State Library of South Australia

Man standing next to a locomotive [PRG 327/24/33] • Photograph

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Summary

Half-plate glass copy negative of a print of man standing next to an early locomotive. Information from a researcher: Builder: Baldwin, USA. Builders No. 7860. Palmerston (Port Darwin) to Pine Creek contract builders loco 1886-9. Puchased by SAR becoming No. 107 (Sandfly). Transferred to Commonwealth Railways 1-1-1911. CR renumbered in 1917 to NA1. Withdrawn from service in June 1950. Displayed at Port Augusta Railway Station 1960 to 1982 and from May 1984 at Keswick Passenger Terminal, Adelaide.

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Physical description

1 photograph : glass, negative, black and white ; 16.4 x 12 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1910

Collection

Part of General Collection

Subject

Locomotives -- South Australia

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

Historical information

The 'Sandfly' is a Class 4-10½ locomotive manufactured by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia USA. She was one of eight of her class supplied to Newell and Co. of Melbourne between 1884 and 1891. She was brought to Port Darwin by the Millar Brothers aboard a steam ship and arrived on 4 December 1886 in pieces. She was assembled by May 1887 to commence life as the longest serving locomotive (and only one of her class) on the North Australia Railways. On 12 July 1887 the locomotive was formally named the Port Darwin by Mrs Pater, wife of Justice Thomas Kennedy Pater of the Supreme Court. The official name didn't stick and she became known as 'Sandfly'. The engine was displayed on the platform of the Port Augusta Railway Station from 1960 to 1983. It was transferred to the Australian National Railways Passenger Terminal at Keswick (SA) as a static display. In 2005, the then owners, Great Southern Railways, presented the Northern Territory Government with Sandfly to commemorate completion of the Alice Springs to Darwin railway. The locomotive was initially displayed the Stokes Hill Wharf (formerly the railway jetty) but suffered extensive corrosion from the salt air. In 2008 the NT Government asked the Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club (MVEC) if they would undertake restoration. Sandfly, now fully restored to her former glory, is currently on display at MVEC headquarters, the Qantas Hangar at Parap NT.

Digitisation information

Date

09/08/2016

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

13,157 x 9,858 pixels (129.7 MP)

Size

129.72 MB

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