Thread by @ozbob13

#QGRrailmotors
So all the main classes and rail motors now complete.
There were a few lesser known ' motors '.
One in particular. It was a random find when ' fishing ' in the digital collection at SLQ.

Sir Matthew Nathan visiting a Brisbane suburban railway station 1922

In 1922 all suburban stations had low level platforms.
Sir Matthew was Governor of Qld at the time and travelled widely in the state.
So the search began. Found this.

Governor Sir Matthew Nathan visiting the Cunungra Pine Creek Tramway, 1922
bonzle.com/pictures-over-…

Located this
The Beaudesert Times (Qld. : 1908 - 1954) Fri 30 Jun 1922 Page 2 Governor Visits Beaudesert

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

" ... The journey was made from Beenleigh by rail motor ... "

Date Canungra visit was 17 June 1922. He travelled on the logging tramway on 18 June.

Rail motor is mentioned Courier Article trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

" The Vic-regal party was entertained to supper at Belissima (sic), afterwards leaving by rail motor for Bromfleet ... "

The library told me original photo post card from Eagle Heights. Eagle Heights is in the Tamborine area. So it was coming together. Probably Tamborine station. It had a cream shed (boards had gaps) which can be seen left in the photograph. Flags flying Vice Regal welcome.

After searching on and off for a while finally found this.
The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926) Sat 24 Jun 1922 Page 12
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

What was tricky when searching was that Tamborine was Tambourine prior to 1926.

Now the rail motor. Identified it was a Studebaker motor vehicle converted to a rail motor.
studebaker.yolasite.com/old-photos.php
These were made at Ipswich Workshops from around 1916

So the library updated the records. So now correct station. It was really Tambourine in 1922, but never mind ... lol

Sir Matthew Nathan arriving by rail motor at Tamborine station on the Canungra line, 1922
hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/13… - #slqdigital

There is very little information on these rail motors, more than one apparently.
Sir Nathan was well liked as Governor of Qld.
He was a bit of train fancier too I think.
This ' farewell ' was published in the Beaudesert Times 28 Aug 1925. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

More of this search is documented at railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?…
Initially was way off, but eventually got there.

For interest ...

Steam train beside the platform of the small Canungra Railway Station, Queensland, ca. 1918

onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/f/fh…

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