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Archiver > AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS > 2005-01 > 1105359844


From: <>
Subject: Re Andrew HOWARD, engine driver
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 23:24:04 +1100


Dear all,



Well this subject looks like it taken legs!



I work at the CSIRO animal health lab in Geelong Victoria, I'm an
operator in the control room, this is a bio-containment facility with
very large diesel generators, chillers compressors, turbines not to
mention very large boilers.



There are four of us, two hold "1st class engine drivers tickets",
neither of these two have never driven trains, yes they have operated
large boilers, stationary pumps, generators, air pumps, compressors and
reciprocating engines.



Steam train engines were taken to the goldfields and timber mills to
drive huge crushers, slush pumps, etc etc, companies were set up to
crush quarts for the miners as they brought it up from their respective
mines, the big mines obviously had their own engines and boilers.



The use of train engines was significant as the boiler and the engine
were one unit and it only took the removal of the large wheels and the
adaptation of a pulley and leather belt to drive many types of plant



A 1st class engine drivers ticket is still available as an extension to
a steam boiler ticket, taught at RMIT.





Regards



Ian






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