Bli Bli

Moreton Mill, Nambour

This photo is courtesy of John Hurst and dated July 1978, showing Bli Bli plinthed near Nambour.

(The Brisbane tram in the background of this photograph had gone by the time of my visit in 2004.)

Builder	John Fowler & Co, Leeds
Builder’s Number & Year	14418 of 1914
Wheel Arrangement	0-4-2T

This locomotive originally worked at Babinda Mill, south of Cairns, before being purchased by Moreton Mill, Nambour in 1960.
At Moreton Mill it received the name 'Bli Bli' (after a local cane growing district) and was retired from service in 1967.

'Bli Bli' had been plinthed at Muller Park in the eponymous locality of Bli Bli since 1968. Here is was located alongside a tidal inlet and overlooking the Moreton Mill tramway which passed alongside and crossed the inlet via a combined road-rail bridge. At the time of my visit on 27 January 2004, a weather roof had been provided but the locomotive had become corroded and somewhat derelict in the humid and salty air. The chimney, headlight and cylinder covers were missing, and the wheels were sitting wet in the sandy base of the plinth.

‘Light Railways’ magazine reported the welcome news that Bli Bli was transferred during June 2011 to the Nambour Museum (operated by the Nambour & District Historical Museum Association Inc), where it was planned to be statically restored prior to being placed on display. Alas I haven’t had an opportunity to visit this museum yet, but subsequent photos show that Bli Bli is now displayed in a suitable covered area. While restoration may be yet to start, the loco now appears to be well cared for.

My thanks to Cory Heath for this view of Bli Bli at the Nambour Museum on 18 December 2012.
The loco is still missing its chimney, cylinder covers and other fittings, but is now in better care.

References

a	Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site (as at 29 July 2017): 'Preserved Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives' list by John Browning (www.lrrsa.org.au/LRR_SGRc.htm)
b	'Light Railways - Australia's Magazine of Industrial & Narrow Gauge Railways', Number 220, August 2011, published by Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc.

Page updated: 29 July 2017

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