This locomotive was built by Hudswell Clarke & Co in Leeds in 1898 for the Double Peak Central Sugar Co. Ltd to operate on the Mia Mia Line to North Eton, near Mackay. It had two outside cylinders – 8½in x 12in.
In 1912 the locomotive was moved to the North Eton Mill where it acquired the name Ironside.
It is understood that the locomotive was originally supplied as a 0-4-2ST but converted to a 0-6-0T configuration at some time by modifying the rear frame of engine.
North Eton Mill was plagued by insufficient cane supply and by 1915 the situation had worsened with the Company’s bankers refusing further funds and the government only guaranteeing their account to £8000. Drought and the Dickson wage award for workers threatened to make the 1916 season even more precarious for their financial situation. In 1917 the company defaulted on loan repayments and the Government took possession of the mill.
Following the takeover work began immediately on modernizing the mill plant. The tramway lines were also repaired and brought up to an acceptable standard.
Another company as formed to takeover the mill from the government. The North Eton Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited was formed and the mill was taken over from a loan of £60,000 from 1 January 1928.
The railway line to Eton had closed on 1 August 1959 due to the Railway Department finding labour costs on short hauls uneconomic and this resulted in higher costs in the mill transporting the sugar by road.
By 1964 the locomotive was out of service as the first locomotive at the mill to be replaced by diesel power and plinthed by Rockhampton City Council in Curtin Park at Port Curtis Junction.
In 1986 the locomotive was removed and placed in store at the Rockhampton City Council bus depot, prior to being sold in 1987 to an individual at Mt Etna in the Rockhampton district.
In 1994 the ownership of the locomotive changed again following it being put up for sale by auction. The new owner (Roy Odger) moved the locomotive to a private site at Echuca in Victoria.
Back to Preserved Outside Britain – By Country
Back to Preserved Outside Britain – By Builder
Back to Preserved Outside Britain – Australia
served Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 