HE’S always been keen on steam trains and can be described as a third generation enthusiast so it makes sense he’s part of the group that gave Grandchester its model railway back in 1994.
Peter McGovern, Jake Gillam and Ron Dixon are founding members of the Grandchester Model Live Steam Association.
Peter and Jake are cousins who ‘grew up with steam engines.
“Our grandfather was a steam engine driver and my father was a fireman on steam engines,” Peter said.
“Jake’s father started the Grandchester Sawmill, which was steam powered, so he grew up with steam running through his veins rather than blood.
“When he got old enough, he visited one of the steam engine clubs in Brisbane and was enthused to build his own.”
The engine he built was a Queensland Rail PB 15, an engine the men’s shared grandfather worked on.
As work progressed the men wondered where they’d be able to run their model engines.
The engines are all roughly 1/6 of the full size.
“When you grow up in Grandchester like we did, you know one of its claims to fame is it was the terminus for the first government railway in Queensland,” he said.
“What better place to build a railway that models steam rail operation than the terminus of the first railway in Queensland.
“Grandchester was named Bigge’s Camp in those days.
“When the railway opened in 1865, the then Lady Bowen, who was the Queensland Governor’s wife, decided Bigge’s Camp wasn’t a suitable name for a terminus and it became Grandchester.”
The cousins began scouting for fellow train enthusiasts to build a group that could run a model railway.
“Our first meeting was in June 1994 and we had around eight people there,” he said.
“The club was formed but for the first three years didn’t have a venue to operate the railway on.
“We had a portable track we’d put down for special events and it took about two days to get set up.”
The men had an ally in then councillor David Pahlke who helped them find a place to run the trains and track, along with a 20 year lease.
As they progressed, railway assets were gifted to them and some were bought as they built it into what is now an impressive set up.
The club’s been running for around 30 years but because they celebrate from the date they started public runs, they’re calling it 26 years.
“The original track is just under 400 metres long and we’ve laid it out in a figure eight,” he said.
“In the early years we gave people three laps of a circuit, in around 2004 we built a bridge that crosses the gully.”
Since its inception the club has continued to grow with the track length tripling and the addition of buildings for workshops and steaming bays.
There are historical items in use too, making the experience an authentic one.
Grandchester Model Live Steam Association is open to the public the first Sunday of every month.
