A significant restoration project is reaching completion to breathe life back into one of the original Shay locomotives that operated in the Ravensbourne and Hampton areas in the early 1900s.

Members of the Munro Tramway Historical Group (MTHG) have spent countless hours over 3 years, turning up almost every Saturday morning, to restore the old engine which for a long time lay decaying under lantana on a Ravensbourne property.  This engine is one of the original Shay locomotives that hauled timber on the purpose-built Munro Tramway line from Ravensbourne to Hampton.  The timber was then loaded onto the big train at the Hampton station where it was taken to Toowoomba to be sold to the city’s builders.  The privately-owned tramway operated from the late 1890s to 1936. 

The official opening of the completed project will be held on Saturday 30 March at the Ravensbourne Sports Grounds where the locomotive is on display.  The general public are invited along to a complementary morning tea at 10.30am followed by the official opening by the Mayor of Toowoomba Regional Council, Cr Paul Antonio at 11am.