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Old S.A.R. Shunter's Memories
      




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LAST  TRAIN  FROM  GLENCOE  TO  MOUNT  GAMBIER  
1st July 1957

Another trip down memory lane.


Narrow Gauge Line opened: 22nd August 1904
Narrow Gauge Line closed:
1st July 1957
Last train: No 228 and 115, 
Engine: "Y" class engine 98.
Engineman: "Johnny Green"
Fireman:  "Bob Sweetman"
Guard:  Ron M Mann.


Mount Gambier.
Wandilo. (Junction for Naracoorte & Glencoe)
Medhurst. (siding)
Malla. (siding)
Kirrip. (siding)
Glencoe. (station end of line)


GLENCOE  LINE

Glencoe is situated some 24 klms North West from Mt Gambier.
Glencoe never had was an attended station as such, but a tin shed on the ground.
A Narrow gauge train would work from Mt Gambier to Glencoe once a week on a Monday morning.
There was a turntable and on Monday mornings the Wandilo rail gang would travel the length to Glencoe on their casey to inspect the whole track before the passing of the train. The rail perway gang would stay at Glencoe till train arrived as they had to help the engine crew to turn the engine as the turntable was hard to use and needed more than the engine crew to do this.  Loading out of Glencoe was timber, cheese and local goods. The Glencoe narrow gauge track was pulled up in 1957 when Naracoorte - Wandilo - Mt Gambier became broad gauge.

This was first train from Mt Gambier to Glencoe for the official opening Monday 22 August 1904 and had to proceed cautiously as the ballasting was not completed. It carried the predictable politically correct passengers and at various points there was flag waving and broadly smiling children. When train came to a stop there was cheering, toasts and speeches. After the last hooray, the passengers got on board and at 4:15pm they departed Glencoe and arrived back at Mt Gambier at 5:45pm, a 1½ hour journey. 


Next pictures taken by:
M Guerin of Glencoe 1957.
   ... click on the small picture to view a larger picture ...


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Johnny Green and Bob Sweetman July 1957.

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Getting ready to leave Glencoe for last time to Mount Gambier.


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"Y98" preparing for last departure from Glencoe.


   ... click on the small picture to view a larger picture ...


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Last train No 115 departing Glencoe 
for Mount Gambier July 1957.

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Picture at same spot 2006
49 years later.



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Guards brake van with all Glencoe's school children getting last ride to Kirrip. 1st July 1957
The trip was Glencoe, Kirrip, Malla, Medhurst, Wandilo, thence Mt Gambier.



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Grass and Oaten hay sold to drought areas from Glencoe West, about 1950. 
Is most hay that was sent at one time.


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