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This
modern 0-6-2T locomotive was among the last steam locomotives built by John
Fowler & Co. before their strategic decision to switch to manufacturing
internal combustion locomotives. It worked at Kalamia Mill, Ayr, receiving the
name ‘Airdmillan’ in reference to a local cane growing area supplying the mill.
In
time dieselisation came to Kalamia Mill and in 1962 Airdmillan was retired
from cane haulage duties. That year it was plinthed at the mill, but the tropical
environment of north Queensland is not favourable to open display, and it
seems Airdmillan deteriorated rapidly. By 1975 the loco was in poor
condition, and the Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society (ANGRMS) stepped
in to purchase Airdmillan for continued preservation. The loco was transported
to Rocklea, Brisbane in 1975 for an initial period of storage, before
arriving at their Woodford site in 1979.
ANGRMS
is based at Woodford station on the former QR Kilcoy branch, a portion of
which has been re-laid to 2’ gauge for heritage train operations and is known
as the Woodford Railway. A series of storage sidings at Woodford house Airdmillan
and other steam locomotives saved for posterity by ANGRMS, but alas many have
not yet received any rehabilitation. ANGRMS has recently constructed a new
storage and restoration shed at Woodford, and perhaps Airdmillan will be a
beneficiary of this investment.
The
ANGRMS
collections page for Airdmillan provides some useful technical information
for this loco.
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