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Redbank Railway Museum, Redbank, Ipswich, 1976
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TitleRedbank Railway Museum, Redbank, Ipswich, 1976Date Created1976
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DescriptionPostwar conditions stressed the cramped railways workshops in Ipswich, and in 1949 steps began to establish new workshops east of the woollen mill. Occupation of new buildings at Redbank began in 1958 but a further seven years passed before the railway foundry was operational. The road on the right hand side is the public road up to the Redbank Workshops. They gradually took over from Ipswich Railway Workshops. In 1993 they were established as 'centre for excellence' with an upgrade to facilities that began in 1994 and were completed in 1997. It continues to be a major workshop for Queensland Rail. The Museum was open from 1969 to 1992. The red brick building is the administration building. Additional Information The collection of steam locomotives that form the basis of the former Redbank Steam Locomotive Museum had its beginnings in 1963.
At this time an approach was made to Queensland Railways that C19 700, and BB181/4 1089, along with RM55 be set aside for eventual preservation by the Australian Railway Historical Society (Qld Division). At this time the ongoing introduction of diesel-electric motive power by Queensland Railways had lead to the withdrawal of older forms of motive power on the then QR network. The 1960s accelerated the rate of change on the Queensland Railways, as it was this era that saw a large number of branch line closures, between 1960-65, the withdrawal of older locomotives, and railmotors, introduction of new rollingstock, and by the end of the decade the complete withdrawal of all steam locomotives.
Plans to establish a museum exhibiting a selection of steam locomotives that had operated on railways in Queensland were formed by members of the ARHS Qld Division, mainly on the realisation that the use of steam locomotives would cease within what was then thought to be a generation (1969). In 1964 an approach was made to Queensland Railways with the object of having 'certain' locomotives set aside for preservation. The plans were so that: "future generations might have the opportunity to see, at first hand, full size examples of this form of locomotion…" At about this same time the Ipswich Rotary Club announced plans to preserve in Ipswich the static locomotive A10 No.3, and two carriages that had previously been placed on display at Countess Street, in Brisbane.
A number of sites were considered over the next few years, and the plan proceeded with the full support of the then Commissioner for Railways, Alva G Lee. The initial plan to select six steam locomotives was increased to fourteen. As part of the museum complex, a small caretaker’s office for sale of souvenirs etc. and for the use of ARHS members was supplied.
The museum was officially opened on 7 February 1970. Over the preceding six years, two important exhibits had been donated to Queensland Railways, by an organisation external to QR. These were A10 No.6, and B13 48, which had operated privately on Gibson & Howes private tramway at Bingera and Watawa, near Bundaberg.
Between 1865 and 1958, 1311 steam locomotives were put into operation in Queensland. 908 of these originated from builders or manufacturers within the colony, or state, of Queensland.
In a situation similar to other state railway operations in Australia, steam operations in Queensland were withdrawn over a period of roughly ten years, in the 1960s. The process initiated by Queensland Railways was that diesel-electric locomotives were progressively introduced, and would replace steam locomotives in the more “challenging” depots in north or western Queensland. Steam locomotives deemed to have an economic life were then “cascaded” to places such as Willowburn (Toowoomba), Ipswich, or Mackay (for seasonal work in the sugar cane harvest).
In 1969 steam operations were officially finished in southern Queensland, with the closure of North Ipswich steam depot. At end of 1969, with the ending of the sugar season in Mackay steam operation was officially ended throughout the state.
A small team of volunteers cared for the exhibits, but in 1992 the decision was taken to close the collection to the public. This was primarily as a response to concerns about security of the items. A conservation regime was instituted to maintain the objects, and attempt to prevent further deterioration. QR in 1991-2 had entered into an agreement with Queensland Museum, and the then Railways Historical Centre at Ipswich had become a branch of the Queensland Museum.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.References (offline)Information from The Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich website.
At this time an approach was made to Queensland Railways that C19 700, and BB181/4 1089, along with RM55 be set aside for eventual preservation by the Australian Railway Historical Society (Qld Division). At this time the ongoing introduction of diesel-electric motive power by Queensland Railways had lead to the withdrawal of older forms of motive power on the then QR network. The 1960s accelerated the rate of change on the Queensland Railways, as it was this era that saw a large number of branch line closures, between 1960-65, the withdrawal of older locomotives, and railmotors, introduction of new rollingstock, and by the end of the decade the complete withdrawal of all steam locomotives.
Plans to establish a museum exhibiting a selection of steam locomotives that had operated on railways in Queensland were formed by members of the ARHS Qld Division, mainly on the realisation that the use of steam locomotives would cease within what was then thought to be a generation (1969). In 1964 an approach was made to Queensland Railways with the object of having 'certain' locomotives set aside for preservation. The plans were so that: "future generations might have the opportunity to see, at first hand, full size examples of this form of locomotion…" At about this same time the Ipswich Rotary Club announced plans to preserve in Ipswich the static locomotive A10 No.3, and two carriages that had previously been placed on display at Countess Street, in Brisbane.
A number of sites were considered over the next few years, and the plan proceeded with the full support of the then Commissioner for Railways, Alva G Lee. The initial plan to select six steam locomotives was increased to fourteen. As part of the museum complex, a small caretaker’s office for sale of souvenirs etc. and for the use of ARHS members was supplied.
The museum was officially opened on 7 February 1970. Over the preceding six years, two important exhibits had been donated to Queensland Railways, by an organisation external to QR. These were A10 No.6, and B13 48, which had operated privately on Gibson & Howes private tramway at Bingera and Watawa, near Bundaberg.
Between 1865 and 1958, 1311 steam locomotives were put into operation in Queensland. 908 of these originated from builders or manufacturers within the colony, or state, of Queensland.
In a situation similar to other state railway operations in Australia, steam operations in Queensland were withdrawn over a period of roughly ten years, in the 1960s. The process initiated by Queensland Railways was that diesel-electric locomotives were progressively introduced, and would replace steam locomotives in the more “challenging” depots in north or western Queensland. Steam locomotives deemed to have an economic life were then “cascaded” to places such as Willowburn (Toowoomba), Ipswich, or Mackay (for seasonal work in the sugar cane harvest).
In 1969 steam operations were officially finished in southern Queensland, with the closure of North Ipswich steam depot. At end of 1969, with the ending of the sugar season in Mackay steam operation was officially ended throughout the state.
A small team of volunteers cared for the exhibits, but in 1992 the decision was taken to close the collection to the public. This was primarily as a response to concerns about security of the items. A conservation regime was instituted to maintain the objects, and attempt to prevent further deterioration. QR in 1991-2 had entered into an agreement with Queensland Museum, and the then Railways Historical Centre at Ipswich had become a branch of the Queensland Museum.
Additional information from Greg Hallam, Historian with Queensland Rail.References (offline)Information from The Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich website.
Connections
Government & Non-Government OrganisationsQueensland Railways Locomotive MuseumRedbank Railway WorkshopsCurated CollectionsWhere in Ipswich?Taxonomy20th Century | 1970s | 1976
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Redbank Railway Museum, Redbank, Ipswich, 1976. Picture Ipswich, accessed 13/09/2026, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/6190