Rail Motor #1

[admin]

The body of Railmotor No.1 grounded at what appears to be a sand mining operation. Taken at Boambee Creek in 1948.
It would be interesting to know the final disposition of it, as the most recent reported sighting was near Coffs Harbour in 1968.

Jeremy Williams:

As a guess, some selfish farmer needed some firewood and a pump motor and the rest is history?

Alan Gow:

The bridge across Boambee creek is just to the right of picture. There used to be a railway house just to the left of this photo I think. It is just bush here now and very easily accessible. Maybe the remnants are still there.

Evan Rees:

The last reported sighting of it was near Coffs Harbour in 1968, so any remnants at Boambee Creek would be extremely unlikely

Alan Gow:

Evan Rees From that article above... "When the train was withdrawn from service, the carriage was rested north of Boambee Creek in the 1930s.
It's here where the train's official history ends."

Alan Gow:

Official history and actual history may not be the same.

Evan Rees:

Indeed, although the reported sighting at Coffs Harbour has been echoing around for a considerable time now and does warrant investigation

Evan Rees:

Official history would likely be the government records of it, which would end once it left the Railway's ownership, so they are aligned, it's just there is no reason for the railways to record anything that happens to it after it leaves their ownership

Jeremy Williams:

Council officer probably spotted it and owner didn't have an approved DA, so it was probably subject to a court order to remove/destroy it? That's the way it goes these days.

David Day:

Boambee is really just a suburb of Coffs Harbour anyways it's only 5 minutes in a car from Boambee to central Coffs

Bob Richo:

I remember seeing it just off the highway approaching Coffs Harbour from the South in 1970. It was off to the left as you rounded the last left hand curve coming down to the main drag at Coffs Harbour.