Railway history in Mount Isa
Last year the Atherton Herberton Historic Railway took delivery of two Peckett steam locomotives. These locos were made in Bristol, UK, one in 1905 and the other in 1908.
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They started their working life in the mining town of Mount Morgan and later worked on the MIM lease in Mount Isa. They were decommissioned in the 50s and one was placed at St Josephs School and the other near Barkly Highway School.
After travelling the length of the country and a couple of owners later they are now in Herberton, a town also rich in mining history.
The smaller loco, Peckett 1069, is stripped and undergoing restoration by a band of talented and dedicated volunteers. It is planned to have it working on the track by mid next year. Once it is taking passengers, restoration will start on Peckett 1160.
AHHR owns 22km of the 108 year old track from Herberton to Atherton which was part of the original Cairns to Herberton line built to transport tin from Herberton to the coast. A small train called the Tinlander already runs return trips on the first two kilometres of restored track from Herberton Station to the multi-award-winning Historic Village Herberton. This will be the same trip Peckett 1069 will do when restoration is complete.
We are trying to build up a history of the Pecketts for our museum and are asking if anyone may have stories and/or photos of the locos’ time in Mount Isa, either working on the MIM lease or when they were static displays near the schools. We would greatly appreciate any information which can help us compile their life stories.
My contact is sec@athrail.com if anyone can help. Our website is www.athrail.com for more information on our project.
Judy Cooper, Secretary
Atherton Herberton Historic Railway Inc.
Racing plays a vital role
Racing plays a vital social and economic role in country communities, supporting thousands of jobs and providing income for local businesses through the hard work and dedication of many volunteers.
Country racing will benefit from a $70 million cash injection over four years under a re-elected Palaszczuk Government.
This unprecedented funding package will support Queensland’s country racing industry, enabling us to fund it as an ongoing community service obligation.
The $70 million earmarked for country racing will go towards funding prizemoney, race day operations and new and improved infrastructure. It means increased certainty for more than 100 non-TAB racing clubs and the industry’s 16,700 participants in regional Queensland.
We’ve listened to what country racing stakeholders have told us, and we’ve delivered a package that will deliver the certainty the industry has been crying out for.
Grace Grace MP, Racing Minister
Be independent, Robbie
There is an idiom "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree". It suggests that children are like their parents.
Has Robbie Katter ever had an original thought or does he just follow his rather strange father word for word?
Grow a pair Robbie. Stride out on your own.
George Harley, Mount Isa
***
Letters commenting on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer(s).
Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by North West Star editor Derek Barry, 112 Camooweal Street, Mount Isa, Qld.
Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their telephone number for verification.
Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
