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Homebush Operational at Victoria Mill, Ingham |
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Homebush hauling its historic passenger train during the Ingham Maraka Festival on 21 October 2006.
This scene is a reminder of the many road
crossings made by mill tramways in sugar growing areas.
This photo was kindly contributed by Brett Geraghty.
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Builder |
Hudswell,
Clarke & Co. Ltd, Leeds |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
1067
of 1914 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-6-0 |
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This locomotive
was originally supplied to Homebush Mill, near Mackay, where it hauled cane
from 1915 until that mill's closure in 1921. ‘Homebush’ was then transferred
to Victoria Mill, Ingham and operated a passenger and freight service from
the port at Lucinda to Ingham, Stone River and Long Pocket. The freight
service was discontinued in 1932 but Homebush continued in cane and works
train haulage for Victoria Mill until retired in 1976. Fortunately this
locomotive was retained for preservation and restored to working order in
1978. Homebush
continues to be preserved operational at the Victoria Mill, Ingham, where it
occasionally hauls a small tourist train around the mill railway system.
Between steamings, Homebush and its train of two historic 1885-built toast-rack
cars are displayed under a weather roof at the mill entrance. An
excellent source of information on the various Hudswell Clarke steam
locomotives employed by the Colonial Sugar Refining Co Ltd (CSR) in Australia
and Fiji is ‘Salute to the Hudswells’ by Ian Stocks, David Mewes and John
Browning. This book provides a good history and excellent historical photos
for this locomotive, together with the various other Hudswell Clarke products
supplied to the sugar mills in Queensland. |
Here is a second photo contributed by Brett Geraghty
showing Homebush and its passenger train during
the Ingham Maraka Festival
of 21 October 2006.
A third view by Brett Geraghty showing Homebush on 21
October 2006.
Sitting on the running plate is a steam
turbo-generator for supplying electricity to the front & rear headlights.
A large plaque which provides a summary of this locomotive's
history can be seen attached to the tender side.
A view of the plaque attached to Homebush's tender. 21
April 2013.
On 21 April 2013 I found Homebush resting in its usual home
under a weather shelter outside Victoria Mill.
A second view of Homebush resting at Victoria Mill on 21
April 2013.
A large stationary engine & flywheel retired from the
mill are also displayed in the background.
Detail of the builder's plate attached to Homebush's
cabside. 21 April 2013.
This plaque is attached to one of the two toast-rack cars
preserved with Homebush. 21 April 2013.
References
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a |
Light
Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site (Retrieved
3 November 2018): 'Preserved
Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives' list by John Browning |
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b |
Wikipedia page for Hudswell, Clarke & Co. Ltd, retrieved 28
November 2018 |
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c |
‘Salute to
the Hudswells’ by Ian Stocks, David Mewes and John Browning Published
by Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society, 2014. |
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d |
Information
plaques attached to Homebush & Decauville coach (As per the
photos above). |
Page updated: 24 February 2021
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