Rail tractors were popular with Victorian sawmillers. They were generally cheaper than a steam locomotive, required no special qualifications to drive, and used proven power plants for which spares were available locally. The tractor was constructed by Day’s Engineering of South Melbourne which, although better known for its pumping equipment, built more than fifty rail tractors for Victorian sawmillers and other industrial tramway users. W. Day & Sons is believed to have constructed its first light railway locomotive in 1926. From then until the mid 1940s, the firm appears to have built at least fifty locomotives at its premises in South Melbourne, of which roughly half were four-wheel locomotives and roughly half were six-wheel locomotives like the restored Day’s rail tractor formerly operated by Ruoak Timbers. Of the four-wheel locomotives, ten were 2-ft (610mm) gauge locomotives similar to this one. Today, only two survive, a complete example at the Puffing Billy Railway Museum at Menzies Creek, and one at Alexandra Timber Tramway Museum This 2-ft gauge 4wPM locomotive is believed to have been one of two Day's Petrol Rail tractors formerly used by Cheetham Salt, possibly at the Moolap works near Geelong. Service History :owned by Cheetham Salt, Moolap ( dates unknown ) Geelong Steam Preservation Society , Belmont 1973 ? Puffing Billy Steam Museum , Menzies Creek Historic - Industrial Narrow gauge Railway - Rail Tractor used by Cheetham Salt Company works at Laverton, Moolap and Geelong, Victoria , Australia Petrol Rail Tractor made of Iron , wrought iron, steel puffing billy, industrial narrow gauge railway, rail tractor, days engineering, cheetham salt,, petrol rail tractor

Malcolm Moore No. 1015 One of a Batch of 92 such rail tractors built. Builders Number 1015. Built for the Australian Army in 1943 Built for the Australian army - delivered to Army on the 3 March 1944 and was sold to the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission at Red Cliffs, Victoria. - used at the Red Cliffs Power station to haul briquettes from the rail siding Red Cliffs to the Red Cliffs Power Station and also used for shunting and some haulage from the Red Cliffs siding.. This rail tractor was originally powered by a Ford side valve V8 petrol engine. It arrived at the Museum from Red Cliffs in 1977 and is operational. Originally equipped with a Ford side valve V8 Later replaced by a Fordson Major diesel tractor engine.Historic - Narrow Gauge Industrial Railway - used by the Australian Army, and the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission at Redcliffs, Victoria, AustraliaMalcolm Moore No.1015 - Malcolm Moore Rail Tractor 0-4-0 Malcolm Moore Rail Tractor - Steel (Painted)Malcolm Moore Rail Tractor 0-4-0 Malcolm Moore 2' Gauge 1015puffing billy, malcolm moore, ford v8, rail tractor, fordson, australian army, state rivers and water supply commission, 2' gauge, industrial narrow gauge railway

Malcolm Moore No. 1013 Four wheel Diesel Rail Tractor Gauge 2'0" Malcolm Moore rail tractor (Builder’s Number 1013) It was built for the Australian Army in 1943. It was sold to the Inkerman Sugar Mill in Queensland around 1948 for hauling cane and shunting at the works. This rail tractor was originally powered by a Ford side valve V8 petrol engine. It was purchased from the Inkerman Mill of Pioneer Sugar Mills in 1982. Historic - Industrial narrow gauge Railway - Diesel Rail Tractor - used by the Australian Army and Inkerman Sugar Mill in QueenslandDiesel Rail Tractor made of iron and wrought irondiesel rail tractor, puffing billy, inkerman mill, industrial narrow gauge railway, gauge 2’0”, inkerman sugar mill, australian army