Milang is a small town located on Lake Alexandrina in South Australia, around 71 kms south-east of Adelaide. It was also the end of a small branchline that junctioned at Sandergrove on the line to Victor Harbor.
The line first opened to Milang in December 1884, formerly closing in June 1970.
Milang Railway History
Port Milang Historic Railway Museum
Image: Copyright of Google And Used As Per Their Terms & Conditions.
I first visited Milang back in the early 90s.
At the time, I was aware that a branch ran there, however I was really only expecting to find a grassy paddock where the yard once existed.
It came as some surprise when we turned up and found the station building, recently returned to its original location after years on a nearby property, and a newly started railway museum.
Thankfully, there was someone at the museum when we arrived, old age prevents me from remembering his name, and we were given a tour of the museum and told of plans.
This lead to a couple of years writing a column for their newsletter, a few subsequent visits, and the museum holding a special place in the old heart of this Sydney railfan.
Fundraiser To Purchase The Fowler.
Recently, museum secretary Peter Lucas sent out this email asking for help to purchase the locomotive.
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If you have been through Milang in the past couple of months ago you may have noticed a new addition at the Railway Museum.
After searching for a steam locomotive for twenty six years, we have finally been able to get one on loan. It is a 1927 Fowler locomotive which worked in the cane fields near Mackay before retiring in 1963. It then deteriorated in a playground for thirty years, followed by a period in open storage. Three months ago it was offered to the Milang Railway Museum and we paid just under three thousand dollars to get it here. The first attached photo shows its arrival at the end of May. Since then, during gaps in the bad weather, the volunteers have been pushing forward with restoration and the second photo shows its current status. The locomotive is too far gone to ever run again so we are restoring it to a level where visitors can learn its history and kids can climb on it.
The owners of the locomotive are in Sydney and have let us have it on loan.
However, they have now offered to sell us the locomotive for $5,000. The locomotive has already proved to be very popular with Milang residents, who are often heard to describe it as being “cute”, and we would all like to see it become a permanent feature of Milang and a drawcard for visitors. We are therefore launching a campaign to raise the $5,000.
So, the purpose of this email is to invite you to make a donation towards the purchase of this locomotive.
You can do so by bank transfer to “Milang Railway Museum” at BSB 085 921 and account number 595 444 128 or by mailing a cheque to the Railway Museum at PO Box 260, Milang SA 5256.
Please include the word FOWLER in the transfer details or on the cheque. The museum is a registered not-for-profit charity and we will send you a receipt so that you can claim a tax deduction.
Thank you for reading this email. If you would like to be removed from our mailing list please reply with the work REMOVE in the subject line.
Regards
Peter Lucas
Secretary
Port Milang Historic Railway Museum Inc.
secretary (at) milangrailway.org.au
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Can you help the museum raise the $5000 to permanently keep their steam locomotive in Milang?
Even a small donation will help a great museum achieve their desire to retain a steam locomotive in their interesting collection.
For the diesel fan, it may come as a surprise that a single ended 930 class once made it out to Milang. However, it broke the turntable when they tried turning it.
It would then be taken, B-end leading, back to Bridgewater for turning.
The 830 was probably the more common motive power.
Port Milang Historic Railway Station
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Port Milang Historic Railway Station
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