1920 Mt Mulligan
About this Railway Ambulance

Basic data
Name 1920 Mt Mulligan Power * Austen / Indian?
Wheel Arr 2-2wPMR Construction
Gauge 3ft 6in 2006 status
Builder QGR Ipswich 2006 home
Year 1920 # in class **3

.* not yet known, however sister RA (1919 Dalby) was known to be powered by an Indian 7-9hp
** 2 built at Ipswich  (for Dalby & Mt Mulligan)
1 built at Auster Engineering
All essentially the same class of railway ambulance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In service
Note the view thru the window has not been whited out.
Note the detail on the rear axle.
It is understood this image is featured in the 1920/1921 QGR Annual Report - the image is "whited out" exactly as shown above.  Some detail can still be seen through the drivers window.
QATB owned this unit however it was manufactured at Ipswich by QGR.  Reseach is indicating this unit and the 1919 Dalby unit were probably identical.  Another unit was also made in 1921 Roma, however it has full face wheels and has a radiator.
Understanding the purpose behind the variation would be most helpful.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More info by J.W. Knowles 1990
The first ambulance rail motor in the Mareeba district was on built in 1920 at Ipswich Workshops for the coal mining town of Mt Mulligan, to operate into Mareeba.  It was probably provided by the Wookathata Shire and not the QATB.  Identical to the first Dalby car , it was shipped from Brisbane to Cairns, and arrived at Mt Mulligan without carburettor , plugs, tools and lamp reservior.  
No rail motor ambulance is listed at Mt Mulligan in the 1925 General Appendix, but there are references to one there in 1929 and 1934 on QGR files and in the 1935 General Appendix.  There was no such car at Mt Mulligan by 1946, when another was provided.  Perhaps the 1920 car had gone by 1925, and another car of which there is no record, was in service there over the years 1929 to 1935 at least.  More likely, however is that the 1920 car remained in service until the late 1930's and that the omission from the 1925 Appendix was an error, perhaps because the car was not owned by a Centre of the QATB, or was the result of the car being temporarilly out of service.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More info from JDK data base
MOUNT MULLIGAN

Note - the 1942 built Mareeba RM presumably went to Mt Mulligan when the 45hp AEC arrived, and displaced when Dalby Citroen (see Almaden notes) became available. (J.Kerr)

1917 - application to be made for a small Ambulance Railway Car to be used between Mulligan and Mareeba (McCormack/Harley) (WSCM 3.12.17 p48; RSK)

1918 - Council to write to companies interested, Mines Dept, State Insurance Dept, with view of meeting conditions set by Commissioner for Railway re Council application for small motor ambulance to be placed on Mt Mulligan line (Woothakata Shire Council Minutes 4.3.18 p60)

1919 - Council to spend up to £50 on Mt Mulligan Motor Ambulance(WSCM7.4.19p119)

1919-20 Memo Commr office to CME 24.7.19, rail ambulance required to Cloncurry able to carry Traffic officer, ambulance bearer and patient with stretcher - it was suggests the Drewry Motor Car in CD be converted but Acting Deputy Commr says frame too small and light.  Re application from Woothakata Shire Council Thornborough for ambulance car similar requested for Cloncurry. In 1907 Dept sold Hamilton Engineering Works a complete motor fitted with 4hp engine. [memo incomplete in file).

CME to Sec. 25.8.19 - new chassis and 20-25hp engine cost £250, body similar Dalby motor ambulance car estimated £196.10s plus any increase of wages. 2nd hand 30hp Overland chasses and engine available £100, £50 to put in good order.

Sec.  28.8.19 re Cloncurry & Mt Mulligan - only need 6- 12hp, similar J.A.P. engine on Maintenance Inspectors trolleys. CME 2.9.19, impossible to procure JAP engine of sufficient power at present, therefore need to use motor cycle engine like Dalby car, cost £95. Much difficulty getting agents to sell engine separate from cycle. Plus £196 10s + to fit body.

Sec. 17.9.19 re CME memo adding £80 to estimate of £196 10s and thinks £95 for engine too high and probably too noisy, suggests enquiring Wilson Engineering Works, Brisbane. CME 18.9.19 extra £80 as men on Dalby job charged some to wrote vote.

CME 29.9.19 Wilson Engineering Works engine of marine type, £45 plus clutch gear, gearbox, starting and reversing gear abo;ut £100 plus £280 for body. CME 3.10.19 - bases on actual cost of Dalby Car.

