Fraser Coast’s first locomotive constructed for the Queensland Government – locomotive number 299.

Railway Station and Yards. c. 1908. Source: Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc.

Walkers Limited had its first steam locomotive trial run to Howard on the 13th of January, 1897. The Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Thursday 14th January, 1897 tells us about this first locomotive constructed by Walkers under its contract with the Queensland Government.  “A good deal of interest was manifested in town over the event” (National Library of Australia, 1897).

There is a delightful description of the start of the journey.

“The engine was drawn out in front of the shop on Bowen Street on Tuesday evening, and at six o’clock the next morning the temporary line was commenced, and the engine was brought down along Bowen Street in this manner and placed on the permanent way in Kent Street in front of Mr Corser’s Store” (National Library of Australia, 1897).

Locomotive No. 299. in railway yards, 1980s. Source: The Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. 

The Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. site has more detail.

“This engine became known as a B15 class 4-6-0 tender design, and allocated QR No. 299, Walkers Limited works No. 1. The 'B' signifies three driving axles and the '15' is the cylinder diameter in inches” (Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc., 2020). 

After the community rallied to restore the engine in 1985, the ownership of the engine was officially transferred to Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association Maryborough Inc. (M.E.L.S.A) (Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc., 2020).

In 1989, the engine had a cameo appearance in the Kylie Minogue film, The Delinquents. The engine’s ownership was then transferred to Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. and continues to be restored as funds become available (Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc., 2020).

Railway Yards. Source: The Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. 

Find out more from the Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. site: https://maryboroughwhistlestop.org.au/index.html

References:

Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. (2020, August 24). Locomotive #299. Retrieved from Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc.: https://maryboroughwhistlestop.org.au/299.html

National Library of Australia. (1897, January 14th). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947). Retrieved from Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147684938searchTerm=locomotive%20No.%20299%20Maryborough

Tags #whistlestop #Maryborough #Locomotive #299 #Railway #yards #steam #Melsa