Aramac Tramway Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aramac Tramway Museum |
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Aramac Tramway Museum, 2011
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| Location | Boundary Street, Aramac, Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1912 - 1913 |
| Official name: Aramac Tramway Museum, Aramac Tramway Station | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, built) |
| Designated | 26 November 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601172 |
| Significant period | 1912-1970s (historical) 1912 - ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | shed - goods, platform, yards - livestock, out building/s, machinery/plant/equipment - transport - rail |
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The Aramac Tramway Museum is a special place in Aramac, Australia. It used to be a busy tramway station, but now it's a museum! It was built a long time ago, between 1912 and 1913. This museum is important because it shows how people and goods moved around in Queensland's past. It's also known as the Aramac Tramway Station.
Contents
A Look Back: The Tramway's Story
The Aramac Tramway Museum is found inside what was once the Aramac Tramway Station. The tramway itself was built from 1912 to 1913. The local government, called the Aramac Shire Council, paid for it. The tramway helped connect Aramac to other towns until it closed on December 31, 1975.
How Aramac Grew
When Queensland became its own state in 1859, many people moved west. They started large farms for animals, called pastoral stations. Towns like Aramac grew to support these farms. Aramac became an official town in 1869.
Later, railways were built from major ports into the western areas. The railway reached Barcaldine in 1886 and Longreach in 1892. These new railway towns started taking business away from older towns like Aramac.
Building Their Own Tramway
Aramac wanted its own railway connection. They asked the government many times, starting in 1896, but didn't get one. So, the Aramac Shire Council decided to build their own tramway! This was a brave decision because the Council would be in charge of it.
In 1911, the Council got a loan to build the tramway from Barcaldine to Aramac. George Phillips was the engineer in charge. They decided to put the station near the end of Gordon Street.
How the Tramway Was Built
Construction started in February 1912. The tramway was built to be simple and cheap. The tracks were narrow, at 3 feet 6 inches wide. The wooden sleepers were often just laid on the ground, without much gravel underneath. This method worked well on flat land.
Building the line had many delays. Heavy rain, worker strikes, and slow delivery of materials caused problems. By April 1912, only 6 miles of track were laid. The total cost ended up being much more than planned.
By May 1913, the tramway was almost finished. The station buildings were being built. The first train to work on the line was an old engine, No. 31, bought from Queensland Railways. It became Aramac Tramway Engine No. 1.
The Grand Opening
The tramway officially opened on July 2, 1913. Even though it wasn't quite finished, they held the ceremony during the town's annual race meeting. The Minister for Railways, Walter Paget, opened the line.
It took two more months to finish the last part of the track. In September 1913, the bridge over Aramac Creek was completed. Finally, the first train steamed all the way into Aramac Tramway Station!
Life at the Station
The station was a busy place. Passengers and goods came and went from all over the area. The main line led right to the passenger station. There was a large roof covering the track where trains stopped. The station building had offices and waiting rooms.
Trains would then back up to a side line. This line led to the goods shed and a platform for loading wool. Trucks would line up to pick up goods for the town's shops. There were also yards for loading sheep and cattle.
The Tramway's Impact
The tramway quickly helped Aramac's economy. Wool, the main product, could be sent to market faster. People and goods that used to go to other towns now came to Aramac. The town became much busier and more exciting with each train arrival.
The tramway offered four passenger services each week. Extra trains ran for goods and livestock. In 1915, the tramway carried over 4,000 tons of wool and goods. It also moved over 250,000 sheep and nearly 7,000 passengers!
Running the tramway was a big job for the Council. It made a small profit, but they had to watch expenses closely. Many Council meetings were about managing the tramway.
Challenges and Changes Over Time
The first engine wasn't powerful enough. In 1915, the Council bought a second, stronger engine, No. 308. The old engine was used for lighter work until 1939. The engine shed was made longer to fit both trains.
The tramway's success didn't last forever. Dry weather, worker problems, and World War I reduced traffic. The Council had to cut costs. They laid off workers and reduced services. Train tickets and freight costs went up.
The track also started to wear out. The simple construction meant it was hard to maintain. This led to bumpy rides and trains often going off the tracks. This meant trains had to carry less and go slower.
Business improved after the war. Services increased, and the tramway still made a small profit. In 1924, the Council bought a new engine, a PB15. This was the first engine built just for the Aramac line.
However, traffic slowly went down in the 1920s. More people started using cars and trucks. In 1928, big floods damaged the line. This caused huge costs and lost money. The Council had to get a special loan to fix things.
During the Great Depression and World War II, things got even tougher. There were shortages of workers and materials. The tramway offered only basic service. The government had to help pay for the tramway to keep it running.
For many years, the tramway station was the heart of Aramac's economic and social life. It was a busy place for a small community.
The station changed over time. The engine shed was made longer, then shorter, as different engines were used. The main station building was taken down in 1976. But the goods shed is still standing today!
