Don River Railway
The Don River Railway is a volunteer-run vintage railway and museum in Don, a suburb of Devonport, Tasmania. It runs a passenger train ride from Don to Coles Beach (operationally known as Don Junction) and return. The current line follows a reconstructed section of the former Melrose line that ran between Don Junction and Paloona.
| Don River Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Former TGR Diesel Locomotive Y6 at Don River Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Devonport, Tasmania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41.18103°S 146.31814°E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections | Western Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Don River Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Original gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preserved operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Van Diemen Light Railway Society | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Van Diemen Light Railway Society | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 3.1 km (1.9 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preserved gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 10 April 1916 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 16 October 1963 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| www.donriverrailway.com.au | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Don River Railway is open from Saturday to Thursday, closing only for Christmas Day, Good Friday, and ANZAC Day.[1] On weekdays customers can expect to ride in a 1940s ex Tasmanian Government Railways rail car and trailer, DP22 and PT3. On weekend operations a heritage carriage set is hauled by either a steam locomotive or a vintage diesel locomotive.
Steam Locomotives
Tasmanian Government Railways' pacific class M4 serves as Don River Railway's primary operational steam locomotive. CCS 25 has recently been reactivated as to January 2023, but awaits approval to return to revenue operations. Fowler no.5268 is currently non-operational following expiry of its boiler ticket; with plans for reactivation following CCS 25's return to operations. Future plans also include overhaul of M4 including potential for refurbishment or replacement of its boiler, or the potential to return MA2 or No.8 Heemskirk to service.
| Builder | Builder's number and year |
Class | Configuration (Whyte notation) | Original number |
Final number/name |
Previous owner | Condition | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyer Peacock | 3392 of 1892 | Tasmanian Government Railways A Class | 4-4-0 | A 4 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Dismantled | ||
| Beyer Peacock | 4415 of 1902 | Tasmanian Government Railways C class | 2-6-0 | C 23 | CCS 23 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Static | Rebuilt 1928 by Tasmanian Government Railways |
| Beyer Peacock | 4417 of 1902 | Tasmanian Government Railways C class | 2-6-0 | C 25 | CCS 25 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Operational | Rebuilt 1926 by Tasmanian Government Railways |
| Dübs and Company | 1415 of 1880 | Queensland Railways 4D9 class | 2-4-2T | Queensland Railways no.131 | Tasmanian Public Works Department | Dismantled | ||
| Dübs and Company | 3855 of 1900 | 2-8-0 | No.8 'Heemskirk' | Emu Bay Railway | Static | |||
| John Fowler and Company | 5265 of 1886 | 0-6-0T | Tasmanian Public Works Department | Boiler ticket expired | Also known as the 'Little Blue Engine' | |||
| Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns | 7422 of 1951 | Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952) | 4-6-2 | M 2 | MA 4 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Static | Modified and renumbered 1958 |
| Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns | 7423 of 1951 | Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952) | 4-6-2 | M 3 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Static | ||
| Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns | 7424 of 1951 | Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952) | 4-6-2 | M 4 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Operational | ||
| Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns | 7428 of 1951 | Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952) | 4-6-2 | M 1 | MA 2 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Cosmetic restoration only | Modified and renumbered 1957 |
| Vulcan Foundry | 5955 of 1951 | Tasmanian Government Railways H class (1951) | 4-8-2 | H 7 | Tasmanian Government Railways | Static |
Diesel Locomotives
| Original number |
Builder's number |
Final number |
|---|---|---|
| Ruston 40DL | ||
| DP22 | ||
| V2 | 22288 / D61 | |
| U6 | ||
| 1002 | 577 | |
| 866 | 84712 | |
| X4 | 1799 / D91 | |
| Y6 | ||
| Y8 | ||
References
- "Don River Railway". Don River Railway. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
"Don River Railway". heritage.gov.au. AHPI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- Cooper, Greg (ca.2002) The History of the Don River Railway's Locomotives, Railcars & Carriages, published by the Don River Railway, ISBN 0-9580006-0-3
- McKillop, Robert (2010) Australian Railway Heritage Guide, 2010 Edition, Australian Railway Historical Society (New South Wales Division), ISBN 978-0-9807721-1-1
External links
Media related to Don River Railway at Wikimedia Commons