Port Dock Railway Museum

When Bill blows his stack - everyone at Port Adelaide knows about it. "Bill" is the steam locomotive whose home is the Port Dock Station Railway Museum. The scream can be heard across the two hectares of museum devoted to the history of rail transport in South Australia. Originally this was the Port Dock Station built in 1856. Steam trains ran from Adelaide and the Port - the first line to be worked by steam trains in South Australia and the first State-owned steam railway in the British Empire. It closed in 1963. Now it's a museum which is run by more than 100 volunteers such as retired driver Laurie Nichols. There are only two full timers - one of whom is Manager Steve Yorke. "There is no Government Funding so we have to raise all of the money to keep going ourselves but its wonderful." Steve believes it brings out the child in many adults. "It brings back a lot of memories for lots of the people that visit." However the working section of the Museum is just the tip of the iceberg - once you venture inside the massive pavillion there are row upon row of railway memories. All up there is 100 vehicles which include 30 locomotives.

Many of the carriages have been restored such as this dining car named "Adelaide". It was built by the Pullman Company in Chicago in 1928 and was used for first class passengers on "The Overlander". It was certainly first class treatment with a concrete floor to guarantee a smooth ride, the carriage weighed 76 tons. Because it is the only original example of a Pullman Carriage left in the world it is literally priceless. Then there's this beauty from the Old Northern Line. There was no need for such drastic measures with this steam locomotive built in Sydney in 1914. It and its carriages were known as "The Tea And Sugar" because it ran between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie bringing supplies to the workers in tiny railway towns across the Nullabor. It was retired from service at the end of the Second World War. The collection at the Port Dock Station is the result of dedicated workers who began collecting in the early 1960's. Now it is one of the finest collections in the country. For $2 there is an excellent guide book that tells the stories of virtually every train. School Holidays are an especially good time to visit because "Thomas The Tank Engine" has special runs. The Port Dock Station Railway Museum is open seven days a week in Lipson Street at Port Adelaide. Adults are $6, children $2.50 and there is a family ticket for $15. The Thomas The Tank Engine specials are every day from next Saturday until the following Sunday. For more information email: info@postcards.sa.com.au