Locomotives of the Silverton Tramway (ARMP-0093)

Product No. ARMP-0093

Title: Locomotives of the Silverton Tramway
Author(s): McNicol, Steve
Publisher: Railmac Publication 

ISBN: 0949817856

Condition: NEW
Binding: Softcover 
Dust Jacket: None
Edition: 1st Edition 
Publication Year: 1990

Features: 12 Pages with Black/White Photos. (Covers Rubbed)

- The Silverton Tramway was an Australian 56-kilometre (35 mi) long narrow gauge railway running from Cockburn on the South Australian state border to Broken Hill in New South Wales. Operating between 1888 and 1970 it served the mines of Broken Hill, and formed the link between the standard gauge New South Wales Government Railways and the narrow gauge South Australian Railways.

- The line was owned and operated by the Silverton Tramway Company. The Silverton Tramway was conceived as a way to transport ore from the newly discovered ore deposits at Silverton, to the smelters at Port Pirie, with the line later extended to Broken Hill with the discovery of that field. The need for a private line was in part due to the NSW Government refusing to allow the South Australian Railways to complete their narrow gauge link across the border.

-The Silverton Tramway Act was passed by New South Wales in 1886, permitting the narrow gauge line to be built. The Act also permitted the New South Wales government to buy out the company and assets after 21 years, provided a payment of 21 times the average of the previous seven years, and that the Company could be obliged to alter the track gauge at any time at its own expense. The line was built in twelve months at a cost of 125,000 pounds.