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Locomotive and wagons on coal stage at Ipswich Railway Workshops, North Ipswich, 1969
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TitleLocomotive and wagons on coal stage at Ipswich Railway Workshops, North Ipswich, 1969Date Created1969PhotographerKerry Paul Smith (1950-2025)AcknowledgementKerry Smith
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DescriptionThe Workshops Rail Museum was opened on 1st September 2002 on [this] site of the original Railway Workshops, that was opened in 1864. It was the centre of rail construction, maintenance and technology in the state for 20th Century. Over 200 steam locomotives were constructed here and during its peak over 3000 people worked on the site.Additional Information The coal stage itself was not within the physical environment of the North Ipswich roundhouse but was situated adjacent to the ‘Mainline’ that linked North Ipswich to Ipswich Railway Station.
The location of the coal stage was at a point 1 kilometre from Ipswich Railway Station, roughly half way between the roundhouse and the connection to the Western Railway over the Bremer.
The coal stage acted as a refueling point for locomotives attached to the North Ipswich roundhouse. Steam locomotives used combustible material burned in a firebox to raise heat and boil water held in a boiler in the locomotive.
Water and fuel was carried in a tender behind the locomotive proper. Coal, the material commonly used to generate heat was carried in a bunker on the tender.
Regular replenishing of the coal and water supply was needed in the running of steam locomotives, to maintain adequate fuel and water levels. The method of delivering coal to the tender of locomotives was to use a gravity fed system. Coal was stored in a series of bins that was then fed into the locomotive tender by chute. Transportation of coal into the bins was undertaken by a locomotive propelling a rake of loaded coal hoppers up a rising track. This track was supported by a series of wooden piers (28 in number) on a rising gradient. At the end of this elevated track was located the coal discharge bins. shows a C17 class locomotive propelling wagons up the coal stage to the discharge point.
that the maximum height of the coal stage above ground (rail) level was 10 metres. Construction was of hardwood timber piers and discharge bins were milled and sawn timber.
Handrails and walkways either side of the ‘top’ of the coal stage acted as a safety feature for the person responsible for the operation of the stage. Safety platforms were also provided at staggered intervals so that maintenance workers, or other employess could move out of the path of shunting trains advancing up the elevated structure.
The coal stage was also built on a rising trestle, situated on a curve, (making for difficult operation for the engine crew).
The coal stage was built in the period of 1923-1925, to replace a smaller structure.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.
References (online)‘The Workshops Rail Museum’, retrieved 5 March 2010
The location of the coal stage was at a point 1 kilometre from Ipswich Railway Station, roughly half way between the roundhouse and the connection to the Western Railway over the Bremer.
The coal stage acted as a refueling point for locomotives attached to the North Ipswich roundhouse. Steam locomotives used combustible material burned in a firebox to raise heat and boil water held in a boiler in the locomotive.
Water and fuel was carried in a tender behind the locomotive proper. Coal, the material commonly used to generate heat was carried in a bunker on the tender.
Regular replenishing of the coal and water supply was needed in the running of steam locomotives, to maintain adequate fuel and water levels. The method of delivering coal to the tender of locomotives was to use a gravity fed system. Coal was stored in a series of bins that was then fed into the locomotive tender by chute. Transportation of coal into the bins was undertaken by a locomotive propelling a rake of loaded coal hoppers up a rising track. This track was supported by a series of wooden piers (28 in number) on a rising gradient. At the end of this elevated track was located the coal discharge bins. shows a C17 class locomotive propelling wagons up the coal stage to the discharge point.
that the maximum height of the coal stage above ground (rail) level was 10 metres. Construction was of hardwood timber piers and discharge bins were milled and sawn timber.
Handrails and walkways either side of the ‘top’ of the coal stage acted as a safety feature for the person responsible for the operation of the stage. Safety platforms were also provided at staggered intervals so that maintenance workers, or other employess could move out of the path of shunting trains advancing up the elevated structure.
The coal stage was also built on a rising trestle, situated on a curve, (making for difficult operation for the engine crew).
The coal stage was built in the period of 1923-1925, to replace a smaller structure.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.
References (online)‘The Workshops Rail Museum’, retrieved 5 March 2010
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Government & Non-Government OrganisationsNorth Ipswich Railway WorkshopsTaxonomy20th Century | 1960s | 1969
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Reference IDqips-2009-09-15-0003Asset TypeImage - JpegImages, Maps and Artefacts (Trove mapping field)imageColour or Black & White ImageColourOrientationLandscapeGenreIndustrialTransportPhysical DescriptionColour SlideCopyright StatusIn CopyrightCopyright NoticeTo use this image, please contact the Picture Ipswich Digital Archivist.CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
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This work is protected under the Copyright Act 1968
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Locomotive and wagons on coal stage at Ipswich Railway Workshops, North Ipswich, 1969. Picture Ipswich, accessed 21/09/2026, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/3100