Proserpine Mill No.7 ‘Digger’

Proserpine Historical Museum

Proserpine Mill No. 7 ‘Digger’ displayed at the Proserpine Historical Museum on 26 April 2024.

Builder	Hunslet Engine Company Ltd, Leeds, England
Builder’s Number & Year	1317 of 1918
Wheel Arrangement	4-6-0T

This locomotive was built for the British Army’s ‘War Department Light Railways’ for the 600mm gauge light lines supplying the front-line during World War 1. (For further information about the War Department Light Railways Hunslet locomotives, refer to sister War Department No.306 which is preserved by the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.)

At the end of hostilities, the War Department had many surplus locomotives, both narrow and standard gauge. This example was one of several 600mm gauge machines of several types purchased from war surplus for use in the Queensland Sugar industry. Following rebuilding and regauging by Hunslet, it was sold to the Engineering Supply Company of Australia (ESCO) for the 2’ gauge (610mm) tramways of the Queensland canefields, becoming No.7 on the roster of the Proserpine Mill. Here it received the name ‘Digger’, presumably in reference to its war-time connections.

No.7 ‘Digger’ was plinthed in Rotary Park, Proserpine in 1962 following its retirement from service at Proserpine Mill.

Around 2001 the loco was transferred to the care of the Proserpine Historical Museum Society and received some cosmetic restoration prior to being placed on display within their museum building.

Update:

The webmaster enjoyed a holiday at Airlie Beach in late April 2024 which provided an opportunity to visit the Proserpine Historical Museum, which features a number of interesting displays. I greatly enjoyed my time at the museum and the volunteer staff were very friendly and helpful. The photos of No.7 ‘Digger’ below date from that visit.

Detail of the front-end; all the valve gear and rodding appears to be intact.

The old weather cap placed over the chimney is still in place, despite the loco now being safely undercover!

Webmaster photo dated 26 April 2024.

Read view of No.7 ‘Digger’.

Webmaster photo dated 26 April 2024.

This information board was displayed alongside No.7 ‘Digger’ at Proserpine Historical Museum.

The brass cab window frames appear to still be fitted in the June 1962 photo.

Webmaster photo dated 26 April 2024.

Proserpine Mill No. 7 ‘Digger’ displayed under a weather roof at Proserpine on 12 August 1992.

The brass window frames had disappeared by this stage.

This photo was kindly contributed by Tom Badger.

No.7 ‘Digger’ was subsequently transferred the Proserpine Historical Museum.

References

a	Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site (retrieved 15 September 2018): 'Preserved Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives' list by John Browning (www.lrrsa.org.au/LRR_SGRc.htm)
b	Wikipedia page for Hunslet Engine Company, Leeds, England, retrieved 19 September 2018
c	Proserpine Historical Museum Society website, retrieved 18 May 2024

Page updated: 18 May 2024

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