Ross McGuinness, Denmark Bulletin

Only three elements of Denmark’s railway exist today nearly 60 years since the closure of the line.

Two are still clearly visible while the third, the historic 1897 turntable, is now mainly covered.

The turntable and adjacent engine pit, sometimes referred to as the ash pit, are located on the bridge end of the station site.

The concrete floor of the pig yards is under the Denmark Machinery Restoration Group’s large machine shed.

The spur to the turntable took the locomotive when it was to be turned ready for the return journey so the train crew could check the underside of the locomotive from the pit.

This could be done on the way onto the turntable or as it came off.

Railway historian Jeff Austin supplied the following information about turntables and the one in Denmark:

“Between 1894-98, the Public Works Department imported about 30, 50ft cast iron manual turntables from William Sellers and Co, Philadelphia, USA.

“This company was adjacent to the Baldwin Locomotive Works and built a variety of machinery, including locomotive turntables.

“Sellers’ turntables had been introduced to New Zealand in 1879 and were also installed at several stations in New South Wales.

“The NZR examples were a ‘50ft light’ version, while those on the WAGR were a ‘50ft heavy’ type and designed to be extended.

“This was the largest group of turntables to be delivered to WA and specified as the standard turntable on all new WAGR railways throughout the 1890s.

“The Denmark 60ft was built by William Sellers and Co.

“This cast iron manual turntable was originally 50ft long and installed at the new Northam locomotive depot in 1897.

“At the time, this was the largest locomotive depot in WA, with about 60 steam locomotives based there.

“With the arrival of the larger locomotives at Northam, the Sellers’ turntable was replaced about 1902 and extended to 52’-6”, before being installed at the Albany Loco depot.

“The GSR was still light rails and was worked by a mix of Baldwin class locomotives until 1914.

“The Sellers’ turntable was removed from Albany about April 1928 and sent to Midland Workshops for extending to 60ft, and then sent to Denmark in January 1929.

“After the closure of the Nornalup railway in 1957 it was abandoned in the Denmark yard and is still in the station precinct.

“It is the only surviving example of the Sellers cast iron turntable in WA and the type which was used throughout the railway system from 1894-1971.”

There are several Sellers’ turntables in NSW but none like the survivor in Denmark which had its circular rail removed when the station closed.

Owen MacIntosh retained this until approached to donate it to the DMRG.

He agreed to do so and it is in storage awaiting return to its original location.

After searching the State Records Office archives a series of drawings relating to the construction of the Hay River deviation (around the edge of the inlet) and the eastern stage of the Big Brook to Denmark Railway were found.

Among these were the detailed drawings of the recently lengthened structure and how its foundations were to be constructed.

To restore the turntable to the way it looked in the 1950s will need the replacement of the timber elements removed since the line’s closure.

The SRO drawing gives the dimensions and quantities needed to order the material.

Then the rails can be installed, as they were when the turntable carriage could rotate.

To restore the turntable DMRG would need timber, rails and money though it has the plans to make up an order for the timber.

Likewise, DMRG has rails.

Two requests to the Council for funding assistance were unsuccessful.

Donations are needed for the Denmark Historical Society, DMRG and the Men’s Shed to restore this rare treasure.

Email history@denmarkwa.com.au for details.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 23 March 2023.