44-566: The Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc. (known colloquially as Steamtown and Steamtown Peterborough ) was a not-for-profit incorporated society that operated a heritage steam railway from Peterborough, South Australia , north along a section of the Peterborough to Quorn railway line, between 1977 and 2002. The society based its operations on the former South Australian Railways roundhouse at Peterborough and purpose-built sheds and yard at Peterborough West. Peterborough
88-415: A $ 2.4 million track upgrade and annual spending of $ 155,000 on track maintenance would need to be spent. For the tourist attraction to reach a break-even figure, three trains a week, filled to capacity would be required – a difficult target given its limited market base. The mayor urged community members to make their feelings known to the council. Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc.
132-456: A day. After 1970, however, the scale of railway operations progressively reduced as the functions undertaken at Peterborough were moved elsewhere. The society operated for 25 years – in its peak year running 27 scheduled passenger trains – but under-capitalisation , the progressive departure of skilled tradespeople from the town and a dramatic increase in insurance costs brought about its end. The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre , developed by
176-666: Is on the East-west rail corridor connecting Sydney and Perth . The society's formation reflected the fact that before the 1881 narrow-gauge route was rebuilt as a standard gauge line in 1970, it was South Australia's busiest regional railway hub – venue of the headquarters of the Northern Division of the South Australian Railways, regional train control, and railway workshops and maintenance facilities employing more than 1,000 people to look after more than 100 passing trains
220-707: Is the largest town in the council area. Peterborough is in the state electorate of Stuart and federal Division of Grey . Peterborough at one point in time had its own town council ( Corporation of the Town of Peterborough ) surrounded by the district council. Peterborough sat on the intersection of the East-West railway linking Port Pirie and Broken Hill , and the North–South railway linking Adelaide eventually to Alice Springs via Quorn , both narrow gauge ( 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in )) lines between 1917 (when
264-597: The Trans-Australian Railway opened across the Nullarbor Plain ) and 1937 (when a more direct south–north route bypassed the Peterborough–Quorn railway line by connecting Port Pirie to Port Augusta ). The Peterborough railway station is still in operation and was formerly a stop for the weekly Indian Pacific train. The line from Port Pirie and Jamestown arrived in 1881, followed shortly after by
308-551: The Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1950 and the early 1970s. With the WAGR suffering from a shortage of locomotives and having a backlog of repairs deferred from World War II , authorisation was granted for the construction of 35 4-6-2 locomotives. Initially it was planned that Midland Railway Workshops build 10 with the balance built externally. However capacity constraints at Midland saw
352-707: The roundhouse is still used to display its coaches and locomotives. The District Council, with funding from the three tiers of government and recovery of the Eurelia line, have subsequently established the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre , with SA's first Sound & Light Show. In early 2022, the Nova Systems Space Precinct was officially established on a 21 ha (52-acre) site located just outside of Peterborough. Australian defence engineering and technology group Nova Systems originally purchased
396-706: The Lakewood Firewood Company's service, and Western Australian Government Railways Z1151 . The society then obtained Commonwealth Railways NSU class locomotives 55 and 62 from those remaining at Marree. Early trains were hauled by Pmr720. However, the locomotive's boiler tubes failed in the late 1980s, leaving W901 as the only operational steam locomotive. Although plans were made to recommission Pmr720, they never eventuated. W901 experienced problems in later years through minimal maintenance and limited expertise of remaining volunteers. Some trains then became diesel-hauled or supported by small diesel power. Following
440-604: The October 2002 AGM had been unable to elect a secretary or treasurer; the president had resigned in 2003. In response to a request for help from the Steamtown committee, an administrative sub-committee formed under the Local Government Act , with representatives of the council, SA Government and the society, would "manage the troubled society's affairs". It had been expected that with the council managing Steamtown's assets through
484-504: The Peterborough District Council convened a public meeting to hear about and decide on a future direction for Steamtown. It was attended by more than 60 people. The mayor said the object of the evening was "to find out what – if any – community support existed for the further council development of Steamtown". She stated, "Council has already invested $ 199,000 in Steamtown, of which $ 83,000 was grant funding", and added that if
