Year Built 1883
Builder Société Anonyme Usines Métallurgiques du Hainaut - Locomotives Couillet. Belgium
Wheel Type 0-4-0T
Works Number 686
Cylinders 210 x 300
Mill First Used at in Mackay Homebush
ID Number or Name 4, "Panama"
Fate Unknown.
History

The Decauville Company became famous worldwide for their manufacture of reliable and cheap portable railways. The early systems were 40cm or 50cm gauge  and were sold to farming and industrial companies in France.  The Company's Manager's little brother  Emil Decauville, had come to Australia where he had supervised the building of a 52km network of 60cm railway for the Homebush Plantation.

This locomotive was built in Belgium in 1883 by Société Anonyme Usines Métallurgiques du Hainaut - Locomotives Couillet. This locomotive builder is normally known by the abbreviated name Couillet. Although not well known in Australia, in Europe Couillet was a significant builder of steam locomotives of many different gauges and sizes over a long period of time. This Loco was built by for Decauville who at the time were supplying CSR with portable track for their newly opened Homebush Mill.

In 1884 or 1889 it was transferred to Goondi Mill in Geraldton (now Innisfail). It was dismantled by 1943 and most likely scrapped.

 

References Browning, John, various Emails.

Possibly one of the Couillet (Decauville) locos bought by CSR for Homebush Mill. c1883. Terminus of tramway at Baker's Creek. (ANU No: 142-36649-66a)


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  Glen Hall


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last updated 30 October 2019 .
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