Recommissioning of locomotive "Kiama"

[mjm@uow.edu.au (Michael Milway)]

The Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society is pleased to announce the
recommissioning of the locomotive "Kiama" on Sunday 23rd August. This will
bring the total number of operating steam locomotives to four.
The museum is located on Tongara rd Albion Park Rail, NSW and its entrance is
50m West of the Croome rd intersection. The Museum is normally open to the
public for steam train rides on the second Sunday of the month.
The following is a media release written by Tony Madden on behalf of the
Society.


20th May, 1998

MEDIA  RELEASE

RETURN OF LOCOMOTIVE "KIAMA" TO SERVICE - SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST

On Sunday 23rd August 1998, the 0-4-0ST Davenport (1596/1917) will officially be
returned to service after nearly ten years out of use. It was withdrawn
initially because of badly leaking boiler tubes. The Society had obtained a
spare boiler many years ago from a paddock near Menangle and last used in a
sawmill. It had originated on another Davenport locomotive from the same group,
purchased by the NSW Public Works Department around the time of World War 1.
The Society was fortunate to obtain a Heritage Grant from the then newly formed
NSW Department of Transport, to restore the locomotive and to restore the spare
boiler as well. When the boilers were closely examined, both were more wasted
than had been thought and the money would only cover the repair of the boiler in
better condition, the ex-sawmill spare, so this is now the one on the restored
locomotive.

A BRIEF HISTORY from ILRMS Guide to Main Exhibits by the late Ken McCarthy
The locomotive ("Kiama") was one of two identical units used on the Cordeaux Dam
construction operating on a light railway between the Nepean Gorge near Douglas
Park and the dam wall along Mount Keira Road. At Cordeaux the engine carried
Public Works Department No. 65. Following the dam construction period spanning
1917 to 1926, the two Cordeaux engines were used by the Menangle Sand Coy. to
haul sand from the Nepean River beds to Menangle station yard for the Sydney
Harbour Bridge construction.
Purchased by Quarries Ltd. during 1936, the loco was transferred to the Kiama
blue metal tramway. Two years later, one unit was constructed using parts from
an identical Kiama Davenport engine PWD No. 23 (Davenport 1517). No. 1596 formed
the major components of the hybrid machine. (now even more hybrid. ed.)
The Kiama tramway closed in March 1941 when the last of the gravel ships was
commandeered by the Navy for wartime service. During 1943 Corrimal Coal Coy.
inspected "Kiama" for future use on the colliery railway but the loco was
considered unsuitable due to its heavy weight and large overall size.
Davenport 1596 remained in the Kiama loco shed until October 1956 when it was
placed on static display opposite the New Brighton Hotel prior to delivery to
the Parramatta Steam Tram museum on 5th November. Further transfer to the
Marsden Steam Museum at Goulburn followed on 2nd June 1967 where it operated in
steam on several limited occasions.
"Kiama" arrived at the ILRMS Museum on 1st April 1977 from Goulburn and was
available for regular steam operation after major overhaul on 14th October 1978.
A new oak driver's cabin was constructed during 1987 through a Bi-Centennial
grant. This locomotive shared the re-commissioning ceremony with "Tully No.6"
(an ILRMS ex-canefields loco.) on 9th April 1988.


A Special Museum Steaming Day is planned for Sunday 23rd August 1998, when Kiama
and the other three steam locomotives so-far-restored by the Society will all
be in steam and hauling trains. It is intended to run a number of demonstration
freight trains and the ILRMS Committee hopes to provide some additional
surprises.

Up-to-date information on the programme for the day and entrance charges may be
obtained from the Illawarra Light Railway Museum, Tongarra Road, (PO BOX 244)
ALBION PARK  NSW  2527.  Phone 02-42564627, from 1st July.