Help needed with 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 Mount Isa Mines lease in Mount Isa.
They were decommissioned in the 1950s and one was placed at St Josephs Catholic School and the other near Barkly Highway State School.
After travelling the length of the country and a couple of owners later they are now in Herberton, in Far North Queensland, 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.
George goes all poetic again
One Friday night the people of the Katter's and One Nation
Were sitting, drinking, thinking win! and gloating with elation.
With 10 to 15 seats between us, we will hold the power
We'll make the LNP and Labor bow down to us and cower.
Democracy's a funny thing, the people get it right
They saw through light weight policies and then by Saturday night
Cut down One Nation at the knees, and left a Katter splatter
Three more years of pointless, mindless, local member chatter.
Congrats to Robbie, great result, but voters are not fond
Of a very, very tiny fish in a bloody great big pond.
George Harley
Mount Isa
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Readers took exception to our editorial it was time for Bob Katter to retire.
James Knell Time for Bob to retire? what a rubbish statement that is which doesn't reflect the people of his electorate, good on you Bob Katter for not being another sheep in the flock, absolute legend
Mitchell Begeng He represented his electorate, which voted no
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