Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre
{{About|the current static museum in Peterborough|the former heritage railway|Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2011}}
File:STeamtown heritage logo.jpg
The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre ("Centre") is a static railway museum based in the former railway workshops located in Peterborough, South Australia.
Peterborough was the administrative and service centre for the Peterborough Division of the South Australian Railways,Fitch, R. J. (1989). Making Tracks: 43 years in Australian Railways. Kangaroo Press. {{ISBN|0-86417-270-2}} employing up to 1,500 people in the workshops during its heyday. The railway workshops covered an extensive area mainly to the west of the township, and it is in these original buildings that the exhibits are displayed.
The turntable and roundhouse are the main features of the exhibit.
The turntable is unusual in that it accommodates three rail gauges: Narrow gauge ({{RailGauge|1067mm|disp=or|lk=on}}), standard gauge ({{RailGauge|1435mm|disp=or}}) and broad gauge ({{RailGauge|1600mm|disp=or|lk=on}}). In Australia there were only two similar turntables (located at Port Pirie and Gladstone); all three were on the same line, with the one at Peterborough the only one remaining. This unique situation arose from the standardisation project of the late 1960s. At this time the broad gauge line was extended from Terowie to Peterborough and the Port Pirie to Broken Hill section (passing through Peterborough) was replaced by standard gauge line. The Peterborough to Quorn section remained narrow gauge.
File:Carriage on turntable at steamtown Heritage Rail Centre, Peterborough, South Australia.jpg]]
History
File:MgtrackpeterboroughSA.jpg
Prior to the cessation of railway operations by Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society in June 2002, a steering committee, made up of the Federation of North East Councils, the Northern Regional Development Board, and the Flinders Ranges Area Consultative Committee, as well as Society representatives, was established. This led to a project to formalise development of the workshops precinct, which in turn led to the development of the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre.Workman, C. (Summer 2003). "President's Report, 26th October 2002". Steamtown Partyline Newsletter 78.
Development
File:South Australian Railways work train carriages at Peterborough roundhouse.jpg
File:Inside the Diesel shed showing the bogie exchange mechanism.jpg
Considerable effort was put into improving the grounds and the presentation of the displays, including interpretive signage.
It was hoped that Garratt 402 could return from the Zig Zag Railway in Lithgow; however, negotiations were discontinued. Garratt 402 was the only member of its class which travelled the entire Quorn Line.
Milne, Ian (March 2008). "Big Redevelopments at Steamtown". Catchpoint. National Railway Museum. pp. 30-31.Redwin, R. (25 March 2009) "Letter from the Chairman of the Board". Zig Zag Railway Coop.
A reception centre, which includes offices, a souvenir shop and a cafe, was built just off Main Street, at the north-eastern corner of the 1960s-vintage diesel workshop.
Opening
The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre was officially opened on 29 November 2009 to much fanfare from the South Australian premier, Mike Rann.Mills, S. (3 December 2009). "[http://www.theflindersnews.com.au/news/local/news/business/huge-celebrations-for-steamtown/1695217.aspx Huge Celebrations for Steamtown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706112600/http://www.theflindersnews.com.au/news/local/news/business/huge-celebrations-for-steamtown/1695217.aspx |date=6 July 2011 }}". The Flinders News. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
Services
The centre is open seven days a week; an entry fee is charged.[http://www.steamtown.com.au/media/Steamtown%20Price%20List.pdf Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre Tour Brochure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706112242/http://www.steamtown.com.au/media/Steamtown%20Price%20List.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
Guided tours, lasting about an hour and a half, provide a narrative of the equipment displayed, the infrastructure on site and its social history as well as exploring amusing railway anecdotes and experiences.
After the centre's opening, technical difficulties limited the availability of the planned sound and light show; but after considerable work to resolve the issues the show is now considered a huge success, operating most nights, dependent only on bookings. The sound and light show has contributed to an increase in the number of overnight stays in the town, which benefits the other tourist attractions and the town in general."Steamtowns Visitations Booming". The Informer, May 2010.
The centre had accreditation as a rail-transport operator to run its motor inspection car, MIC 127, between the centre and the former goods platform in Peterborough yard, though this is rarely done.Chandler, D. (2009). [http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11351871-0-asc-s15.htm Post to South Australia forum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002080605/http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11351871-0-asc-s15.htm |date=2 October 2012 }}. Railpage Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
Operation
Today the centre is operated by a staff of volunteers sourced from the local community in conjunction with a paid manager and a receptionist.
Through a skills-development program run in association with the local high school, students assisted with the refurbishment of a sheep wagon and a miniature train.[http://www.phs.sa.edu.au/docs/Annual%20Report%202009.pdf Peterborough High School 2009/2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218044532/http://www.phs.sa.edu.au/docs/Annual%20Report%202009.pdf |date=18 February 2011 }}. p. 3. Retrieved 21 July 2010. One of these students, Ben Graefe, who also runs tours at the centre, won a Rotary Pride in Workmanship 2010 Award for his efforts."[http://www.phs.sa.edu.au/Newsletters/TERM%202/Term%202%20week%204.pdf Congratulations]" Peterborough High School Newsletter, 14 May 2010. p. [1]. Retrieved 21 July 2010
The centre was planned to be cost neutral to the Council within 7 years, however attendances to both tours and its Sound and Light show have been such that it as expected to break even within two to three years. It was expecting to achieve a visitation rate of 15000 by the end of the 2011-2012 financial yearSampson R - "Rising from the ashes" Catchpoint January 2012 pp28
Awards
October 2010 the Centre won an Advantage SA award, in the Regional Tourism category for Yorke and Mid North Region
During October 2012, the Centre won an Advantage SA award, in the Regional Tourism categoryMayfield, G 2012 [http://www.theflindersnews.com.au/story/500687/a-full-head-of-steam/ "A full head of steam for Steamtown"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225216/http://www.theflindersnews.com.au/story/500687/a-full-head-of-steam/ |date=3 March 2016 }} Flinders News accessed 11 November 2012
2014 Steamtown won the SA Regional Award for Tourism
2015 Steamtown won the Hall of Fame Award for Tourism in the region of Yorke and Mid North
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- McNicol, S.; Mannion, J. (2006). Peterborough 125: Celebrating 125 years of Railways in Peterborough Elizabeth, SA: Railmac Publications. {{ISBN|978-1-86477-054-4}}
- Evans, J. (2009). Proceed to Quorn: An Operational History of the Last Years of the Terowie–Peterborough–Quorn Railway Line, in Particular the Years 1957 to 1987. Elizabeth, SA: Railmac Publications. {{Listed Invalid ISBN|978-1-86477-066-X}}
External links
- [http://www.steamtown.com.au/ Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre] official site
- [http://www.peterboroughsa.com.au/steamtown.php Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre] at the Peterborough, South Australia, website
- [http://www.jaunay.com/folk.html Museums in South Australia]
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Category:Railway museums in South Australia