Thread: Ipswich Railway Workshops

We've just come back from a bit of a driving holiday down to northern NSW, but dropped into the old railway workshops at Ipswich on the way through. I'd heard good things about the place, now a museum, but they had a holiday special on...Thomas the Tank Engine exhibition!! We were right in thinking Loki (2 and bit yrs old) would have a ball. Lots of stuff for kids to see and do, some of it airconditioned, which is a big plus in Ipswich during summer.
They also had their standard workshop tours on, which I've been keen to see, including one of the blacksmiths shop. The smithy is huge and used to employ hundreds of men... now they keep it turning over with a few tradesmen and apprentices, as well as linking TAFE courses into it. Quite a few tools and fittings are still made there for the railways: we saw large sledge hammers being finished on a power hammer, a very gentle operation.
Here are a couple of photos:
The first is an induction welding process were two stubs are fused together, and makes for a great photo opportunity. I have to admit I don't know what these items are used for!
The second shot is a general view of the work area with the power hammer mentioned above. A real metal workers heaven, with tools and stuff everywhere!

Cheers,

Here's another photo in the blacksmiths shop, this time of a punch that shears the skirt from forgings. It's setup for a special sledge hammer used to drive dogs or spikes on the rail tracks, long and tapered equally both ends. In the photo you can see stages of the process: the square billet with a punched hole to start with, somewhere near the front; then progressive changes in shape done on the power hammer, then into a swage to define the form, which leaves that skirt. The skirts are punched off and lie on the floor in front. The heads are then heat treated. Standing up and leaning on the machine is the finished item, with handle, although its hard to see properly.

It's a really good tour, too much to take in, and the rest of the complex is fascinating too. There is a large but inaccessible (ie. to the public) collection of historic railway stuff. My only complaint is the main display area is not in-depth, all very contemporary and full of the wow factor, just enough for people with short attention spans. To me it was just a tease, although I'm not a train fanatic! I love history and especially the history of technology, machines and how they were made.
But if you're passing through SE Qld, I reckon its well worth a look.

Cheers,

Interesting stuff...thanks for the photos. Look at the size of that punch.

I like how there keeping it all going. Apprentices..... bit sad in general that companies are being slack on hiring apprentices. Loosing a little dough and time to teach employees is smart I thought.

I called a place up recently looking for work....Timber slab factory in Mullum......trying to get my foot in...... from the outset on the phone they implied you must have decades of experience....etc etc...to even have a chance.....

I said, ' I could even work as an apprentice if you like '...' I'll make up something nice. Bring a piece along to show you'.... ' I'll work hard '. ....' #### pays fine ' .....' governement will give you some dough for taking me on as an apprentice '.......uno, I don't really mind as long as I'm woodworking.

Response was still negitive.....him saying we do everthing by hand.........to which I said ...' what....you don't joint/thickness/table saw your timber ? '....

Sad because apprenticeships or just general sharing of knowledge keeps the skills alive.

anyway.... hows Loki. No more tears ?

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

It's a really good tour, too much to take in, and the rest of the complex is fascinating too. There is a large but inaccessible (ie. to the public) collection of historic railway stuff. My only complaint is the main display area is not in-depth, all very contemporary and full of the wow factor, just enough for people with short attention spans. To me it was just a tease, although I'm not a train fanatic! I love history and especially the history of technology, machines and how they were made.
But if you're passing through SE Qld, I reckon its well worth a look.

Cheers,

Have to agree with Andy. I took the family there a couple of weeks ago and the kids loved it but there was nowhere near enough for me. I wouldn't call myself a train fanatic but I am certainly very interested in the mechanics of how they work. Having said that though, I will be going back again (and again) as we decided to get annual passes to the museum as both my kids have a thing for trains at the moment (an me too!)

Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

we decided to get annual passes to the museum

Good idea Rowan, and I think you also get free entry to other museum campuses in Qld, like Cobb & Co and the timber place up at Gympie.

Hey Jake, the young fella was pretty unsettled untill I drove around Kyogle and he fell asleep (its that kinda town). I could have spent a lot more time in your shed, but will have to wait till next time! BTW, that monster spokeshave beast actually works fine!

Cheers,

We all need a power hammer like that one! Is it a dead drop or is there a bit of hydraulic power behind it as well?

My Grandpa was a blacksmith working in the Ipswich workshops, in the days when trains were trains.

I've got a few tools that were made there as "foriegn orders", which is pretty cool.

The old fella went through a phase of casting lead figures at one stage using large sticks of solder from the plumbing store. He lost all the hairs on his legs through that one - from taping the sticks of solder to his legs under his overalls before knock-off time!

Must visit!

Cheers,

P

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

Hey Jake, the young fella was pretty unsettled untill I drove around Kyogle and he fell asleep (its that kinda town).
,

it is kinda like that.

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

I could have spent a lot more time in your shed, but will have to wait till next time! BTW, that monster spokeshave beast actually works fine!
,

Really !...well, I want it back then. no. glad you like it. Where would you use do you think ?

Hi Andy
re your first piccy.
Its very reminiscent of the flash butt welder they had a Northgate railway workshops in Brisbane. I used to see it in action sometimes going to work on the rattler as an apprentice.The difference was that that one flash butted railway line together. It would throw sparks 20 metres into the air. How I knew about it, was through other apprentices at college who worked at Northgate.

Its really sad that the big railway workshops are considered too expensive to run. The range of skills these places all over Australia have contributed is almost beyond imagination.

good post mate!
Grahame