--- title: "The Mary Ann: a Little Locomotive with a Big Queensland Story!" description: "Did you know that a remarkable piece of Queensland railway history connects Maryborough with Tin Can Bay and the Cooloola forests?" url: https://thedavemalouchannel.com/the-mary-ann-a-little-locomotive-with-a-big-queensland-story category: "Railways and Trams" published: 2026-11-02 author: "The Dave & Malou Channel" license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- # The Mary Ann: a Little Locomotive with a Big Queensland Story! Did you know that a remarkable piece of Queensland railway history connects Maryborough with Tin Can Bay and the Cooloola forests? Our trail takes us back to the 1870s, when timber pioneer William Pettigrew set out to solve a big problem: how to transport valuable timber from remote forests to the water for shipment. A RAILWAY THROUGH THE FOREST Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1825, Pettigrew arrived in Moreton Bay in 1849. He became a timber merchant, sawmiller, shipowner and politician. In October 1872, Pettigrew surveyed a route for a private timber tramway extending south from the Tin Can Bay inlet into the Cooloola forests. Construction began in January 1873. The planned line was about nine miles long, but it wasn't a public passenger railway. Its purpose was to support the timber industry by moving timber from the forest towards the water. ENTER THE MARY ANN! Built in 1873 at John Walker & Co.'s Union Foundry in Maryborough, the Mary Ann is recognised as Queensland's first steam locomotive built in the colony. The locomotive was built for the timber operation associated with William Pettigrew and William Sim. Its name honoured their daughters, both named Mary Ann. NOW HERE'S A REMARKABLE PIECE OF 1870s INGENUITY! This detail comes from historical records, not simply local legend. In a letter dated 5 August 1873, Pettigrew and Co. described the railway project to the Queensland Governor. The letter explains that a pulley on the locomotive drove a circular-saw bench. The saw bench was mounted on two trucks and moved along the railway line as required. Queensland State Archives' historical account explains that the saw was used to cut timber for the railway's sleepers and rails. Imagine the practical thinking involved in taking a sawmill operation into the forest and using the locomotive to help power the work! It is a fascinating glimpse of how the builders tackled the challenges of establishing a railway in a remote timber-producing area. THE RECORDS REVEAL THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGES Pettigrew's letter describes a track gauge of 3 feet 3 inches, spotted-gum rails and a locomotive weighing approximately six tons. The builders discovered that the original rails were too light for the engine and began making them thicker. According to Queensland State Archives, three miles of the tramway had been constructed and officially opened by 30 October 1873. The planned route extended about nine miles, but the three-mile milestone is the important distinction: we shouldn't assume the entire proposed line had been completed by that date. CAN YOU SEE THE MARY ANN TODAY? Yes! Although the original locomotive belongs to the history of the Cooloola timber operation, a full-size working replica can be seen in Maryborough. Built by Wm Olds & Sons in the late 1990s, the replica is operated by volunteers from Maryborough City Whistle Stop Inc. WHERE TO FIND IT The replica operates from Macalister Station, behind the Bond Store in Maryborough's Wharf Street Precinct, and travels through Queens Park along part of Maryborough's historic railway route. There's an interesting technical difference, too: the original Mary Ann ran on a 3-foot-3-inch gauge track, while the replica operates on 3-foot-6-inch gauge track. Before planning a visit, check the operator's website for current running days and arrangements. Mary Ann Steam Train — official information: https://maryboroughwhistlestop.org.au/mary-ann From the Cooloola forests to the railway tracks of Maryborough, the Mary Ann connects timber, engineering and Queensland's pioneering industries. OVER TO YOU! Have you ridden the Mary Ann replica in Maryborough? Did you know about the original locomotive's connection to Tin Can Bay and Cooloola? Do you have old photographs, family stories or local knowledge about the timber tramway? We'd love to hear from you! SOURCES AND FURTHER READING 1\. State Library of Queensland William Pettigrew and the Cooloola Timber Tramway https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/william-pettigrew-and-cooloola-timber-tramway 2\. Queensland State Archives Queensland's First Steam Locomotive https://blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2016/09/07/queenslands-first-steam-locomotive/ To ℎelp bring tℎis story to life, we’ve colourised a black and wℎite public domain pℎotograpℎ. Wℎile we ℎave carefully aimed for ℎistorical accuracy, tℎis image may contain minor imperfections or artistic interpretation. ## Images ![The Mary Ann: a Little Locomotive with a Big Queensland Story!](https://thedavemalouchannel.com/api/photo/337?s=full) --- Written articles and photographs are licensed [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) unless a credit or caption says otherwise. Video, audio and third-party material are not covered. Please credit "The Dave & Malou Channel" and link to the original page. Full terms: https://thedavemalouchannel.com/website-terms