This is looking down about two thirds of one of the rows. Multiple rows make this building as wide as it is long.
Boiler parts cut and ready for rolling. A rolled piece can be seen in the background. No matter how much use the engine has had, boilers and water tanks may only be used for 10 years.
One of the historic engines in for repair.
And another. This is the oldest running loco in Australia. One of the older folks on the tour recognized it from his childhood.
The walls of the building are covered with various shop storage solutions. The left picture is of old school flammable liquids storage. It is made of steel plate about 3/8" thick. On the right is our guide and an old coat cabinet, now used for tool storage. There are also similar, larger cabinets that have always been used for tool storage.
An old grinder. I have a 1949 McPherson's catalog scan with this or a very similar machine in it. The motor is located in the base which is ventilated. I found another example in the background of other pictures which looks to be a similar grinder. I don't know the make of the drill press but it looks like it might be a good one.
There were quite a few of these hefty grinders around the workshops. The smaller print on the sign reads "First year apprentices must not use this wheel!". This in the 1966 McPherson's catalog scan. It came in sizes from 16"to 24".
There were at least six 30 ton gantry cranes in the steam shop and I suspect there were a large number of them across the works at one point. There are two in each row so they can be combined to create a 60 ton lifting capacity. I especially like the look of this 1902 one.
Rail humor.
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