The End of the Line
After World War II, road transport became much better. Bigger trucks and better roads meant the tramway couldn't compete. Passenger numbers dropped as almost everyone traveled by car. Wool and livestock were increasingly moved by truck.
The tramway kept going with improvements. In 1957, the track was repaired, and new bridges were built. The Council also bought a new, lighter diesel engine in 1958. This engine was cheaper to run and easier to maintain.
In 1963, the tramway bought a second-hand railmotor called RM 28. This vehicle was lighter and worked much better on the rough track. It almost never went off the rails. The railmotor stayed in service until the tramway closed. Another diesel engine was bought in 1968.
Despite these efforts, the tramway couldn't compete with road transport. Losses grew, and the government had to help pay the bills. In 1974, major floods damaged the line again, adding to the debt.
By 1975, the debt was too high. The road to Barcaldine was also being sealed. The Council decided to close the tramway. The last train ran just before New Year's Day 1976. The tracks were then removed and sold.
The Museum Begins
After the tramway closed, most of its parts were sold or removed. The old station building was taken down. But the goods shed remained. Some old rail vehicles were put in a special cage near the goods shed.
Later, some teachers and community members decided to create a local history museum. They wanted to save the remaining tramway items. The railmotor was moved inside the goods shed. The Aramac Tramway Museum officially opened on September 29, 1994.
Today, the museum is a place for local history. People have donated many items. There's even a plan to rebuild a small section of track so the railmotor can run again for visitors!
What You Can See at the Museum
The Tramway Museum has several important parts. These include the goods shed, other buildings, old tramway parts, and a collection of local history items.
The Goods Shed
The most important part of the museum is the goods shed. It was built in 1913 and used for the entire time the tramway operated. It's a long, rectangular building made of timber and corrugated iron.
Inside, the walls are lined with old wool bales. These bales show the names of the stations that used the tramway. The building is a bit dark, lit by a few lights and some light from the doorway. A wide concrete platform runs along one side.
The main attraction inside is the railmotor, nicknamed "Aunt Emma." It sits in a steel cage in the middle of the building. Around it, there's a narrow path where you can see historical items displayed on the walls.
At one end of the goods shed is the Tramway Office area. Here you can see old tickets, reports, and other items from the tramway. There's even a handwritten sign from the day the tramway closed! You can also see old photos and documents about the tramway.
Along the other walls of the goods shed, you'll find a general collection of historical items. These include old household items, tools, musical instruments, and many glass bottles. There are also old books, photos, and medals.
Other Buildings
There are six other buildings on the site. Not all of them were part of the original tramway.
- The locomotive shed is a small building at the very end of the line. It was built around 1958 to house the diesel engines.
- The cold store is another original building. It was built in the 1950s and is still used by the Council to store refrigerated goods.
- There's an open shelter shed with a corrugated iron roof. It houses a passenger carriage and two small motorized railcars.
- A small toolshed or workshop is nearby. It holds a maintenance trolley and blacksmith's tools.
- You can also see a simple three-sided hut with a wood stove and a bed.
- At the entrance to the museum is a police lockup. This old timber building with two cells was moved here from the Aramac police station.
Old Tramway Parts and Relics
You can still see parts of the old tramway around the museum:
- The concrete platform of the demolished railway station is about 80 meters north of the goods shed.
- Near the locomotive shed, you can see the concrete foundations of the old diesel fuel tank.
- The remains of the cattle yards are east of the station platform. You can see parts of the old concrete floor and drain from the cattle dip.
- South of the goods shed is the wool loading platform. This raised concrete platform is 45 meters long.
- A steel gantry (a frame for lifting things) stands over the goods line.
- About 400 meters south of the goods shed, you can see two low bridges over Aramac Creek. The rails are gone, but the timber structures are still there.
Trains and Vehicles
The museum has six complete rail vehicles and parts of two others:
- The railmotor "Aunt Emma" is the star of the collection. One passenger carriage is still attached to it.
- In the open shelter shed, there's a timber passenger carriage that was pulled by steam locomotives.
- The museum also has two Fairmont light motorized trolleys used for maintenance.
- An even smaller motorized track inspection car is in the open shelter shed. It's small enough for two people and was used as an ambulance in emergencies.
- Outside the locomotive shed, you can see the remains of Engine No. 1 and its tender. Only the chassis and boiler mounts are left of the engine.
Why It's Important
The Aramac Tramway Museum is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed, especially with the growth of railways in the early 1900s.
- It's a rare example of a railway service run by a local community, not the government. The Aramac Tramway was the last of its kind when it closed in 1975.
- It has a special connection to the Aramac community. They worked hard to build and keep the tramway running for 62 years. It was a vital link for the town, especially during floods when roads were closed.
See Also
- Aramac Tramway
- List of tramways in Queensland
Images for kids
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First train to cross the bridge into Armac, 1913
