The builder’s plate for Klondyke, seen at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.
Built at the Perry Engineering Company Works
Dec 1927
No 271
Adelaide & Gawler South Australia
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 19
Category: Railway
Newport 2026 – Klondyke
Klondyke was probably the smallest steam engine on display at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. She is a 0-4-2 steam engine built by Perry Engineering in 1927 as an 0-4-0 (builder’s number 271). The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria bought twelve locomotives to use in the construction of the Hume Weir near Albury.
Klondyke was used in the Queensland cane fields, where she acquired the rear axle, before returning to Victoria in 1971. In 2001 Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway hired Kloondyke, while they waited for the restoration of their original locos. Klondyke now wears a light blue livery that allows her to impersonate Thomas for special events on the Bellarine Railway.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 22
Newport 2026 – Second Class
A Steamrail restored S type second class carriage at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. The vestibule steps made a useful access point for the rake of carriages on display with no platform available. The carriages were providing refreshments and comfortable shady seats on a very sunny day.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 20
Newport 2026 – D3 639
Victorian Railways (VR) D3 Class 639 at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. 639 entered service in 1903, and it’s makers plate featured yesterday. The D3 class were relatively light and powerful 4-6-0 steam locomotives that saw use across the VR network. 639 was the Commissioner’s Engine from 1956 until 1964, and remained in use until 1974.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 21
Newport 2026 – Newport 1903 Selfie
A Newport 1903 Makers Plate seen at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. I have a history of reflected and distorted selfies – even on railway equipment.
- Aperture: ƒ/1.68
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- Focal length: 6.9mm
- ISO: 103
Newport 2026 – Club Car Moorabool
Club Car Moorabool on refreshment duty at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. Moorabool is one of the S type carriages introduced 1937 to lift the Victorian Railways fleet up to world-class standard. They featured sealed windows, air conditioning and design focussed on noise insulation. Like the other S type buffets, Moorabool is named after a Victorian river.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 21
Newport 2026 – Vestibule VR
The trip to the Newport Railway Workshop Open Day 2026 involved a lot of walking through carriages. A Victorian Railways VR push plate, or fingerplate, on the door between the carriage vestibule and the corridor.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 26
Newport 2026 – Carriage Corridor
A corridor in one of the heritage sleeping cars at the Newport Railway Workshop Open Day 2026. Just look at all of that decorative timber!
- Aperture: ƒ/1.68
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- Focal length: 6.9mm
- ISO: 21
Newport 2026 – VR Door Handle
There is something about old rolling stock – mostly the attention to detail. Even the door handles are stamped with stylised Victorian Railways VR initials. I wonder how many passengers ever noticed.
- Aperture: ƒ/1.68
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- Focal length: 6.9mm
- ISO: 195
Newport 2026 – WC Sign
Another sign in another VR railway carriage. This time on a toilet door: W.C. MUST NOT BE USED AT PLATFORMS.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 52
Newport 2026 – Danger Door
An interesting sign inside of a carriage at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. “Danger Door Must Not Be Opened Except At Stations”. An interesting feature is the normal door handle on the inside of the carriage.
- Aperture: ƒ/1.68
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- Focal length: 6.9mm
- ISO: 18
Newport 2026 – Tait Croydon
Another Tait Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) pokes out of the West Block of the Newport Railway Workshops.
- Camera: Pixel 8 Pro
- ISO: 39