Residents of Mulwala and Yarrawonga are delighted to see the J507 Steam train situated in Purtle Park freshly painted and looking as it did back in 1981.
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At this time the Mulwala Progress Association arranged with the then Corowa Council to move the locomotive from the railway branch line inside the Mulwala Explosive Factory Area to the current site at Purtle Park.
The locomotive train was moved out of the factory area along the railway lines to the end of Edward Street, lifted off the 8-gauge railway line with the help of two very large cranes and turned at right angles so that the funnel end faced west towards Melbourne Street.
It was then lifted onto three portable sets of tracks laid in sections on Edward Street and was then slowly pulled by chain and forklift towards the lake, one section of track at a time with the tracks being brought forward once the locomotive had moved off them.
The total move took a full weekend with numerous volunteer workers present.
J507 spent one night sitting in the middle of Edward Street before it finally reached its current resting place in Purtle Park where it will preserve the memory of the steam train era that played a major part in the development of the district for over half a century.
The Mulwala Progress Association would like to thank the following volunteers and donors who helped restore the train for locals and tourists to enjoy this magnificent attraction: Australian Munitions – Thales for their kind donation of $1000. Dulux and Bunnings Yarrawonga for the supply of paint, Ian Cooksey from Darryl Miller Panels for his spray painting, Gary Palise (Palace Property Maintenance) and Denis Ampfea for their touches of red and black.
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