Steam Locomotives

The little black traction engine, affectionately known as Polly, was built in England and arrived in Fremantle in 1880. For over 70 years, Polly worked in the timber industry, hauling logs. In 1912 she was fitted with loco wheels and a winch and she hauled logs and shunted trucks of sawn timber to the railway siding near Buckingham’s Mill, east of Collie. Walking between the huge steam engines located below the Visitor Centre, you can imagine the steam and speed generated by these iron horses. The locomotives displayed here are the W Class – 943, an F Class- 452 and a V Class -1215. The locos were used by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) until 1971. Another striking piece of machinery on display is the 54 RB Mechanical Shovel. The original enormous bucket, over 4 metres in length, is still attached. During its 16 years it moved approximately 9 million tonnes of coal.