Award-Winning Restoration – Carriage 470

What an incredible achievement for our dedicated Carriage Department volunteers, who have been recognised with the ATHRA (Association of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia) Passenger Vehicle Restoration Award for the restoration of Carriage 470.

Since 2020, volunteers have committed their time, skills and resources to restoring this historic South Australian Railways carriage, originally built at Islington in 1911 and preserving an important piece of railway heritage for future generations to enjoy.

The restoration was truly a labour of love:

🔹 14,000 volunteer hours contributed

🔹 160 window catches restored

🔹 40 windows and 40 shutters restored

🔹 1.5 kilometres of timber used to line the ceiling

🔹 14,000 wood screws installed

🔹 560 litres of paint applied This award recognises the dedication, craftsmanship and perseverance of the many volunteers who contributed to the project, including Alan Ainsworth, Geoff Annear, Mike Brett, Don Bryker, Bruce Collins, Geoff Cox,

Chris Dunbar, Matt Dunbar, Dave Fisher, Kath Fisher, Dean Foster, Wayne Hoskin, Rob Jones, Travis McDonald, Paul Moffitt, Eric Platt, Les Potter, the late Ray King, and many others who lent a hand along the way. Thank you to everyone involved in preparing and submitting the award nomination, and thank you to ATHRA for recognising the restoration of Carriage 470 with this prestigious national award. Congratulations to all involved in this remarkable project and thank you for helping preserve an important piece of South Australian rail history

Photo credit: Kay Cawthorne; Peter Taylor and other volunteers.