Archer Park Rail Museum

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Collection: Restored Purrey Steam Tram

Rockhampton was the only Australian city to use Purrey Steam Trams, built in Bourdeaux, France. Nine trams and six trailers were used as the municipal transport system from 1909 to 1939.

None of the trams were preserved, but Rockhampton City Council found the remains of one and decided on a reconstruction project in August 1982.

In June 1984 the project was endorsed as a Bicentennial project, reconstruction was completed by Devember 1987 and the restored tram had its inaugural dun down Dennison Street during the Bicentennial year (June 1988).

Purrey Steam Tram drawing link

The Archer Park tram, fired on coke and coal, is fully operational. It's the only operational Purrey Steam Tram in the world and runs on most Sundays over 1.1 kilometres of track paralleling QR's Northern Line.

Purrey Tram at platform

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You can locate additional views on the Photos page.