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Finishing touches being applied to the wooden railway tank at Kobble Creek
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TitleFinishing touches being applied to the wooden railway tank at Kobble CreekDescriptionThis wooden tank was on the Ferny Grove to Dayboro Branch Railway line. Bridge 33 can be seen in the background. The sawmill house is behind the post in the foreground. The worker on the ladder is steaming up the top steamer band.
One of the more unusual water tanks in Queensland was the water tank at Kobble Creek station on the former Enoggera -Dayboro (Terror’s Creek) in that opened through to Dayboro in 1920. The tank was constructed of hoop pine timber. The photograph shows the tank under construction with a departmental carpenter working on the tank, and fixing the hoop pine staves in place.
In the early years of the Queensland Railways clean, reliable water supply was a major problem. In early accounts of railway construction frequent mention was made of the necessity of carting water, for a distance or water borne disease or contagion arising from a polluted water supply.
In times of water shortage, such as the Great Drought of 1901-03, Queensland Railways played a critical role with the transporting of water by train, for places such as Mount Morgan, from Rockhampton. Up to five ‘water trains’ a day were run to keep the town and mines supplied. Emergency water supplies (such as at Gladstone, in special wagons), were placed at strategic locations for use.
The water fed to the boilers of QR steam locomotives came from many sources, such as town supplies, or post 1890s specially constructed railway dams, and bores, (nag with concrete dams). Watering stops were generally fifty to seventy kilometres apart. It was possible for steam locomotives with larger tenders to run for approximately forty miles (seventy kilometres) without watering. On longer runs, where distances between watering stops was increased, locomotives would run with a water wagon attached. During drought, water supplies sometimes ran out and water trucks were attached to trains to enable the locomotives to cover longer distances. At other times where water had run out, arrangements were made to pump water to the tank.
Information supplied by Greg Hallam, Qld Railway Historian.Record typePhotographFormat typePhysicalOriginal format colourBlack and white
One of the more unusual water tanks in Queensland was the water tank at Kobble Creek station on the former Enoggera -Dayboro (Terror’s Creek) in that opened through to Dayboro in 1920. The tank was constructed of hoop pine timber. The photograph shows the tank under construction with a departmental carpenter working on the tank, and fixing the hoop pine staves in place.
In the early years of the Queensland Railways clean, reliable water supply was a major problem. In early accounts of railway construction frequent mention was made of the necessity of carting water, for a distance or water borne disease or contagion arising from a polluted water supply.
In times of water shortage, such as the Great Drought of 1901-03, Queensland Railways played a critical role with the transporting of water by train, for places such as Mount Morgan, from Rockhampton. Up to five ‘water trains’ a day were run to keep the town and mines supplied. Emergency water supplies (such as at Gladstone, in special wagons), were placed at strategic locations for use.
The water fed to the boilers of QR steam locomotives came from many sources, such as town supplies, or post 1890s specially constructed railway dams, and bores, (nag with concrete dams). Watering stops were generally fifty to seventy kilometres apart. It was possible for steam locomotives with larger tenders to run for approximately forty miles (seventy kilometres) without watering. On longer runs, where distances between watering stops was increased, locomotives would run with a water wagon attached. During drought, water supplies sometimes ran out and water trucks were attached to trains to enable the locomotives to cover longer distances. At other times where water had run out, arrangements were made to pump water to the tank.
Information supplied by Greg Hallam, Qld Railway Historian.Record typePhotographFormat typePhysicalOriginal format colourBlack and white
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Access restrictionsPhysical copy restrictedRestrictions on useRestrictions varyConditions of useYou may print, copy or download images for private research. This image may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with acknowledgement. [e.g. Image courtesy of City of Moreton Bay, reference number PRLPC-P0870] To obtain copies for commercial purposes or of a higher resolution, contact local.history@moretonbay.qld.gov.au. Charges apply
The images of plans may be reproduced with acknowledgment courtesy of Queensland Rail, PRLPC-P0870-01 and PRLPC-P0870-02You may print, copy or download construction plans for private research. These plans may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with acknowledgement. [e.g. Plan courtesy of Queensland Rail, reference number PRLPC-P0870-01 and/or PRLPC-P0870-02] To obtain copies for commercial purposes or of a higher resolution, contact Queensland Rail.
The images of plans may be reproduced with acknowledgment courtesy of Queensland Rail, PRLPC-P0870-01 and PRLPC-P0870-02You may print, copy or download construction plans for private research. These plans may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with acknowledgement. [e.g. Plan courtesy of Queensland Rail, reference number PRLPC-P0870-01 and/or PRLPC-P0870-02] To obtain copies for commercial purposes or of a higher resolution, contact Queensland Rail.
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Finishing touches being applied to the wooden railway tank at Kobble Creek. Moreton Bay Our Story, accessed 25/04/2026, https://ourstory.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/34950