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#1732891009478528-422: The Peterborough District Council since 2002 as a static-display museum in the former roundhouse and workshops, has utilised the locomotives and rolling stock previously owned by the society, becoming a significant tourist attraction. Its award-winning sound and light show tells the story of South Australia's early railways and presents a reminder of the town's former importance as a major railway centre. The society
572-404: The boundary of the railways site holding the workshops and roundhouse. Members saw it as an ideal site, since it had mains water, power and sewerage. The society also proposed that a triangle could be installed, and Australian National agreed to provide the land at a nominal rent. Despite the proposal, it was not approved and a greenfield site 600 metres (660 yards) west of the roundhouse
616-422: The decision was taken to sell off the assets, Peterborough would lose a wonderful community asset. "Contrary to rumour, council is not hell-bent on closing Steamtown. It is realistic to say that trains are never likely to run again, due to issues such as track maintenance, insurance, lack of volunteers and money to do what other railway societies are doing." The meeting heard that rolling stock and civil assets of
660-435: The former interstate narrow-gauge route to Quorn. In subsequent years it ran up to eleven scheduled trains per year. However, operations had to be briefly suspended on occasions during the late 1980s and 1990s, mainly because of unavailability of a serviceable locomotive. The society sent trains to Bruce, Hammond, Moockra and Carrieton, using hired NT class diesel locomotives, to recover track and civil infrastructure. Much of
704-496: The future of the society was limited in Peterborough and investigated options for relocating. Low levels of tourist traffic in Peterborough and limited support from the local community were key factors, but the society had also suffered a severe loss of skilled volunteers as railway staffing in the town was drawn down. Options considered were the Gladstone to Wilmington line , also of 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge, and at
748-476: The last train, W901's boiler was left full of water, causing concern about its possibly being affected by oxygen in the water. Former society members, including those involved with the recommissioning, undertook minor works in 2006 to minimise further deterioration. The locomotive became a static exhibit at the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre in the Peterborough roundhouse. Diesel locomotive NSU55
792-774: The line from Terowie in the south and north to Quorn . The line to Broken Hill was completed in 1887. Peterborough was the home town for Bob the Railway Dog who is remembered by a bronze statue located in the Main Street . In 1970, the east–west line was converted to standard gauge ( 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in )), and the line south of Peterborough to Terowie to broad gauge ( 1,600 mm / 5 ft 3 in ). Thus Peterborough became one of three, triple-gauge railway junctions in Australia. The others being Gladstone and Port Pirie , all on
836-518: The mid north of South Australia , in wheat country, just off the Barrier Highway . It was originally named Petersburg after the landowner, Peter Doecke, who sold land to create the town. It was one of 69 places in South Australia renamed in 1917 due to anti-German sentiments during World War I. The first settlers in the area purchased land from the government in 1875. The first building in
880-664: The order for the full 35 placed with the North British Locomotive Company , Glasgow . Nineteen were built as the Pm class with plain bearings on the coupled axles and roller bearings on the carrying axles. The other sixteen were built as the Pmr class with roller bearings on all axles. One Pm was later converted to a Pmr at Midland Railway Workshops . All entered service in 1950. Although intended to operate passenger services, their independently sprung driving wheels gave
924-400: The overall name was changed to The Times and Northern Advertiser , Peterborough, South Australia, in response to the government's wish to remove Germanic placenames . Peterborough was also home to the short-lived newspaper, Petersburg Enterprise and Northern Advocate (20 January – 2 August 1912), which was printed by William John Myers and Walter A. Wade. Another short-lived publication
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#1732891009478968-521: The prompting of mayor W. Thredgold, a newspaper, the Petersburg Times was founded in 1887 by Robert M. Osborne , became The Times and Northern Advertiser in 1919, under the longterm proprietorship of W. H. Bennett and survived as a family business until 1970. Peterborough has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Peterborough is the seat of the District Council of Peterborough . It
