Overview

Written by former Deputy Prime Minister, The Honourable Tim Fischer, Steam Australia paints a fascinating picture of Australian steam transportation over ten vital decades of transformation; from two world wars, to changes in leadership and even a visit from the Queen, the century of steam locomotion in Australia is also of great political interest. Fischer tracks key steam locomotives that traversed Australia during critical stages of our nation's development and transported soldiers to fields of conflict as we fought in two world wars. For a century, from 1850 to 1950, steam locomotive haulage dominated Australia's various rail systems. During that period, rail networks expanded from a few short routes in the big capital cities to huge networks reaching every corner of each state. The book covers the great named express trains hauled by steam locomotives over the decades: Puffing Billy, Robert Gordon Menzies, The Ghan. Special features include information on Albury's 'break of gauge' platform (where two state track systems met), the Amiens branch line (running through Pozieres and Passchendaele stations in Queensland), the 'garnishee' order against the Spirit of Progress, some important characters such as C. Y. O'Connor and many more fascinating topics. Tim Fischer's story of steam trains in Australia is illustrated with over 300 exciting images from the superb National Library John Buckland collection of photography, many never seen before.

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Although Tim Fischer was never a trainspotter in the classic British sense, for over seven decades he has been totally committed to understanding and promoting rail transport and examining the essential role both passenger trains and rail freight have played in our economy. Over the years, he has travelled on steam-hauled trains of many different kinds. In his youth, it was the South West Mail that he used most, however it was as the federal leader of the Nationals and deputy prime minister that Fischer used to make a point of visiting key railway stations around the globe including those in Teheran, Isfahan and Pretoria to name a few. Tim Fischer's other works include Transcontinental Train Odyssey, Trains Unlimited and Seven Days in East Timor.

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