum's vast Australia
n Railway Collection.
Commissioner to allocate land on the site of the former Mile End
Roundhouse to house a small collection of withdrawn steam locomotives. The original site, on Railway Terrace Mile End
, had only a small number of exhibits under cover. Most items had to be housed on the site in the open air. The effects of weather took their toll on the exhibits, so an alternative undercover venue was sought.
In 1988 the Museum was fortunate enough, with the involvement of the History Trust of SA, to obtain a $2m Australia's bicentennial
Commemorative Grant to relocate to its current site and to provide covered accommodation for the exhibits. On 2 January 1988 the gates at the Mile End Railway Museum closed for the last time and on 10 December 1988, after almost a year of frantic activity, the Port Dock Station Railway Museum Port Adelaide was officially opened by the Premier of South Australia, The Hon John Bannon
.
In 1999, special funding was received as part of Australia's Centenary of Federation to construct the Commonwealth Railway Museum within the museum's precinct. This new facility, which was opened on 21 October 2001, houses a representative sample of exhibits from the "Commonwealth Railways
" and "Australian National". Included is the original Tea and Sugar train, as well as a number of vehicles that were used on the Ghan and Trans-Australian passenger trains.
At the opening of the Commonwealth Railway Museum the Port Dock Station Railway Museum was renamed the National Railway Museum. The name change is a response to the Commonwealth Railways
operations being integrated into a National Transport Network that spans the whole of the Australian continent.
. On the site, all three gauges
of Australia are represented, these being Narrow (3' 6" or 1067mm), Standard (4' 8½" or 1435mm) and Broad Gauge (5' 3" or 1600mm). Operational locomotives and railcars on these gauges respectively are Steam locomotive
Peronne (1918 Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 Tank Locomotive), DE 507 (South Australian Railways) and 801 (SAR), Redhen Railcars 400, 321 and trailer 863. The museum also operates a number of 18" gauge (457mm) equipment, mainly steam locomotives Bub (0-4-2T) and Bill (2-4-0 with 4 wheel tender).
In 2008 the museum received the 1949 Overland roomette sleeping car Allambi, donated by the Victorian Government after being stored after the end of the Vinelander
service.
Goods Shed
The original Port Dock Station Goods Shed is included as part of the Museum complex. This building is constructed of large timber beams and is typical of the type of buildings constructed by the South Australian Railway in the 19th Century.
Woodville Signal Cabin
The former Woodville
signal cabin of the South Australian Railways
/State Transport Authority
has been moved to the Museum site and connected to the narrow gauge yard. It is available for tours.
Callington Station
The "Callington Shelter Shed and Booking Office" is typical of the type of building used by the South Australian Railways
at small country stations. It was originally built in 1951 for the then small rural community of Callington
, located approximately 20 km west of Murray Bridge on the main Adelaide
to Melbourne
route.
Intense competition during the 1960s and 70s with road transport, for passenger and parcels traffic, eventually resulted in the withdrawal of all staff and the closure of Callington station. Following closure, the building was subject to extensive vandal attacks that left nothing but the exterior. In 1991 an approach was made to Australian National, who agreed to sell the building. This resulted in the building being purchased by a museum member, who subsequently arranged for its donation and transportation to Port Adelaide. It was placed in storage until 1994, when it was re-erected in its current location.
Eudunda Gang Shed
Located at rear of the rollingstock pavilion is the former Eudunda
Gang Shed. It was purchased and relocated by members of the museum in 1990
to Fort Glanville. This is operated from October to April, weekends, public holidays and school holidays when temperatures are below 35 degrees celsius
. The line travels along the coastline, through the sand dunes and the Fort Glanville Conservation Park
, with the engine being turned and run around at each end of the line, which is a delight for tourists who enjoy the beachside trip.
Port Dock railway station, Adelaide
Port Dock railway station was located in the commercial centre of Port Adelaide, South Australia at the corner of St Vincent Street and Lipson Street...
Railway Museum's vast Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Railway Collection.
History
The museum was founded in 1963, by a group of rail preservationists who managed to convince the 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...
Commissioner to allocate land on the site of the former Mile End
Mile End, South Australia
Mile End is an inner western suburb of Adelaide, located in the City of West Torrens, around 2 kilometres from the Adelaide city centre. It has a census area population of 3,918 people...
Roundhouse to house a small collection of withdrawn steam locomotives. The original site, on Railway Terrace Mile End
Mile End, South Australia
Mile End is an inner western suburb of Adelaide, located in the City of West Torrens, around 2 kilometres from the Adelaide city centre. It has a census area population of 3,918 people...
, had only a small number of exhibits under cover. Most items had to be housed on the site in the open air. The effects of weather took their toll on the exhibits, so an alternative undercover venue was sought.
In 1988 the Museum was fortunate enough, with the involvement of the History Trust of SA, to obtain a $2m Australia's bicentennial
Australian Bicentenary
The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...
Commemorative Grant to relocate to its current site and to provide covered accommodation for the exhibits. On 2 January 1988 the gates at the Mile End Railway Museum closed for the last time and on 10 December 1988, after almost a year of frantic activity, the Port Dock Station Railway Museum Port Adelaide was officially opened by the Premier of South Australia, The Hon John Bannon
John Bannon
John Charles Bannon AO is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party to government at the 1982 election. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election and the 1989 election...
