Project to restore old train in Alice Springs goes viral on social media

A SOCIAL media post about a 1960 diesel train in Alice Springs being resurrected after 15 years of inactivity has gone viral, attracting 26,000 likes and hundreds of comments from people excited to see the piece of history.

Road Transport Hall of Fame general manager Lester Hamilton with the 1960s diesel locomotive. Picture: Supplied

THERE is something about locomotives that stirs the emotions in people, according to an Alice Springs train enthusiast.

This was evident when the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs posted on Facebook about a 1960 diesel loco being resurrected after 15 years of inactivity.

The post attracted about 26,000 likes, and hundreds of comments from people excited to see the piece of history.

“People get excited about trains,” Road Transport Hall of Fame general manager Lester Hamilton said.

“Some of them are old train buffs but a lot of them are new train people.

“I really think if we could develop the train museum here in Alice Springs it would be a great asset to the local tourist industry.”

The 1960s diesel locomotive. Picture: Supplied

MORE CENTRALIAN ADVOCATE NEWS

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley to shift to work ‘more productively’ with govt and CLP to secure best deal for Red Centre

Alice Springs lights up for Parrtjima

87 residential lots ‘a great development for Alice Springs’: Development authority body

Since putting up the post, Mr Hamilton said the organisation had received an email from someone who lived interstate who had an owner’s manual for the loco.

“I’ve never put up a post on Facebook and received such a response from it,” he said.

“This group of Old Ghan volunteers were inspired to get the trains operational again and getting the museum up to a standard they are proud of as they want to preserve it for future generations.”

Inside the 1960s diesel locomotive. Picture: Supplied

The loco is named after Roger Vale, a passionate railway man and politician in Alice Springs in the 1990s.

“He was able to source a lot of machinery for the museum,” Mr Hamilton said.

The loco was used for shunting in Queensland originally, but was used in Alice Springs from the 1980s until 2006, when it was parked up.

“It’s an old machine but everything about it is fixable by a diesel mechanic,” Mr Hamilton said.

CENTRALIAN ADVOCATE digital subscription offer: Full digital access for just $1 a week for the first 12 weeks

Former Alice Springs resident Charlie Poole, who currently lives in South Australia, is undertaking repairs on the machine along with other volunteers to bring it back to its former glory.

Facebook comments said the train was a “great addition” to town.