Carstairs

Ex-Inkerman Mill, Home Hill

 

Carstairs displayed at Home Hill / Carstairs on 3 April 1995.

Some wastage is evident on the cylinder clothing sheet, but it otherwise appears in good shape.

This photo was kindly contributed by Tom Badger.

Builder

Perry Engineering Co. Ltd,

Mile End, Adelaide

Builder’s Number & Year

9351.34.1 of 1934

Wheel Arrangement

0-6-2T

 

This locomotive worked at the Inkerman Mill at Home Hill, which is located on the Burdekin River near Ayr, south of Townsville. It was given the name ‘Carstairs’ in recognition of one of the nearby cane growing hamlets alongside the Burdekin River.

According to Wikipedia, Adelaide company Perry Engineering Co. Ltd built a total of 19 steam locomotives for various Australian sugar mills, of which ‘Carstairs’ is the oldest of the 16 surviving examples.

Carstairs was displayed at the Inkerman Mill, Home Hill for some years, as per the photographs appearing on this page. It is apparent that the locomotive was converted to oil-firing at some stage, with the oil bunker forming the cab rear.

I understand Carstairs is now privately owned at a Home Hill location, where viewing is by appointment only.

Here is a rear view of Carstairs, also provided by Tom Badger and dated 3 April 1995.

The fuel oil bunker at rear is shown clearly, and the electric generator is stored on the cab floor.

A 4-wheel whole-stick cane cart is marshalled behind the loco.

References

a

Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. Web site

(as at 30 July 2018):

'Preserved Australian Sugar Cane Locomotives' list
by John Browning (www.lrrsa.org.au/LRR_SGRc.htm)

b

Wikipedia page for Perry Engineering Co Ltd,
retrieved 27 February 2018

c

Information provided by T. Callow

via email on 5 September 2001.

Page updated: 6 August 2018

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