1012-446: The recovered material was used within the depot at Peterborough West. The first organised motor section car excursions in Australia were hosted between 1994 and 1998, with entertainment including a live band at Eurelia on one occasion. In the society's last years of operation, it made a restored South Australian Railways motor inspection car available for hire. A hand powered section car ("Kalamazoo") race held at Black Rock yard in 2010
1056-400: The roundhouse complex, including development of a striking " sound and light show " at the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre , managed by the council. McNicol, S.; Mannion, J. (2006). Peterborough 125: celebrating 125 years of railways in Peterborough . Elizabeth SA: Railmac Publications. ISBN 9781864770544 . Peterborough, South Australia Peterborough is a town in
1100-431: The same railway corridor. The broad-gauge connection to Adelaide, via Burra , was closed on 26 July 1988. The narrow-gauge line north to Quorn last carried freight in 1980, and was removed, between Eurelia and Bruce in the mid-1980s. Grain trains ran as far as Orroroo into the mid-1980s. In its later years it was used by tourist trains from Steamtown as far as Eurelia. Steamtown ceased operations in 2002, however
1144-610: The site in 2019, when it contained one ground station terminal belonging to the site's previous owner, Tyvak. The site now hosts several ground stations on behalf of Tyvak (US), RBC Signals (US), and Leaf Space (Italy). Up to 75 more satellite dishes are planned, each with 16 antennae. The town was home to the Petersburg Times , subtitled: Orroroo Chronicle and Northern Advertiser , (12 August 1887 – May 1919). The Times' subtitle later evolved to Terowie, Yongala, and Northern Advertiser, and finally Northern Advertiser. In 1919,
1188-502: The society had received only limited maintenance, mainly as a consequence of lack of resources. The track, last re-sleepered by the SAR in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was also deteriorating: "facts were presented showing that since the 1970s, the society had seriously underspent in maintenance on track infrastructure". It would have to be brought to a satisfactory standard before the trains could run again; but engineers' reports had shown that
1232-620: The society's rolling stock and other assets to the Corporation of Peterborough. Members encountered great difficulty in continuing operations, however, since by then the majority of active volunteers came from outside the district and those with the skills needed to enable operations were in short supply. By 2002, insurance costs skyrocketed for most heritage railways, leading to several ceasing operations. The society stopped running its trains when its public liability cover expired in June of that year. By
1276-447: The society. It was given a cosmetic restoration in 1999, and was moved to a plinth in the town. In the early days of the society, Australian National , which managed the railway facilities and operations at Peterborough, allowed rolling stock to be stored within its 19-stall roundhouse. The society saw the need to establish its own facilities, and proposed to establish its own depot on a block of land 200 m (220 yards) north of
1320-403: The sub-committee, the society would be free to concentrate on operating rail trips. However, those ambitions were unfulfilled on account of soaring public liability insurance premiums. Efforts were concentrated on developing the site as a static museum, which was reported at the meeting as "proving highly successful, and has increased Steamtown's cash flow". A year later, on 8 October 2004,
1364-606: The time still carrying large quantities of grain; and the abandoned 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in) gauge line through the Clare Valley tourist area. In the event, the society remained in Peterborough. In 1986, following a Parliamentary Select Committee report, the South Australian Parliament passed the Steamtown Peterborough (Vesting of Property) Act , which authorised the transfer of ownership of
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1408-645: The time the insurance crisis had been mitigated the following year, the society was experiencing great difficulty attracting people to a management committee. In 2002, a steering committee was established comprising representatives of the Federation of North East Councils, the Northern Regional Development Board, the Flinders Ranges Area Consultative Committee and the society. A project followed to evaluate development of
1452-402: The town was constructed four years later. Settler Peter Doecke transferred his land to J H Koch in 1876, who found out in 1880 that the land would be the site of a railway junction. He subdivided it and sold 33 acres (13 ha) for £1700, after failing to get £500 per acre for it in 1879. By 1880 a hotel and post office had been erected, followed by a school in 1883, and a town hall in 1884. At
