Faugh-a-Ballagh

Plinthed at Port Douglas

The name and builder's plates attached to Faugh-a-Ballagh. Photo date 19 August 2004.

Builder	John Fowler & Co, Leeds
Builder’s Number & Year	8733 of 1900
Wheel Arrangement	0-6-0T

‘Faugh-a-Ballagh’ was built by John Fowler & Co. Ltd. of Leeds for use on the tramway linking the town of Mossman and Mossman Central Mill with Port Douglas in far-North Queensland. Faugh-a-Ballagh worked on cane haulage to the sugar mill and the tramway link to Port Douglas until its retirement in 1958.

By 2004 this historic locomotive was preserved at Port Douglas, together with an open wagon and bogie passenger carriage. It had apparently been cosmetically restored in 1997, with a suitable weather shelter and secure enclosure also provided.

A sign with historical notes attached to the open wagon (photo below) explained that the name ‘Faugh-a-Ballagh’ is taken from the Welsh language and means ‘clear the way’. While the interpretation is correct, it is in fact an Irish expression, and indeed the regimental motto of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Wikipedia provides further background for the phrase ‘Faugh-a-Ballagh’. (Recent visitors to Port Douglas have reported that the sign has since been corrected to reflect the name’s Irish rather than Welsh etymology.)

Portions of the Port Douglas tramway are today in use as a tourist train by the Balley Hooley tourist railway at Port Douglas. The remainder of the route to Mossman Central Mill is intact although somewhat overgrown in parts.

Alas the secure enclose surrounding ‘Faugh-a-Ballagh’ (AKA ‘Foggy’) makes photography rather difficult, so I would appreciate the contribution of any photo which shows this locomotive in a clearer light.

This photo of 19 August 2004 shows the historical notes attached to the open wagon displayed behind Faugh-a-Ballagh.

However, ‘Faugh-a-Ballagh’ is Irish, not Welsh!

The secure plinth at Port Douglas containing Faugh-a-Ballagh, open wagon & bogie passenger carriage. 19 August 2004

The sign attached to the open wagon has since been corrected to reflect the name’s Irish rather than Welsh etymology.

A small victory for correctness!

My thanks to Tony Smith for providing this updated image, dated 14 February 2021.

References

a	Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site (as at 14 March 2021): 'Preserved Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives' list by John Browning. (www.lrrsa.org.au/LRR_SGRc.htm)
b	Historical notes displayed at the Faugh-a-Ballagh plinth.
c	Information provided by Tony Smith via email, 19 February 2021

Page updated: 14 March 2021

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