Sec. 7.10.19 some time ago Hamilton Engineering Works built car for Babinda for cost considerably less and no report of any trouble. Senior Design Mech Eng to Chief Draftsman - visited Hamilton Engineering Works, secured photo of one manufactured by him some years ago £140 - bare frame, no windscreen, covering nor springs all of which Dalby car had. He makes engine £65 but need clutch otherwise have to start from track and jump in while in motion. Photo apparently that referred too, shows 3ft6, apparently at Roma St (platform .a Street on seat and SGIO hoarding) simple frame with stretcher, no roof or windscreen, has light

Sec 15.3.20 Secretary Mt Mulligan Ambulance Committee has sent cheque £300 on account est cost £376 for car similar to Dalby, asks for work to be put in hand at once.

CME 25.3.20 re ordering Indian Cycle Motor. Instructions to ATC Works Manager re manufacture. Commissioner's minute 1492 12.4.20 approves.

CME 19.5.20 frame of car being put together in carriage shop, expect ready in 5 weeks. Engine apparently bought through Canada Cycle and Motor Agency Qld.

CME 6.7.20: ready for delivery. Blueprint of dimensions, 8ft10 long, floor 1ft10 above rail, roof 5ft4 1/2 above underneath side of floor, 5ft3 wide, inside 5ft1 1/2 max floor to curved roof. Weight 11cwt 1 qr. Roof slopes down (ie not square) at front.

Works Manager 21.7.20, to be shipped from Stanley Wharf on SS Paringa 3.8.20

Above SS Paringa
(The main north coast rail line did not open until 1924)

Memo 22.7.20 Paringa put back to 10 Aug.

Secretary 11.9.20 - debits total £411.5.6. O/C Loan Account - cost £470 17s7d - extras include £23.7.0 for engine and no provision in estimate for profit on work.

Canadian Cycle & Motor Co wrote 24.11.20, pleased at reference in Commissioner's report, novel use, asks for photo and details.

Reply 30.11.20 this is 2nd, 1st one at Dalby in service since Aug.1919.
Chief Accountant re £492 being asked, quotes Mt Mulligan Committee that workmanship is far from being 1st class, also when it arrived carburettor and plug, tools and lamp reservoir missing. Engine has cause trouble, several runs being very troublesome. We had stopped collection on basis of £375 quote and in fact on seeing car we expected refund.

Foreman Erector 11.3.21 - Austen engine we know on rough side. Car complete when it left here.

Telegram: Mt Mulligan car 7-9hp Indian Motor cycle engine to carry 3, weight 11cwt 1qr. Brisbane Valley tractor 30-35hp tractive effort 2317 pounds. (Loco File 1919.2424; A/24402; QSA)

1921 - Photo No.58 Peter Bell Collection Palmer GF & Mt Mulligan 1921 etc - Mt Mulligan RM Ambulance. Photo Mount Mulligan Ambulance Car 7-9hp Indian Cycle(QR Express1/21p6)

1921 - Photo "Ambulance car for Mount Mulligan: 7-9 hp "Indian" cycle engine" (good) (Q.R.Exp 3.1.21 p6)

1920-21 Rail motor ambulance built for Mt Mulligan at Ipswich Workshops (CR p30)

1925 - Mount Mulligan not listed (GA Cl. 133) (check 1925,35 GA's if possible)

1929 - List Rail motor ambulances - Mount Mulligan Hospital operates car, allowed to run Mount Mulligan-Mareeba. CQ.S.A. A/12687, File 1935/361)

1934 - listed GM ND 3.7.34, as 1929. (QSA A/12988, File 1948/6803)

1935,50 Rail Motor ambulance Mount Mulligan, may run to Mareeba 1935, to Dimbulah 1950. (GA Cl. 145 of 1935; Clause 160 of 1950)

1946 - Application Mareeba Hospital Board for site at Mt Mulligan for rail ambulance shed 15 by 12 feet, 26.7.46. On the site there is a concrete foundation on which a previous rail ambulance building stood.

(note its anticipated the 1942 Mareeba Car comes to Mt Mulligan at this time)

Memo 9.8.46 agree, lease 1/- per annum, which will not be collected. Diagram shows fettler's cottage on left side approaching station, inside home signal (rhs) and close to points; trolley shed rhs closer to points, proposed site RM ambulance shed right side a bit further out roughly opposite cottage. (QSA A/12872 File 46,8500 Railway Dept)

Note - Mt Mulligan car (the second one) was 9ft 8in. in length with 5ft wheelbase, and had a two cylinder 5hp J.A.P. engine. It was constructed by the Ambulance Officer at Mareeba in 1942. It was at Mt Mulligan in 1953, probably disposed of when/by line closed, may have gone to Gayndah where there was 5hp JAP. engine car in 1965. (Pony Express 1/77 p14 JWK or CME Notes)

See 1942 Mareeba RA