National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide

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National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum logo (Adelaide).png
The Ron Fitch Pavilion at the museum, 2014.
The Ron Fitch Pavilion at the museum, 2014.
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Established
Location
  • 76 Lipson St
  • Port Adelaide SA 5015
  • Australia
Coordinates34°50′44″S 138°30′31″E / 34.84556°S 138.50861°E / -34.84556; 138.50861Coordinates: 34°50′44″S 138°30′31″E / 34.84556°S 138.50861°E / -34.84556; 138.50861
TypeRailway museum
OwnerNational Railway Museum Inc.
Nearest car parkOn site
WebsiteNational Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia, is Australia's largest railway museum. More than 100 exhibits are on display, mainly from the Commonwealth and South Australian Railways. After opening in 1970 at Mile End, the Museum moved to larger premises at Port Adelaide in 1988.

History[]

One of the museum's steam engines hauling a special train on the museum site - 3 ft 6 in gauge on right, 18 in gauge on left.
One of the museum's steam locomotives hauling a special train on the museum site - 3 ft 6 in gauge on right, 18 in gauge on left.

Mile End, 1964–1988[]

In 1963, a group of rail preservationists convinced the South Australian Railways Commissioner to allocate land on the site of the former Mile End roundhouse to house a small collection of withdrawn steam locomotives. The first locomotive arrived in August 1964 and the site opened as the Mile End Railway Museum in December 1970. The site had only a small number of exhibits under cover and the effects of weather took their toll; an alternative, under-cover venue was sought.[1]

Move to Port Adelaide[]

In 1987, the museum obtained a $2 million Australia's Bicentennial Commemorative Grant to redevelop the former Port Dock goods terminal as a new under-cover museum. In January 1988, the Mile End Railway Museum closed and in December 1988, the Port Dock Station Railway Museum was opened by the Premier of South Australia, John Bannon.[1]

In 1999, funding was received as part of Australia's Centenary of Federation to construct the Commonwealth Railway Museum within the museum's precinct.[2] The facility, opened in October 2001, houses a representative sample of exhibits from the Commonwealth Railways and Australian National. Included are vehicles from The Ghan, Tea & Sugar and Trans-Australian. At the opening, the Port Dock Station Railway Museum was renamed the National Railway Museum on the initiative of deputy prime minister and noted railway enthusiast Tim Fischer.[1][note 1]

In May 2009, the main pavilion was named after Ron Fitch, who as South Australian Railways Commissioner had facilitated the transfer of much of the museum's early rolling stock. At the same time, the Commonwealth Railways Museum was renamed the Ronald E. Fluck Pavilion, after the museum's founder.[1]

In 2017, $16.4 million was allocated in the state budget for a new station to be built next to Baker Street, near the original site of the Port Dock railway station. It was to be at the end of a new 1.0 km (1100 yard) spur line off the existing Outer Harbor rail line,[4][5] using the existing corridor beside the museum that connects to the Outer Harbor railway line.[6][7] However, in June 2019 when some museum track had already been dismantled, the development was "put on hold" while a North West Planning Study was conducted; a forecast cost increase to $40 million was cited.[8][9][note 2] On-ground preparatory work was reversed in January 2020.[citation needed]

Collection[]

South Australian Railways broad gauge 504 and narrow gauge Y97

The museum houses its large static collection in two pavilions and the historical goods shed at the site of the original Port Dock railway station. On the site, all three gauges of Australia are represented: narrow, 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in); standard, 1435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in); and broad 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in). The collection comprises more than 100 major exhibits, mainly from the Commonwealth Railways and South Australian Railways. It also holds rolling stock from the Silverton Tramway and Victorian Railways.[10]

Operational locomotives and railcars on these gauges respectively are steam locomotive Peronne (1918 Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 Tank Locomotive), diesel locomotives 515 and 801, and Redhen railcars 400, 321. The museum also operates a number of 18 in (457 mm) equipment, mainly steam locomotives Bub (0-4-2T) and Bill (2-4-0 with 4 wheel tender).

In June 2020, the Museum announced that locomotive 843 had been donated by One Rail Australia. Transfer is expected later this year.

Steam locomotives:[when?]

