Bob the Railway Dog facts for kids
 |
|
| Other name(s) | Bob, Terowie Bob |
|---|---|
| Species | Dog |
| Breed | Koolie/ Smithfield cross |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. 1878 Adelaide Hills, near Macclesfield |
| Died | 29 July 1895 (aged 16–17) Hindley Street, Adelaide |
| Occupation | Railway traveller |
| Employer | South Australian Railways |
| Notable role | Driver's companion |
| Years active | 1881–1894 |
| Owner | Railwaymen, Terowie |
Bob the Railway Dog was a famous dog in South Australia. He was also known as "Terowie Bob". He loved to travel on trains across the South Australian railway system in the late 1800s. Many railway workers knew him well. Bob is still a part of local stories and is remembered today.
Contents
Bob's Amazing Life
Bob's railway adventures began when he was a young dog. He loved watching the workers building the railway near Strathalbyn. He even followed some of the workers to the railway line! His owner, a hotel owner in Macclesfield, brought him home a few times. But Bob always found his way back to the trains. He was about nine months old when he finally left home for good.
Bob's true railway career started after he was sent from Adelaide to Quorn. He was one of fifty dogs meant to help get rid of rabbits. Bob was likely a stray dog found in Adelaide. He was then traded for another dog by William Seth Ferry. Ferry was a special guard at Petersburg, which is now called Peterborough. Ferry "registered" Bob right away, meaning he officially took him in on September 24, 1884.
William Ferry later became an Assistant Station Master in Petersburg. By this time, Bob was already used to riding on trains.
Bob often traveled to and from Petersburg. He loved sitting at the front of the coal space in the train's tender. He traveled thousands of miles this way! People said he loved the big whistle and the smoke from the train. Bob ate well, getting food from anyone who offered it.
Bob didn't like smaller suburban engines because their cabs were too small. But he was known to clear out third-class train compartments for himself! He would bark loudly at every station. This usually made people think the coach was reserved just for him. His bark was strong, and sometimes strangers thought he was being mean. But he was usually just trying to be friendly. Bob didn't have one single owner. Instead, he was friends with all the engineers and trainmen. They let him ride for free.
Some stories say Bob traveled all over Australia. People claimed he was seen as far away as Oodnadatta, Queensland, and even Western Australia. However, there were no railway lines connecting to Western Australia back then, so this is unlikely. He did take several boat trips along the Murray River and around the coast. He was even at the opening of the railway between Petersburg and Broken Hill.
Bob's Accidents
Bob had a few accidents during his travels. When he was younger, he fell a few times. But he soon became very good at jumping onto and between moving trains. Once, he fell from a train between Manoora and Saddleworth. He managed to walk two miles to Saddleworth with an injured leg.
In Port Pirie, his tail got stuck somewhere. Another time, he lost an inch off his tail after slipping. And on another trip, his fur caught fire!
During a visit to Adelaide, Bob was at Goodwood Cabin. He tripped down the stairs and rolled under a passing train. Luckily, he came out safely on the other side!
Once, in Port Augusta, Bob reportedly got on a steamship to Port Pirie. He might have thought the ship's whistle was a train whistle!
One winter, someone cut off all his fur except for his neck and tail tip. He was supposed to look like a tiny lion, but his bark gave him away!
What Kind of Dog Was Bob?
People have different ideas about what kind of dog Bob was. Many reports suggest he was a mix of a Koolie and a Smithfield. Others thought he was a Bearded collie.
A man named Henry Hollamby claimed he bred Bob. He said Bob's father was a "German collie dog." He passed Bob to the owner of the Macclesfield Hotel.
A Poem for Bob
A poem about Bob was published in The Advertiser newspaper in 1895. It showed how much people admired his adventurous spirit:
Home-keeping dogs have homely wits,
Their notions tame and poor;
I scorn the dog who humbly sits
Before the cottage door,
Or those who weary vigils keep,
Or follow lowly kine;
A dreary life midst stupid sheep
Shall ne'er be lot of mine.
For free from thrall I travel far,
No fixed abode I own;
I leap aboard a railway car;
By every one I'm known;
Today I'm here, tomorrow brings
Me miles and miles away;
Borne swiftly on steam's rushing wings,
I see fresh friends each day.
Each driver from the footplate hails
My coming with delight;
I gain from all upon the rails;
A welcome ever bright;
I share the perils of the line
With mates from end to end,
Who would not for a silver mine
Have harm befall their friend
Let other dogs snarl and fight,
And round the city prowl,
Or render hideous the night
With unmelodious howl.
I have a cheery bark for all,
No ties my travels clog;
I hear the whistle, that's the call
For Bob, the driver's dog.
Bob's Collar
Bob had a special collar. A traveling salesman bought it for him after Bob was "dognapped" by a farmer. The collar had two tags and two brass plates. One plate said:
Stop me not, but let me jog, For I am Bob, the drivers dog
The other plate said:
Presented by McLean Bros & Ricc
It was said that a railway worker made the brass plate. The poem on the collar might have been written by William Ferry and his nephew.
After Ferry left to work in Western Australia in 1889, the railwaymen in Terowie kept Bob's registration up to date. Ferry later said that someone hid Bob, and he never saw him again after that.
Bob's Death
Bob reportedly died on July 29, 1895. The Advertiser newspaper said he had retired to Adelaide. He often ate at a butcher's shop in Hindley Street. He died there at the age of 17. The Chronicle newspaper reported that after his afternoon meal, Bob barked at another dog. Then, with a sad howl, he dropped dead. People all over the world, even in Great Britain, wrote about him. He was called "the king of outcasts."
Other stories say Bob lived out his last days on the Silverton Tramway Company Ltd line. This line connected Broken Hill to the South Australian Railways and Petersburg.
After he died, Bob's body was preserved and shown at the Exchange Hotel in Adelaide. His collar was first given to the Lord Mayor of Adelaide. Later, it was given to a union for train engineers.
Bob Today
Railway workers and historians still remember Bob today. His collar, along with photos and other items, is on display at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.
In 2009, the people of Peterborough (formerly Petersburg) raised money for a statue of Bob. It was revealed in November and stands at the eastern end of Main Street.
In Terowie, Bob is remembered with a series of information boards. They are called "Bob the Railway Dog Trail" and are placed at different interesting spots in the town.
Bob's story was also told in a fictional book published in 2011.
Other Famous Dogs
There have been other famous dogs like Bob!
- Greyfriars Bobby was a famous dog from Scotland, also remembered with a statue.
- Bobbie the Wonder Dog was known for his loyalty. He traveled over 2,551 miles (4,105 km) to return to his owner's home.
- Owney the Postal Dog was an American dog who also loved to travel on trains with mailbags.
- Red Dog was another famous Australian dog.
- Station Jim was a dog who collected money for railway workers' families in England.
- Some Street dogs in Moscow have even learned to ride the trains!
See also
- Animals taking public transportation
- Dog on the Tuckerbox
- Fido (Italian dog)
- List of famous dogs
