KATHERINE’S iconic-yet-unloved 1892 locomotive is powering up to leave the station as part of an ambitious restoration project aimed at using the town’s rich railway heritage to attract tourists.
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The Northern Territory government-owned behemoth, which currently sits in a dilapidated state in Ryan Park, has been targeted by the Friends of the North Australia Railway for a much-needed restoration.
As part of the project, the group will relocate the 30-tonne locomotive and its rolling stock to Katherine’s historic 1926 Railway Station on Railway Terrace.
To help facilitate the move, the NT government has provided the group with an $18,000 heritage grant that will help to expose the tracks at the railway precinct that have been buried, relocate 300 metres of existing pathway to accommodate the locomotive and construct a fence around it.
Once restored, Friends of the North Australia Railway president Trevor Horman said he believed the locomotive, which played a pivotal role in Australia’s World War II efforts in the region, could help bring more tourists to Katherine.
“We’re just sad that it’s disconnected from the rest of the railway infrastructure in Katherine and it’s suffering neglect,” he explained.
“We want to move it back so it’s appreciated.
“It’s very important in terms of the history, as it’s over 100 years old.
“It’s got that history; it’s only one of the few locos that’s left up here and there’s a significance because of the role it played during World War II.”
Mr Horman said it was estimated that it would take 10,000 man hours to relocate and restore the locomotive.
He added that, given the amount of graffiti and damage the locomotive had suffered in its current location, restoration work would not commence until the fence had been built.
“Our long-term plan is to put a shelter over it and do a more thorough restoration of it, back to original specifications,” Mr Horman said.
“We want to uncover some of the tracks [at the railway station] and put the locomotive back there to recreate the World War II situation.”
Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe praised the group’s enthusiasm for the project and said the locomotive’s current state was proof of what happened when it was “left to its own devices”.
“If you don’t look after things, they will deteriorate over time,” he said.
“Moving the old train back to the old railway station brings the two back together.
“They are meant to be together, in my view.”
The locomotive is expected to be in position at the railway precinct by April next year.