Diesel locomotives:

Railcars:

Operations[]

Steam engine Bub at Callington station, National Railway Museum

The museum operates a number of historic locomotives for shunting purposes and special events where large passenger numbers are applicable. Within the museum grounds, 18 in (457 mm) gauge steam and diesel locomotives provide rides on a 1.2 km-long track. In 1992, the museum, in cooperation with the local council, built a 2 km line along the beach from Semaphore to Fort Glanville. From October to April, trains operate – subject to temperatures being less than 35 °C (95 °F) – on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. The line travels along the coastline, through the sand dunes and the Fort Glanville Conservation Park; the locomotive is turned at each end.

The Museum also publishes its own magazine, Catch Point Magazine, in alternate months.[11] Published since 1982, it is a full-colour, 40-page magazine that features news and articles about local railway operations.[12]

Buildings[]

The museum has a number of historic buildings, some original to the site and others transported for display,[13] including the following.

Callington shelter shed[]

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 kilometres west of Murray Bridge on the main Adelaide-Melbourne line. 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 rollings tock pavilion is the former Eudunda gang shed. It was purchased and relocated by members of the museum in 1990.

Goods shed[]

The original 1878 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. The shed was added to the SA Heritage Register on 23 November 1989.[14]

The shed is historically significant as part of an important railway network linking Adelaide with its port. Its size and scale reflect the economic prosperity of South Australia in the 1870s when facilities at Port Adelaide were being extended to serve the growing import and export trade. Architecturally it is an austere industrial building, significant for its sheer scale and use of timber construction throughout. It is the only intact building which remains of the Port Adelaide (later known as Port Dock) station complex.[14]

Jacketts station[]

The museum's modest on-site railway station is Jacketts Station. It is used as a terminus for Red Hen railcars during special-occasion trips between the museum and Adelaide railway station.

The steam shed[]

The shed (closed to public access) is where the museum maintains its operating fleet of 457 mm gauge locomotives and a narrow gauge steam locomotive.

Woodville signal cabin[]

The former Woodville signal cabin of the South Australian Railways is connected to the narrow gauge yard.

Gallery[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ On account of the extent of the museum's collection and the incorporation of all three of the nation's major railway gauges.[3]
  2. ^ For a double mainline connection and signalling, a 300-metre loop, about 700 metres of new line, a level crossing and basic station.[9]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "About the National Railway Museum – A brief history of the museum". National Railway Museum. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. ^ 150 years of the Port Adelaide Railway, 1856 to 2006: a review of the Adelaide to Port Adelaide Railway. Port Adelaide, S. Aust.: National Railway Museum. 2006. pp. 79, 80.
  3. ^ Sampson, Bob (November 2019). "Vale – Tim Fischer AC". Catch Point Magazine. Port Adelaide: National Railway Museum. p. 28.
  4. ^ "Port Adelaide to get new train station served by 1km rail spur". ABC News. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. ^ Kemp, Miles (24 June 2017). "State Budget 2017: Trains return to the heart of Port Adelaide after a 36-year absence". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 15 July 2017. Paid subscription required subscription: the source is only accessible via a paid subscription ("paywall").
  6. ^ Pisani, Ashleigh (30 June 2017). "National Railway Museum warns issues to resolve before Port Dock Railway spur can return". Portside Messenger. Adelaide. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  7. ^ Pisani, Ashleigh (18 July 2018). "Barossa Wine Train booted from the Port". Portside Messenger. Adelaide. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  8. ^ Adelaide's public transport going back to the future under Stephan Knoll ABC News, 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Sampson, Bob (July 2019). "DPTI News". Catch Point Magazine. Port Adelaide: National Railway Museum. p. 6.
  10. ^ "Search rollingstock exhibits". National Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Catch Point magazine". National Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013.
  12. ^ Catchpoint: S.A.'s modern railway magazine. Mile End, S. Aust.: Mile End Railway Museum, Port Dock Station Railway Museum and Australian Railway Historical Society, South Australian Division.
  13. ^ "Buildings". National Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "The South Australia Heritage Places database". maps.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 18 May 2019.

Bibliography[]

  • Sampson, Bob (2010). Your Guide to the National Railway Museum (6th (revised) ed.). Port Adelaide, SA: National Railway Museum.

External links[]

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