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SSM No.2 is one of only two State Saw Mills locomotives existing today. SSM
No.7 2-6-0 built by Martins of South Australia being the other, which is
currently situated in a park, on Brockman St, Pemberton, outside the sawmill.
In 1910 the South West Timber Hewer’s Co- Operative Society (the only producers of hewn railway sleepers in WA at the time – all other sleepers being sawn) of Collie and Holyoake, placed an order with locomotive manufacturers Beyer Peacock of Manchester U.K. for a “G” class type 4-6-0 engine of which there were already many similar types successfully operating in WA. A kit of parts arrived in Fremantle in 1911 and was assembled at Midland Junction Workshops. The locomotive named “The Hewer” was trialled at Midland on the 20th July 1911 and then sent to work at the Lucknow Mill near Collie. In early 1912 “The Hewer” was moved to Holyoake, just east of Dwellingup where the SWTH had 3 concessions operating. With the Lucknow Mill, being destroyed by fire on 12th
October 1912, all operations were then concentrated on Holyoake. Formed in 1912 by Premier Scadden, the State Saw Mills
eventually took over the SWTH operation at Holyoake in 1920 and the “The Hewer”
was taken in to SSM stock. Whilst in for repairs at Midland Junction Workshops
in April 1942, “The Hewer” was numbered SSM No.2, in doing so, losing its
given name. No.2 was then transferred to Deanmill in February 1943
where it worked up until March 1952 when it was transferred to Pemberton. After
a short stint in Pemberton, No.2 returned to Holyoake in September 1952. By the
10th October 1953 No.2 was back in Pemberton until being transferred
back to Deanmill in June 1960.
No.2 remained at Deanmill where it worked until January
1967 when it was withdrawn from service. Under it’s own steam No.2 was worked
to Manjimup in February where the fire was dropped for the last time. It stood
on unused sidings in Manjimup for a period of time before being mounted on
display at what is now known as the Manjimup Forest Products Centre.
In the late 1980’s the Pemberton Tramway Company registered an interest in locomotives SSM No.2 and SSM No.7 with the then current owners Bunnings Ltd. In 2001 further enquiries were made to Bunnings which was
now renamed as Sotico. In May 2002 the General Manager of Sotico, Mr Ron Adams
advised that Sotico was prepared to donate SSM #2 to the PTCo. * History drawn from the book "Rails Through the Bush" by A. Gunzburg & J. Austin |
Send mail to pemtram@wn.com.au with any questions or comments.
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