.
In 1999, special funding was received as part of Australia's Centenary of Federation to construct the Commonwealth Railway Museum within the museum's precinct. This new facility, which was opened on 21 October 2001, houses a representative sample of exhibits from the "Commonwealth Railways
Commonwealth 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...
" and "Australian National". Included is the original Tea and Sugar train, as well as a number of vehicles that were used on the Ghan and Trans-Australian passenger trains.
At the opening of the Commonwealth Railway Museum the Port Dock Station Railway Museum was renamed the National Railway Museum. The name change is a response to the Commonwealth Railways
Commonwealth 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...
operations being integrated into a National Transport Network that spans the whole of the Australian continent.
Collection
The museum currently houses their large static collection in two pavilions and the historical goods shed at the site of the original Port Dock railway stationPort Dock railway station, Adelaide
Port Dock railway station was located in the commercial centre of Port Adelaide, South Australia at the corner of St Vincent Street and Lipson Street...
. On the site, all three gauges
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
of Australia are represented, these being Narrow (3' 6" or 1067mm), Standard (4' 8½" or 1435mm) and Broad Gauge (5' 3" or 1600mm). Operational locomotives and railcars on these gauges respectively are Steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
Peronne (1918 Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 Tank Locomotive), DE 507 (South Australian Railways) and 801 (SAR), Redhen Railcars 400, 321 and trailer 863. The museum also operates a number of 18" gauge (457mm) equipment, mainly steam locomotives Bub (0-4-2T) and Bill (2-4-0 with 4 wheel tender).
In 2008 the museum received the 1949 Overland roomette sleeping car Allambi, donated by the Victorian Government after being stored after the end of the Vinelander
Vinelander
The Vinelander was a named passenger train that operated by the Victorian Railways between Melbourne and Mildura, Victoria, Australia from 1972 to 1993. Operating overnight along the Mildura line, it included motorail and sleeping car facilities.-History:...
service.
Buildings
The museum has a number of historic buildings, some original to the site and other transported for display. Amongst the more historic of these are:Goods Shed
The original Port Dock Station Goods Shed is included as part of the Museum complex. This building is constructed of large timber beams and is typical of the type of buildings constructed by the South Australian Railway in the 19th Century.
Woodville Signal Cabin
The former Woodville
Woodville, South Australia
Woodville is a suburb of Adelaide, situated about 8 kilometres northwest of the Central Business District of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Charles Sturt. The postcode of Woodville is 5011...
signal cabin of the 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...
/State Transport Authority
State Transport Authority (South Australia)
The State Transport Authority was the government agency which controlled public transport within the State of South Australia between 1974 and 1994....
has been moved to the Museum site and connected to the narrow gauge yard. It is available for tours.
Callington Station
The "Callington Shelter Shed and Booking Office" is typical of the type of building used by the 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...
at small country stations. It was originally built in 1951 for the then small rural community of Callington
Callington, South Australia
Callington is a small town in the Adelaide Hills, in South Australia. Callington is situated on the Bremer River, and is adjacent to the South Eastern Freeway. Callington is located within the state electoral district of Kavel and the federal division of Mayo...
, located approximately 20 km west of Murray Bridge on the main Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
route.
Intense competition during the 1960s and 70s with road transport, for passenger and parcels traffic, eventually resulted in the withdrawal of all staff and the closure of Callington station. Following closure, the building was subject to extensive vandal attacks that left nothing but the exterior. In 1991 an approach was made to Australian National, who agreed to sell the building. This resulted in the building being purchased by a museum member, who subsequently arranged for its donation and transportation to Port Adelaide. It was placed in storage until 1994, when it was re-erected in its current location.
Eudunda Gang Shed
Located at rear of the rollingstock pavilion is the former Eudunda
Eudunda, South Australia
Eudunda is a rural town in South Australia, roughly 103 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, established in 1870 after settlers began moving into the area in the 1860s...
Gang Shed. It was purchased and relocated by members of the museum in 1990
Operations
The museum operates a number of historic locomotives for shunting purposes and special events where large passenger numbers are applicable, in lieu of this, the 18" gauge steam locomotives and a diesel operate rides of 1.2 km around the museum. In 1992, the museum, in co-operation with the local council, built a 2 km line along the beach from SemaphoreSemaphore, South Australia
Semaphore is a north-western seaside suburb of Adelaide of the LeFevre Peninsula 14km from the CBD, in the state of South Australia, Australia and falls under the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. It is adjacent to Semaphore South, Glanville, Exeter and Largs Bay. The postcode for Semaphore is 5019...
to Fort Glanville. This is operated from October to April, weekends, public holidays and school holidays when temperatures are below 35 degrees celsius
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
. The line travels along the coastline, through the sand dunes and the Fort Glanville Conservation Park
Fort Glanville Conservation Park
Fort Glanville Conservation Park is a registered heritage conservation area in Semaphore South, South Australia, a seaside suburb of Adelaide, that incorporates a functional 19th century fort. The fort was built after more than 40 years of indecision over the defence of South Australia...
, with the engine being turned and run around at each end of the line, which is a delight for tourists who enjoy the beachside trip.