More model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

This is the final post in a series of four about the model trains featured on the four main entrances to Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. (Look back through previous posts to see the others, or go to the archives.) This particular train is at the south eastern entrance to town on the road leading from Burra and Terowie.

I think that these are a wonderful introduction to visitors to the town. The people of Peterborough have made a great effort to feature model trains in this way seeing that the town has very strong ties to the historic development of railways, not only in this state, but also in the whole of Australia. The local railway museum adds to that interest as well.

Further reading:

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains at Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

In recent days I have written about a visit to family in Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. On that occasion I took a series of photos of various features of the town.

Because Peterborough is historically an important railway town in the development of our state, locals have made interesting installations greeting people coming into the town on all four major entrances. Here is the third of those, this time on the eastern approach to the town as visitors are coming from NSW including Broken Hill.

I find that these model trains to be quite amusing and delightful, but I wonder what the thinking is with the one featured in today’s post. Is it meant to be a small replica of Sydney Harbour Bridge? Or is it merely a representation of a railway bridge in the district as my wife suspects it might be; she grew up in the town.

I love the engineer waving his shovel – or is he the fireman?

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at the eastern entrance to Peterborough, South Australia

Model trains in Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at Peterborough, South Australia

As I wrote here a few days ago, we visited family recently in the mid-north town of Peterborough, South Australia. While there I took a few photos around the town, something I had neglected to do much of during numerous visits to the town over more than 40 years. Peterborough is rightly proud of its railway heritage and a railway museum features high on the list of visitor attractions.

In today’s post I feature another two shots of one of the four model trains shown in the main entrances to the town. This one is on the road into town from Orroroo to the north. I love the nice touch of the engine driver waving from the cabin, and the signals next to the line.

I will feature more photos in a few days’ time.

Model train at Peterborough, South Australia

Model train at Peterborough, South Australia

Trains of Peterborough, South Australia

Model of a train at Peterborough

Model of a train at Peterborough

On our recent visit to Peterborough, South Australia to visit family I spent an hour or so taking photos around town, something I had not done much of over the last 40 years on our regular visits to the town. I had three purposes in taking a few photos. First, a friend who had visited the town last year had taken many photos but her camera failed to download them. Second, I had precious few photos of the town in my own collection, and third, I wanted to share them here on this site.

Peterborough, in the mid-north of South Australia, was for many years a railway town. Major lines intersect or run through the town. Rail lines from Adelaide to Sydney, Perth to Sydney, and Broken Hill to Port Pirie are the main ones. In years gone by another line ran from there through to Quorn further north in the state. At one time the town boasted three different operating rail gauges: narrow, standard and broad gauge. This made Peterborough unique, possibly in the only place in the world where this happened. Standardisation, and the closing of some lines, has brought this to an end.

Today most trains just go straight through the town. At each of the four main road entrances to the town locals have placed magnificent modal trains on display at the welcome signs to the town. I will feature each of these over coming days.

The model train shown in today’s photos can be found on the south-western approach to the town on the road leading from Clare and Jamestown. The S.A.R. on the tender stands for South Australian Railways.

Model of a train at Peterborough

Model of a train at Peterborough

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

I enjoy visiting my daughter who is a teacher in Clare in the mid north of South Australia. There are many things for the tourist and visitor to do in the Clare Valley, one of our state’s leading wine producing areas.

A little known attraction is the Lakeside Model Railway, pictured here on this post. The local model train enthusiasts have regular meetings and the model trains are available for rides by the public. See the sign shown below for days of the month when they run, as well as the times of operation.

And the best thing is this little delight is a five minute stroll from my daughter’s home!

Click on any image to enlarge it.

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Lakeside Model Railway, Clare, South Australia

Click on the photos to enlarge the image.