This locomotive was built by John Fowler in Leeds in 1923 for the Public Works Department (PWD) and entered service as PWD No 35 at the State Metal Quarries at Kiama.
The quarries were the result of early settlers discovering basalt which is often called blue metal. The material is very useful material in construction due to its fine grain, hardness and its resistance to weathering and its ability to be crushed without disintegrating.
In 1924, the State Metal Quarries re-opened a quarry originally operated by the Kiama Road Metal Company, and extended the Terralong Street tramline to serve it.
With the increasing popularity of the railway for the transport of blue metal from the area coastal cargo shipping declined. The cessation of quarrying in Kiama township in 1947 meant that the loading bins at Robertson Basin became redundant. These were demolished, mainly by burning in 1965.
During the peak of the quarrying industry the N.S.W. Railways constructed siding at different locations to serve the needs of the quarries.
The locomotive began its life in preservation as early as 1958 when it was moved to the Marsden Museum of Historic Engines at Goulburn.
It was initially used at Goulburn as a stationary boiler for the Appleby Beam Engine which pumped fresh water to the City of Goulburn and is the centrepiece of the Marsden Museum.
Subsequently the locomotive was moved to the into the collection of 2ft gauge locomotives at the Marsden Museum.
In 1974 the locomotive was purchased for private preservation and moved to a Sydney location.
Around 1985 there was a proposal to rebuild a portion of the Kiama quarry railway as a tourist attraction, with the Kiama Fowler central to the proposal. The locomotive was displayed at Kiama for a period during 1986 and 1987 prior to being placed in storage at the Illawarra Light Railway & Museum Society (ILRMS), Albion Park.
The proposal to rebuild the railway did not receive approval from the council and the locomotive remained in storage at Albion Park.
In 1998 the locomotive was donated to the ILRMS and is being restored.
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 