I have always thought it was lovely that the small locos used on the Goldfields Woodlines were given names. All the ones I have found so far have female names except for ‘Ken’. – Thank you to Peter Green for sending me this information.
Kate, Lily Anie and Mary, steam locos at Beria. Owned by the Goldfields Firewood Supply Co
Loco Ken from the Gwalia Woodline (Now at the Midland Rail Museum)
Ken Restored
Loco Peggy Lancefield Woodline 1916
Loco Saide at Kurrawang, ca.1924
Stahnbahn Werek-Freudenstein & Co Locomotive
During the early years of the twentieth century small steam locomotives were sometimes used in the goldfields in conjunction with mining operations. The Golden Ridge Mining Co. bought two tiny steam locos from Stahnbahn Werek-Freudenstein & Co. in Germany, for use on their 20″ (508mm) gauge tramway at Boorara, a few miles southeast of Kalgoorlie. The locomotive on display arrived in 1904 and was put to work between the Waterfall Mine and the stamping battery at the Golden Ridge Mine. Its sister engine joined it the following year. However, Golden Ridge Mining closed down soon after and both engines were stored, finally falling into the hands of the Western Machinery Co. at Kalgoorlie. In 1963, one was handed over to the ARHS for preservation and was stored at Midland till the Museum at Bassendean was established. After arriving at the Museum the little loco was painted in a green colour scheme with the number 7 painted on its chimney, but in January, 1989 it was repainted into its present scheme and nick-named ‘Freudy’ for the younger visitors to the Museum. ‘Freudy’
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Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
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My great uncle William Warman was the first train driver of the Sandfly. This train travelled from Darwin to Pine Creek. This train has been restored and is in Museum in Darwin.