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Pioneer Ex-Pioneer Mill, Brandon |
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This historical view of Pioneer outside the loco shed at Pioneer Mill is from the collection of Mark Bennett; date unknown. |
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Builder |
Hunslet
Engine Company, |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
624 of 1896 |
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Wheel Arrangement |
0-4-2T |
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This
locomotive worked at the Pioneer Mill, Brandon (near Ayr) where it was known
eponymously as ‘Pioneer’. While most Queensland cane haulage railways were
built to 2’ gauge, the Pioneer Mill railway system was one of a few built to
3’ 6” gauge, in common with the Queensland Government Railways. ‘Pioneer’
was privately preserved at Ayr for several decades, and hence largely
out-of-sight to most enthusiasts. Light
Railways magazine of December 2017 (Number 258) provided a news update and
photograph for this locomotive. It has recently been acquired by the Burdekin
Machine Preservationists group, who are statically restoring Pioneer for
display at their Brandon Heritage Precinct museum. The accompanying photo
showed Pioneer under repair and static restoration at the Brandon Heritage
Precinct, wearing an attractive green livery with red running boards. I would
appreciate the contribution of recent photographs of this locomotive for
addition to this page. |
References
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a |
'Light Railways - Australia's Magazine of Industrial
& Narrow Gauge Railways', Number 258, December 2017, published by Light
Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. |
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b |
Light
Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site 'Preserved
Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives' list |
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c |
Wikipedia page for Hunslet
Engine Company , |
Page updated: 24 March 2018
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Government Railways: |
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Private & Industrial Railways: |
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