W.A.'s Earliest bogged vehicle!
Was reading a thread the other day, and it reminded me of a little known fact that we in Western Australia had Australia's first self-propelled vehicle!
W.A.'s first mine was the Geraldine Mine about 30km North of Northampton. (ruins still there to left of the Brand Highway.)
The 2 biggest problems the mine had was fresh water availability, and the transportation of lead to the Port.
I have a letter that shows in 1859, the UK owners of the time sent over a Bray's Traction Engine to help with carting the ore from the minesite to Port Gregory. This was carried to Gregory aboard the Brigantine 'Dazzler'.
Their letter states that "I shall be very glad to hear of your having overcome the difficulties of the road, - and hope you will be agreeably impressed by the Traction Engine performing its work well."
Their hope was to no avail as this excerpt from the Perth Gazette, August 26, 1859, shows: ...... "Steam had been got up on the traction engine lying on the sandy beach, but it is said the only effect was that the monster in three or four seconds managed to half bury itself in the loose sand, an effect which we should suppose might have been anticipated, there being; nothing solid enough for the wheels of an engine weigh-ing ten tons to lay hold of."
This was the first self propelled vehicle in Australia. In fact it was the first recorded vehicle outside of Europe.....even beating the USA!
This was prior to Germany's Benz motor vehicle by circa 26 years!
It is definitely W.A.'s and Australia's first case of being Bogged!
So for all those that get bogged, you are just carrying on a great West Aussie tradition. All others are just copying us!
Cheers.
Browny
I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
This machine is being put
This machine is being put back together after the various parts were traced back and recovered!
one of the wheels was for a very long time a mooring!
other parts were found on a farm.
very interesting subject.
This was indeed the very first self proppelled vehicle that ran outside the United Kingdom any where in the world, here in good old WA!
Was purchased to tow Lead ore from the Hutt river mine area to the coast to get it back to UK.
Some of the building of this mine are still standing
I have a lot more info of it from the club and other articles.
Will have a look.
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
There is a book
I bought the book a few years ago, well written, cant remember who wrote it....I'll see if I can find it
Last I heard you could still dive on the "spare" wheel....?
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
I found this book in my
I found this book in my libary called "Pioneer of the road"
by John Clyclesdale isbn 0-9580547-0-3 for those who would want to order it; Pitsstop book shop
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
sherbert
sherbert was driving it! in fact he still gets bogged to this day to celebrate the old girl if you looks at his recent posts
crasny1
Posts: 7009
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Now Now
Lol
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk