Australia So Much to See

Guard’s Van (or Braking Van) was the last wagon in a goods steam train. Small parcels and mail were also carried in the Guard’s Van. The black wheel was hand operated emergency braking system, operated by the guard should a coupling break on the train. It could also be used to assist braking the train on descents.

Guard's Mail Bag and Waybill Book, used by Leslie Solomon, a guard with WAGR. Donated by the Solomon family.

This "G Class" Locomotive was built in 1897 and pulled the Kalgoorlie Express between Northam and Southern Cross for many years

Locomotive Shunter "T" Class 1808

Was operated by 3 man crew and worked in the West Merredin marshalling yards.

Donated by Westrail 1995

Reg. 769

Platform Scales

Makers - W & T Avery of Birmingham

Donated by Westrail - approx. 1969

Reg. no 947

International Combustion Engine

Engine was used from 1914 onwards

Patented 1905 by International Harvester Co

Made approx. 1914 by Mr Chegwidden to supply power and lighting for showing motion pictures at Merredin

Used later by Mr Rutter to drive his chaff cutter at Nangeenan

Reg. no 0402

This anvil was made from Railway Line by A R Wilcocks, Merredin, in 1966. On display at the Merredin Railway Museum.

This station was in operation at Merredin until 1966 when a new station was built on the other side of the new standard gauge lines.

Merredin was the Western Australian Government Railway’s maintenance operations centre on the Eastern Goldfields Railway from 1904 to 1969, when all steam locomotives were replaced with diesel, and all locomotive servicing and maintenance for the entire Government railway system was transferred to a new depot at Forrestfield.

Ulva siding was around twenty kilometres south of Merredin on the Merredin-Bruce Rock line. Now the siding shed is on display at the Merredin Railway Station Museum.

Produce was sent to market on the trains. Above are a box for transporting eggs, and a cream can.

On completion of the line from Perth to Kalgoorlie, a special train took officials, dignitaries and invited guest to Kalgoorlie

Ministerial Special

The opening of the Railway from Perth to Kalgoorlie 1st January 1897

A special train was commissioned to travel from Perth to Kalgoorlie to celebrate the official opening. It consisted of the vice-regal ministerial and inspection cars, the car of the manager of the Great Southern Railways, eight sleeping cars, two composite carriages, two luggage vans and a break van. Two locomotives were also requisitioned, a "P" class 4-4-0 and a "G" class.

Three hundred invited guests from Perth and Fremantle travelled in the special train to Kalgoorlie to witness the ceremony.

Some of the guests were -

The Governor His Excellency Sir Gerald and Lady Smith, with their daughter Miss Smith

The Mayor Mr I J Cohn.

The Premier Sir John and Lady Forrest

Mr C A Piesse - MLC

Mr Wittenoom - Commissioner of Railways

Sir George Shenton

Sir James Lee-Steere

Captain de Satge ADC to his excellency Sir Gerald Smith

Messrs H J Saunders - MLC

E McLarty - MLC

H Briggs - MLC

D F Congdon - MLC

C. Harger - MLC

H. Solomon - MLC

F O'Connor - MLC

Councillor Wilson - Perth

Perth Warden Davis

Reverend Father Denny

Reverend Father Prendergast

Sidings were unmanned railway stations servicing rural communities between towns. There were one or two sheds with open fronts where goods and parcels would be left by the guard. Large consignments, such as bags of superphosphate (fertiliser) would be left in the wagon for the consignee to offload. The train was the lifeline for rural people.

Sidings were around ten miles (sixteen kilometres) apart, to enable horse driven carts to make the journey on days the train came through. I remember our neighbour and his wife driving a horse and buggy to the siding three days a week to pick up mail, bread and any other goods, a delightful and uncommon sight as most families had cars.

As roads improved and people regularly drove to their nearest town, rural sidings were gradually closed.