Motive power

Locomotives

Ten locomotives owned or on permanent loan — including the two oldest extant Australian-built diesels.

Steam

John Fowler 0-6-0T 11885 of 1909 (No. 5)

Operational

Built by John Fowler & Company at Leeds in 1909 and shipped to Australia the same year. Worked at Johnston, Isis Central and Gin Gin sugar mills before passing through Goulburn and the ACT, then bought by the Alexandra Timber Tramway at auction on 8 November 1980. She arrived in Alexandra on 30 January 1981 and has operated trains here on a regular basis since 1988 — typical of sugar-industry engines, with a short wheelbase and all weight on the drivers.

Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 1098 of 1915

Under restoration

This 0-6-0 tender locomotive was built by Hudswell Clarke of Leeds in 1915 for Queensland sugar mills. Sold to Isis Central Mill in 1932 and to Gin Gin in 1960, then restored at Goulburn from 1970. It came to Alexandra in 1981 but proved too heavy for the sharp curves and 30-lb rail then in use. The track has since been rebuilt with 60-lb rail and returning her to service is a priority project.

Lima Shay 2576 of 1912

Awaiting restoration

This boiler is from a specialised geared logging locomotive once used at Powelltown, east of Melbourne. It is anticipated the boiler can eventually be returned to steam to run the three-cylinder engine unit.

Diesel & petrol

Cheetham Salt No. 1 (L6)

Operational

Sole survivor of three built in Cheetham Salt's Laverton workshops around 1962 to reline the salt pans. Rebuilt in 1974, purchased in 1988 for the ATT, and returned to operational condition in June 2016 after a full restoration.

Day's rail tractor (JS Lee & Sons)

Awaiting restoration

Originally a 3-ft gauge 0-6-0PM Day's rail tractor, converted to 3-ft 6-in for the Marrawah Tramway in Tasmania in the late 1940s. Powered by a Ford V8 driving through a large reversing box.

Day's rail tractor (Ruoak Timbers)

Operational

Built to the unusual 3-ft 4½-in gauge of the Rubicon Forest tramways for Ruoak Timbers in 1940 — replacing 20 horses and 5 men. Donated in 1981 and the first locomotive restored to running order at the museum. The only operational Day's timber tramway tractor left in Australia.

Day's tractor ex Cheetham Salt

Awaiting restoration

A 2-ft gauge 4wPM Day's, believed to have been used at Cheetham Salt's Moolap works. A complete rolling chassis minus its engine — we're on the lookout for a suitable powerplant.

George Sewell 4wDM

Operational

Built in 1959 for the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission to haul beaching-stone on the Waranga Basin Reservoir. Re-engined in the early 1970s with a Petter diesel, and displayed with three of its wagons.

Kelly & Lewis 0-6-0DM 4271 of 1935

Operational

"The Pioneer" — the first diesel locomotive built in Victoria, ordered by Clark & Pearce to work the Rubicon-to-Alexandra tramway when steam was banned in summer. Named on 14 December 1935 by Mrs Dobson. Returned to service at Alexandra on 12 December 1993.

Kelly & Lewis 0-6-0DM 5957 of 1936

Operational

Sister to 4271 and the second diesel locomotive built in Victoria. Restored by collector Paul Simpson and later acquired from his estate; arrived in Alexandra on 16 July 2004. Both locomotives are of National Heritage Significance.

Kelly & Lewis / Caldwell Vale 4wDM "Flora"

Awaiting long-term restoration

One of two locomotives built for the Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Board for the Captain Cook Graving Dock in the early 1940s, later converted to standard gauge to help dismantle the Rock–Westby branch line. Acquired 2005; we intend to convert back to 2-ft gauge and restore as near to as-built as possible.

Malcolm Moore rail tractor No. 23

Static display

Only the ballast and buffing weight survives from the first locomotive used on the Rubicon hydro-electric scheme — rediscovered on the hillside decades after being removed from service.

Malcolm Moore 4wPM 1049 of 1943

Operational

One of 92 Malcolm Moore V8 locomotives designed and built for the Australian Army after Pearl Harbor. Powered by a Ford V8, the engine choice made repair and re-supply straightforward.

Malcolm Moore 4wPM "TACL", mid-1920s

On display

An early Malcolm Moore product from the firm's Port Melbourne works.

Matisa Tamper 7665 of 1967

Operational

A track-maintenance tamping machine kept operational for our own permanent-way work.

SEC2 4wPM ganger's trolley

On display

A single-cylinder petrol trolley of the type used by track gangs on Victorian systems.

Motor Rail "Simplex" 4wDM 10058 of 1948 (L5)

Operational

Post-war Simplex from the same English builder.

Whitcomb 4wDM 40521 of 1947

On display

An American-built Whitcomb diesel from the late-1940s export era.