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Engine of the Royal Train, commemorating the then Prince of Wales' visit to Australia in 1920
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TitleEngine of the Royal Train, commemorating the then Prince of Wales' visit to Australia in 1920.Date Created1920
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Description
DescriptionCommemorative photograph of the Royal visit to Australia. Edward, the then Prince of Wales visited Ipswich on 31 July 1920. He was entertained at Queens Park and met returned soldiers and other groups. The Ipswich Railway Workshops were responsible for upgrading the engine.Additional Information Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) visited Queensland from 26 July to 5 August 1920 on behalf of his father, King George V, to thank Australians for the part they had played in World War I.Travelling by royal train Prince Edward visited Wallangarra; Warwick; Toowoomba; Gatton; Hendon; Clifton; Ipswich; Maryborough; Gympie; Nambour; Landsborough and Caboolture. Train platforms were decorated and the route was lined with ex servicemen. Special emphasis was given to meeting ex servicemen, including visits to Amiens, Cottonvale and Beerburrum Soldier Settlements; Anzac House and Rosemount and Enoggera military hospitals.
A description of the day noted that the premier engine for working the Sydney Mail train to the border the "Sir Wm cGregor" (C18 No. 693) headed the train The engine and tender were decorated in festoons of red, white and blue, and a large image of the Princes Coat of Arms was adorned on the front of the smokebox The Union Jack, and the Australian flag "flew proudly" from the buffers, whilst ornamental feathers were attached to the
buffer lamp brackets Ten carriages made up the train, including the vice regal car, which the Prince travelled in.
The ‘Royal Train” that was fitted out at the Ipswich Railway Workshops, (although not made completely ready till just
before the Prince’s arrival). On its way through to Brisbane from the Border, the train stopped overnight at Wyreema, near
Toowoomba so the Royal party could have a good night’s sleep. The next day, Tuesday 27 July, the train passed through Ipswich, with the Queensland Times reporting:
“It was greatly admired by Ipswich residents… who felt justifiably proud of the excellence of the work turned out by the employees of the workshops. The ‘Sir William MacGregor engine’,
which hauls the Royal Train, has been tastefully decorated, and on Monday the Prince inspected the locomotive at Warwick, shook hands with the Driver W. Martin, and complimented him on his
work”, (especially his abilities at handling the
locomotive)… “
The Royal Train was also escorted into Brisbane from Ipswich, by three aeroplanes, flying in formation.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.
A description of the day noted that the premier engine for working the Sydney Mail train to the border the "Sir Wm cGregor" (C18 No. 693) headed the train The engine and tender were decorated in festoons of red, white and blue, and a large image of the Princes Coat of Arms was adorned on the front of the smokebox The Union Jack, and the Australian flag "flew proudly" from the buffers, whilst ornamental feathers were attached to the
buffer lamp brackets Ten carriages made up the train, including the vice regal car, which the Prince travelled in.
The ‘Royal Train” that was fitted out at the Ipswich Railway Workshops, (although not made completely ready till just
before the Prince’s arrival). On its way through to Brisbane from the Border, the train stopped overnight at Wyreema, near
Toowoomba so the Royal party could have a good night’s sleep. The next day, Tuesday 27 July, the train passed through Ipswich, with the Queensland Times reporting:
“It was greatly admired by Ipswich residents… who felt justifiably proud of the excellence of the work turned out by the employees of the workshops. The ‘Sir William MacGregor engine’,
which hauls the Royal Train, has been tastefully decorated, and on Monday the Prince inspected the locomotive at Warwick, shook hands with the Driver W. Martin, and complimented him on his
work”, (especially his abilities at handling the
locomotive)… “
The Royal Train was also escorted into Brisbane from Ipswich, by three aeroplanes, flying in formation.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.
Connections
Government & Non-Government OrganisationsIpswich Railway WorkshopsPeople & FamiliesKing Edward VIII (1894-1972)Curated CollectionsRoyal & Celebrity VisitsDefining Tulmur | IpswichAdversity & Resilience: CommemorationTaxonomy20th Century | 1920s | 1920
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Asset Details
Reference IDqips-2008-07-09-0009Asset TypeImage - JpegImages, Maps and Artefacts (Trove mapping field)imageColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhiteOrientationLandscapeGenreEventCopyright StatusPublic DomainCopyright NoticeCreated prior to 1st January 1955 and as such copyright has expired. Moral rights subsist and the item should be correctly attributed and its integrity preserved.
To use this image, please contact the Picture Ipswich Digital Archivist.
CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
To use this image, please contact the Picture Ipswich Digital Archivist.
CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
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Government & Non-Government OrganisationsCurated CollectionsDefining Tulmur | Ipswich
Copyright
This work has entered the Public Domain and is free of known copyright restrictions
This work was created prior to the 1st January 1955 or it is an orphan work (photographer unknown) created more than 70 years ago. It has been identified as being free of known restrictions under the Copyright Act 1968.
You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
If you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.
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Engine of the Royal Train, commemorating the then Prince of Wales' visit to Australia in 1920. Picture Ipswich, accessed 25/10/2026, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/268