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South Johnstone Mill No.10 Timbertown, Wauchope |
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Fowler 17881 working upgrade at the Timbertown Heritage
Steam Railway on 28 December 2003.
At that stage the loco wore lined black livery.
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Builder |
John
Fowler & Co, Leeds |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
17881
of 1928 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-2T |
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This
handsome John Fowler & Co locomotive was originally No.10 on the roster
at South Johnstone Mill, Innisfail. I don’t know much about its preservation
history and I first encountered the loco at Timbertown,
Wauchope, NSW, on a visit there in 2003. Timbertown
was an interesting reproduction of an 1880’s pioneer village centred around a
sawmilling community, complete with a steam-powered sawmill, blacksmith, stables
and various vintage crafts housed in reproduction vintage buildings. The
railway was always a key attraction, circling the village via a 2km loop
through the forest, including a lengthy trestle bridge snaking through the
local watercourse. I understand the site was first developed by the local
council including a considerable staff manning the various shops and
attractions, but over time the site worked through various structures looking
for financially sustainable business model. Later additions included gold
panning and a steam-powered gold crushing display, a miniature railway, a children’s
playground, display sheds for local vintage machinery collectors and premises
for a woodworking club. I understand the final ~15 years were under private
ownership, with the railway remaining a central attraction together with
farmyard animals set among the 1880’s village atmosphere beneath the tall
timbers. Four steam
locomotives have been based at Timbertown over the years, listed in order of arrival: ·
Green Hornet
- John Fowler & Co. Ltd, 0-6-0T, b/n 12271 of 1910. ·
Macknade Mill No.6
- Hudswell, Clarke & Co. Ltd, 0-6-0, b/n 1862 of 1952. ·
South Johnstone No.10 - John Fowler & Co. Ltd,
0-4-2T, b/n 17881 of 1928. ·
PWD No.35 /
Kiama Fowler - John Fowler & Co. Ltd, 0-4-0T, b/n 16089 of 1923. Ruby was
withdrawn from operations in February 2023 for required maintenance, with
services taken over by ‘Green Hornet’. Update
- February 2026: Alas the
Timbertown site including its steam railway has now permanently closed, with
the final day of operation on 28 January 2026. An auction of assets including
the railway equipment is planned for May 2026. I understand there is interest
in the railway equipment from overseas bidders; it would be a pity if this loco
was exported. The
webmaster had many visits to Timbertown during his childhood in the 1970’s
& 80’s and I’m sorry to see the site closed. It seems even the timber
itself may have contributed to the site’s demise – among the village was a
quaint 1-classroom schoolhouse in a bushland setting, which had disappeared by
2026 – I was told it had been crushed beyond repair by a falling tree! No
doubt public liability insurance was a significant and escalating ongoing
expense. I’ve
included more photos of the various Timbertown attraction on the page for Green Hornet (Fowler 12271 of 1910) after my final
visit there on 11 January 2026. |
My visit to Timbertown on 11 January 2026 found Ruby parked
in the ‘steam sawmill’ sidings, awaiting overhaul.
The running line (foreground) is where
refuelling occurred, and where the running loco and train were stabled
overnight.
Fittingly, the Timbertown steam locos were wood fired!
Builder’s plate for South Johnstone Mill No.10.
In more recent years this loco has work lined ruby red
livery… and indeed carried the name ‘Ruby’.
Photo date 10 April 2023.
References
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a |
Light
Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. web site (retrieved 11 February 2026): 'Preserved Australian Sugar Cane
Locomotives' list by John Browning |
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b |
Timbertown
website
& social media pages: retrieved
11 February 2026 |
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c |
Webmaster’s observations or comment |
Page updated: 12 February 2026
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