Fifty years on track at Deloraine
Glen and Megan Saltmarsh at the Train Park with daughters Jo, aged two, Emilia, four, and Scarlett, six. Photo supplied.
Scarlett Saltmarsh grins as she thinks about her favourite activity at Deloraine Train Park.
‘Climbing on top of the train,’ the six year-old says naughtily, although the sign says it’s forbidden.
When the Saltmarsh family from Devonport visit their grandparents in Meander, they usually make a visit to the train park.
‘I grew up in Meander and today we’re getting some wood Dad had on the farm,’ Glen Saltmarsh said.
‘On the way back we often grab a feed and come down here. The kids love it.’
The train park turned 50 this year. Deloraine’s Brian Roles remembers the day 50 years ago when four or five blokes from Apex took a day to install the 72 ton E Class steam engine.
‘Three farm tractors pulled it onto some rails we’d set up on the road. We lost control at one stage when the back end came off the rails and it was panic stations. But it was well worth it. That train is a part of Deloraine’s history.’
There were only two E Class trains in the state and one was donated to Deloraine municipality to commemorate 100 years of trains between Launceston and Deloraine.
Apex was given the job of installation at what became known as Deloraine Train Park.
‘People told us it would be a rust bucket in 50 years but Apex has maintained it. It’s been well looked after,’ Mr Roles said. ‘The Don Railway people wanted it at one time but there was no way we’d let them have it!’
