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From the collection of Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park
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Photograph - Russel's Timber Tractor in Book, H. Russell, Mid-1930s

  • A photograph capturing a book page, itself containing a black and white photograph and printed caption text.

    VEMUP1017 Obverse

  • The reverse of a printed photograph, containing an accession number, printer paper logos, and printed technical information.

    VEMUP1017 Reverse

  • A photograph capturing a book page, itself containing a black and white photograph and printed caption text.
  • The reverse of a printed photograph, containing an accession number, printer paper logos, and printed technical information.

Historical information

Russel's Mill was located in what is now Bunyip State Park on the Back (or Black Snake) Creek in a relatively clear, flat area beside Ash Landing Road. In 1926 EAC Russel built the mill's 3ft gauge steel rail tramway - with Old Bill's Timber Tractor - to transport timber from the sawmill to what is now Puffing Billy's line. It ran 14 km from Gembrook Station. This tramway was one of only five in the state to use articulated steam power. The Timber Tractor was a six-wheeled Day's model, two of which ran on the Timber Tramway alongside two locomotives - a Kerr Stuart 0-4-2T (which was not powerful enough to do the job) and a geared locomotive built by Day's. The tractors were likely in use until 1953.

This photograph, taken by H. Russell, shows relatively normal operation of one of the tractors in the mid-1930s, moving two wagons of processed timber towards Gembrook. Interestingly, the frontmost wagon also appears to be carrying several pieces of furniture.

This is a photograph of the book "Bellbrakes, Bullocks & Bushmen: A Sawmilling and Tramway History of Gembrook 1885–1985," by Mike McCarthy. This book is also in our collection, as VEMU1479.

Significance

Russel's sawmill, through its associated tramway, contributed to keeping the line which is now Puffing Billy running commercially thanks to the quantities of timber it needed to transport. While it has not been operational for a long time, the timber tramway and its rail tractors occupy a significant place in the region's railway history.

Physical description

This item is a photograph of a book, capturing a black and white photograph that was printed in the book and the accompanying printed caption. The photograph features a rail tractor, moving two tractors filled with cut timber. The background is forested and there is vegetation along the line. There appear to be several unclear pieces of furniture on top of the timber in the frontmost wagon.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse, Caption in Photographed Book:
Top Right: "Down the Black Snake 49"
Bottom Right: "Removing furniture from / the bush was not a problem / although the french polish- / ing may have suffered! / Russell's tractor near Gem- / brook in the mid 1930s. / Photo: H. Russel"

Subjects

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