Peter made every component of the new train for the Apex club from his workshop.
Peter Dickins first rode the little Apex steam train around Bangerang Park in 1973, not knowing that 53 years later he would spend 1,207 hours building its replacement.
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The old steam train completed its last lap of the park more than two years ago when its boiler gave out and it was no longer capable of carrying the joyful cheers of children around the market.
Apex Corowa decided to build a new train when quotes revealed it would be more economical than repairing the boiler.
Dickins Engineering took on the contract, sourcing the materials and commissioning Peter to complete the build.
“We needed to build a new boiler and recondition everything to return it to motion,” Peter said.
“All the wheels and the linkages needed to be rebuilt, which is a big job.
“And with the modern regulations it was meant to be operated by people who had been ‘deemed competent’ to operate a steam locomotive.
“This solution was cheaper and sensible, because no certification was required to operate, it’s just like driving an automatic car.”
Peter Dickins drives the train he built from the ground up for the Corowa Apex Club.
The decision was finalised in October 2024, and Peter started getting ready to build the locomotive in his workshop.
A section of rail the same gauge as the tracks at Bangerang Park was set up, and the train was built from the rails up.
“I had an idea of what we wanted in my head,” he said.
“We started with the wheels and bogies; that’s the terminology for the wheel sets on a train.
“We had a cardboard mock-up of the body and cabins; that allowed us to look at it as it was being built so we could see what looked right and what needed to be modified.”
The train evolved as Peter progressed through the build, carefully manufacturing each component.
“I loved every minute of it; it's something I’ve wanted to see done for that railway for 35 years,” Peter said.
“I'd had in my mind and been mentioning to the boys in the Apex club that they need to come up with something anyone from the club can drive without certification.
“Now it's come to fruition.”
Derek Brown Launches the new Apex train at the Australia Day Rotary market in January.
Apex created a stir when the new train was trialled at the Australia Day Rotary Market in January, more than 12 months and 1,200 hours after Peter set the first bogies and cardboard cutouts.
Families were delighted to see the train taking its place on the tracks with long queues to get on board.
The occasion wasn’t without its drama.
A connecting chain link on one of the bogies came undone on the first lap forcing emergency repairs.
Peter and Greg were on hand to assist, and train rides were able to resume.
“It can only come undone because I didn't fit the clip on the connecting link properly,” Peter said.
“It was very embarrassing, but these things happen.
“Greg saw how upset I was by it and he said, ‘Don't worry, it's a shakedown day, we're all happy with it’.
“I was embarrassed, but I was proud that it went round.”
Corowa Apex will officially launch the train at the next Rotary Market this Sunday at Bangerang Park.
A strapping young Peter Dickins rides the miniature steam train on its original launch in 1973, sitting behind driver, Minister for Transport Mr Morris, with member for Sturt, Mr Fischer riding ‘guard’.
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