1496-472: The workshops precinct as the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre . At a special general meeting on 26 October 2003, 175 people supported a motion to dissolve the society and nine voted against. It was reported that during the previous two years, the society has suffered several upheavals and that the October 2001 annual general meeting had been declared invalid at a special general meeting in January 2002. Further,
1540-695: Was Frith's Bulletin (15 April 1913), a monthly magazine published by F.H. Frith, but discontinued after only one issue. A third one at this time was the Sporting Telegraph (3 May – 26 July 1913), which was printed by W.H. Bennett for Pritchard Morgan Hall. More recently, it was also home to the Peterborough Times (2003–2006), which later became part of the Mid North Broadcaster , a publication released from 2006 to 2013 in Burra . The Broadcaster
1584-401: Was a centrepiece of the highly successful Peterborough Centenary celebrations. Four years after the society's foundation, on 17 April 1981, it ran its first public train. Subsequently, an average of six trips a year were made between Peterborough and Orroroo , and Peterborough and Eurelia. The peak operating year was 1981, when the society ran a total of 27 trains, including a notable trip over
1628-424: Was allocated by the council. Construction of a depot started in 1980. The substantial task of laying track to connect the depot to existing track was completed in 1983. The society operated from its depot for several years but moved most of its operational rolling stock into the roundhouse and diesel shop after Australian National withdrew its operations from the town. In the early 1980s some members realised that
1672-472: Was described as being in sound condition albeit with a rusted tender, it was never steamed – in part because roadworthy locomotives became available in Western Australia, including the W and Pmr class. In the end, W901, W907 and Pmr720 were purchased and shipped to Peterborough. A steam locomotive last deployed by the South Australian Railways as a shunter at Peterborough, Y82 , was never transferred to
1716-486: Was dissolved as an incorporated entity on 13 January 2005; its Australian Business Number was cancelled on 31 December 2004. Rails on the line used by the society were removed at the end of 2008 with the exception of those at Pekina Creek, Black Rock yard , Black Rock bridge, Walloway yard to Walloway Creek, and in the Orroroo yard. Sales of the rail, together with some funds from the council, contributed to enhancements of
1760-434: Was eventually recommissioned during 1998 after a considerable effort by a small band of volunteers. Track conditions throughout the roundhouse and on the mainline posed significant problems for its operation, however, and concern about potential derailments led to its being operated only within the vicinity of Peterborough. Although T199 was the first locomotive to be obtained (on loan from the Corporation of Peterborough), and
1804-980: Was formed by the merger of struggling local newspapers, the Peterborough Times , the Burra Broadcaster (1991–2006), and the Eudunda Observer . It was owned by the Taylor group, with editorial control via the Murray Pioneer . Its distribution included the towns of Burra, Eudunda, Jamestown and Peterborough. In mid-2021, a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence (TCBL) was issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to Peterborough Community Broadcasting Incorporated. In early 2022, 5PBS commenced broadcasting on 91.1 MHz, servicing Peterborough and surrounding towns including Oodla Wirra , Terowie and Yongala . Peterborough High School
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1848-587: Was founded in 1977 to run a steam-hauled tourist train service on the Peterborough–Quorn railway line narrow gauge railway between Peterborough and Eurelia using retired South Australian Railways T class steam locomotive, T199. A prime motivation for the project was the return to steam – by its owners, the Pichi Richi Railway , situated 120 km (75 mi) to the north-west – of sister locomotive T186, in 1976. The newly delivered locomotive, which had received final fitting and painting at Peterborough,
1892-492: Was opened in 1927 and caters for students from years 7 to 12. Peterborough Primary School was opened in 1883 and caters for students from years reception to 6 St Joseph's School is a reception to Year 7 Catholic primary school which was founded by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph. WAGR Pm and Pmr classes The WAGR Pm and Pmr classes were two classes of 4-6-2 tender engine steam locomotives operated by
1936-467: Was the last event on the abandoned line. The society's revenue passenger cars were former Commonwealth Railways stock from the narrow-gauge Central Australia Railway between Marree and Alice Springs . Its steam locomotives were from the Western Australian Government Railways , including Pmr720 , and W901 and W907 (the latter was never steamed). Diesel power was initially from Western Australia: former Commonwealth Railways NC1 , which had been in
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