
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

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

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.

The rear wheel hub on the 1904 Foden steam traction engine, resplendent in orange and green. The Foden was a n exhibit at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.
Foden Limited Engineers Sandbach

The smokebox door of the 1904 Foden steam traction engine at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.
Agents Langwill Bros & Davies Ld Melbourne
Foden Sandbach

Adam Black’s 1904 6hp single cylinder Foden steam traction engine. The Foden was there as the support engine for Maffra’s Golden Roller. The family resemblance to Graeme Brown’s Foden seen at the Royal Geelong Show in 2024 is obvious. The Foden was at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.

The rearing horse emblem and Invicta motto of Aveling & Porter on Maffra’s Golden Roller. The DD-type steam roller (No 11630) was in steam and on display at the Newport Railway )Workshops Open Day.

Maffra’s Golden Roller, an Aveling & Porter DD-type steam roller (No 11630), at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. The roller is in front on the Cowley steam traction engine which was on display outside of the West Block.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.