STEAM TOWN: Peterborough in the Mid North of South Australia
If one town epitomises the importance of the railways in South Australia's early years - it's Peterborough. Nestled in the heart of the mid north, Peterborough owes it's very existence to the railways. And while those booming railway days are long gone, the town's obsession with rail certainly remains.
Today, there's a “Steamtown” - an operating museum set up more than 20 years ago to maintain a working link with Peterborough's narrow gauge railway heritage.
“Peterborough was born - it came from a rural settlement to an industrial town in next to no time flat. 18-hundred people in Peterborough worked in the railway system and there were 5 and a half thousand people in the town”.
The Steamtown collection includes an impressive array of lovingly restored locomotives and rolling stock - all with links to the important roll the town played in railway history.
It began in 1881 when the line from Jamestown opened. The Terowie line was next, then the line to Broken Hill. In the end, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Adelaide and the Silverton Mines were all connected by tracks that passed through Peterborough. It was a four way junction town that survived the battle of the gauges - able to serve narrow, standard and broad gauge trains.
Nowadays, tourists can experience the narrow gauge delights of engine 901 as it travels through the Mid North countryside on one of its regular runs to Black Rock. link to story
The Steamtown enthusiasts still talk of the world record that was set on their line in the1930's. In one 24 hour period, the single track from Broken Hill to Port Pirie carried 105 trains.
“The story going around in early years was that they had to shift the weather recording station from here because there was that many steam trains. With a 102 steam trains operating per day in and out of the place, they considered there was too much steam in the atmosphere and they weren't getting a true reading. I really can't see that, but apparently that was the case and the whole weather recording station was moved to Yongala. And that's how Yongala became the coldest place in the state, and I'm damn sure Peterborough's just as cold”.
The fascination doesn't end with steam. If you really want to turn some heads, pop along to Steamtown and hire the amazing M-I-C Car - or Motorised Inspection Car.
“Now what is this, I've never seen one of these before on a train tack? You probably wouldn't have - there was only 8 ever built. 3 on the broad and 5 on the narrow gauge. This is the only one in captivity> The only one that's in operation at the moment”.
A 1934 Morris, powered by an ordinary Holden petro motor, the M-I-C was converted by a local firm in Adelaide.
“So what did it do?"
"It was just a maintenance inspection vehicle. Anyone that was - like the superintendent, the auditors that were going out to the outlying stations to inspect what was happening out there, that their staff were doing the right thing".
"They could kind of go in comfort really? "
"Oh they did. I think that was the idea. They didn't want to book a train up especially for those or they wouldn't lower their dignity and run on an open section car so they had the luxuries of a vehicle”.
This car finished its official working life as a pay-master's vehicle travelling to the outlying stations to pay the crew.
It, like the trains are available for hire or special charter. The trains do a variety of regular runs during long weekends. They're also available for a variety of charters . . . even overnight trips - a great way to celebrate a special occasion.
Trains run long weekends and are also available for charter and special journeys. For more information contact the booking officer on 61 (0)8 8651 3566. or if you have any further questions please email info@postcards.sa.com.au
