SteamRanger’s heritage steam locomotive Rx 207 returned to service on 27th December 2000 after being out of action for nearly five years.

The total actual cost of the rebuild was $120,000, a remarkably low figure taking into account the difficulties of working on an 87 year old locomotive and achieved only through the dedicated involvement of SteamRanger’s team of volunteers and skilled employees.

Hon Dean Brown MP, Minister for Human Services and Member for Finniss, recommissioned the loco and named it "Dean Harvey" in recognition of the commitment of former SteamRanger Director, Mr Dean Harvey, OAM, to the operation of enthusiast and tourist railway trains in South Australia over many decades.

The Locomotive

Modest in size, a large number of locomotives similar to Rx207 were introduced from 1886 to haul goods trains over the heavily graded sections of the Intercolonial Railway with up to 3 locomotives being used to haul the Adelaide to Melbourne Express. They outlasted the large power locomotives introduced in the 1920s as their replacement on main line trains, and they were still being used on branch line trains and as shunt engines up to the demise of steam in the late 1960s.

The Restoration

SteamRanger rescued the loco from the scrapper’s torch in the late 1960s and operated it on enthusiast and tourist trains for many years on lines round the State including many years on Cockle Train duties. By 1996 many of its major components were worn to such an extent that an almost total restoration was essential.

The work was progressively undertaken by SteamRanger’s two employees and twenty or so dedicated volunteers. For a locomotive designed in the 1880s and built in 1913, replacement parts were not readily available and the knowledge and expertise on locomotive restoration was hard to come by. Consequently, the only option was to manufacture many of the required replacement parts in SteamRanger’s own workshops.

Old repair techniques were analysed and, where appropriate, today’s more modern technology adapted to aid the restoration process. Restoration proceeded whilst SteamRanger continued to operate its regularly scheduled services. There were many frustrating times when finances were tight and effort was required on other projects.

Ian Johnston's photo on the right shows the starting point of the restoration - the frame and wheels separated from the body, boiler and firebox. His photos below illustrate just some of the ensuing activities involed in this massive task

Ron Williams and Brian Wood machining piston rings	Inside the firebox, Kim Critchley cleaning boiler tube holes
Back together again - the frame and wheels reunited!	And the refurbished boiler goes outside for testing
Nearly there! - the boiler reunited with the frame and motion

2011 Update

After returning to service in late 2001 the loco operated regular Cockle Train and other services until 2007 when it was again withdrawn to allow a major reconditioning involving both the boiler and motion. The loco was returned again to service in March 2011. Details of this project have been reported elsewhere on this website.

Dean Harvey OAM

Dean began promoting and running special steam trains for the ARHS in 1960, initially by chartering trains from the then SAR. When the few remaining steam engines were to be cut up for scrap in 1968 he negotiated retention of four representative locos and later the purchase of suitable carriages to create today’s SteamRanger Tourist Railway. As Tours Manager and later SteamRanger Director he negotiated the establishment of SteamRanger’s first depot at Dry Creek and the restoration of both loco “621” and “520” in the early 1970s.

Dean took a particular interest in the Victor Harbor line and was a focus for the Society’s initiative to retain the line when it was threatened with closure in the 1980s, at one stage walking the length of the track to assess its condition.

He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1981 for his service to railway preservation.