David Mollenhaur, Murgon Men’s Shed
In 2014 Murgon Men’s Shed (QLD) founding President, Paul Pfiefer, purchased two rail carriages in Rockhampton. However, with delays due to a flood in Rocky and transport problems, Paul passed away before seeing the carriages set up in Murgon. Eventually, the carriages arrived in Murgon and a grant from Stanwell Power enabled restorative work to start on the carriages.
It was decided an engine in front of the carriages would make a better display and create more interest. Some five years ago, we decided to make inquiries to get a steam engine. A D17 had been given to Murgon Council in 1974 and sat near the tennis courts. Then in later years it ended up at Rosewood Rail Museum. This D17 was on offer. It was a heavier suburban engine and had never been on our line.
A C17 and D17 had both been placed down the track at Rosewood with a line of carriages behind from the museum on a deterring line in a low area, the Museum called Frog’s Hollow. Meanwhile, we wanted to build a shed to house our carriages and it would be situated near the front of the Rail Station here at Murgon. But the Department of Transport wanted the rail corridor clear. So, we had to move the carriages. Tracks were laid to the side of the station, the carriages were moved and we started planning for a rail shed, which was completed Christmas 2022.
Numerous trips to Rosewood were made to negotiate getting the engine. These trips were spent cleaning and cutting and spraying vines and small trees that covered the engines and everything. Finally, we were on our way to getting an engine. For years, this low area was extremely wet. Large amounts of sleepers and bridge material had to be moved before trucks and a crane could get anywhere near the engines.
This year’s dry summer provided us the first opportunity to get an engine without getting everything bogged. The Museum cleaned the sleepers and other rail rubbish, clearing the way to get trucks and crane close to the engines. The D17 ended up being too difficult to get, so the C17 was offered to us which suited us better, as the C17 is a part of our rail history.
On 2 August, two low loaders trucks and a 100 ton crane along with support trucks, descended on the Museum, loading the engine first then the tender onto the second truck without incident. The two trucks arrived back in Murgon by 4.30pm. The two trucks were unloaded at Murgon Men’s Shed on Friday 4 August, using a 100 ton crane from Kingaroy.
The C17 was a part of Murgon’s rail history. Our C17 No 763, was built in 1927 by Walkers Ltd, Maryborough. There were 227 C17’s built from 1920 to 1953, all of which were replaced by Diesel engines in 1969. 202 of which have been scrapped and 25 preserved.
Our C17 is 16.29M long and weighs 56 Tonne dry, 82 tonne full (with coal and water) Boiler pressure is 7.206Kpa, has 2 cylinders, 17 inch by 22 inch stroke. There is a lot of work to restore the engine to a good static display to go along with the Murgon Men’s Shed other rail memorabilia.
