One of the major attractions at the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists Open Day on Saturday, 10 May, will be the Walkers Engine No.1 Diesel Engine and Alternator Set.
Built around 1930 by Walkers Ltd in Maryborough, this impressive engine is based on a Mirrlees design. Rated at 220 horsepower at 300 rpm, it weighs 25 tonnes and drove a 150kW alternator. It features an air-blast start system and air-blast fuel injection — a method based on Rudolf Diesel’s original 1897 engine design. Several European companies, including Mirrlees, acquired rights to Diesel’s early designs.
By 1910, liquid fuel solid injection had been successfully developed, rendering air-blast fuel injection largely obsolete. As a result, the Walkers No.1 was already about 20 years out of date when it was built.
The Burdekin Machinery Preservationists believe only two operational air-blast injection diesel engines remain in Australia today.
During its working life at the Kalamia Sugar Mill, the Walkers No.1 Engine provided critical backup power when the mill’s steam alternators were offline or when the Townsville Regional Electricity Board (TREB) system was down. Its last operational use came during Cyclone Althea in 1971, when it helped power the mill during the emergency.
In 2015, Wilmar Sugar Mills generously donated the engine and alternator set to the Club. Work to remove the engine from the Kalamia Mill began soon after, and in March 2019, the engine was successfully fired up again at Brandon. The Club extends its thanks to Wilmar Sugar Mills for their ongoing support of this important community project.
In further good news, preparations for the Open Day are on track. "Main Man" Peter reports that the Austral will be up and running in time. Plumbing work was completed last Wednesday, engine testing began on Monday, and if the temperamental governor behaves, the Austral will be operating smoothly and on display in its full working glory.
Visitors are invited to experience the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of historic steam and diesel engines in action at the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists Open Day, held from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, 10 May, at the Brandon Heritage Precinct.
For more information, or to join the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists, contact Lex on 0488 366 443 or email burdekinmp@outlook.com.
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