Narrogin’s PM706 steam locomotive returned home and reunited with the town’s last steam train fireman

Narrogin’s last steam train fireman was reunited with the PM706 locomotive and coal tender he worked on 52 years ago. Tom Lynch was among the crowd of about 100 locals, shire and sponsorship representatives who watched the PM706 steam locomotive finally return home to the Narrogin Goods Shed on Wednesday. WA Specialised Transport loaded the 100-tonne train onto the trucks at 3pm on Tuesday and headed to Narrogin at 5.45am the following morning from Hotham Valley Railway. After 35 years in Pinjarra, the locomotive and tender arrived at Narrogin at 11.40am, 20 minutes ahead of schedule. The engine was secured on the Narrogin Good Shed tracks by 4.45pm followed by the tender at 10am on Thursday using a crane and gantry. Mr Lynch shovelled coal on the PM706 from 1968 until steam trains were replaced with diesel by 1972 and worked the tender for the final time in 2005 when the train completed a tourist trip through Narrogin per their 1988 lease agreement with Hotham Valley Railway. Mr Lynch said he was delighted to see it come home, but upset the PM706 was returned in disrepair. “It should never have left Narrogin,” he said. “I didn’t think it would be returned and I don’t think anybody else did either. I think money was the main thing. “It is a bit of a mess now, a pity to see it the way it is. “I don’t think it’ll ever get back to running stage or even look like it’s running – a paint job doesn’t make it run any better. “I’m sad but glad to see it in a stable home.” Narrogin Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said he got goosebumps when the engine and tender arrived after so long. “It was a thrill to see it come through the gate,” he said. “The Narrogin Restoration Group have been pushing for 30 years on behalf of the Apex Club and the shire has been trying to negotiate its return for 10 years. “There was no legal entity to return it since the Apex Club folded so the shire stepped up and we secured the agreement to acquire the train from Hotham Valley six months ago. “We got there and she’s finally here.” The PM706 had a working life between March 7, 1950, and June 17, 1971, and although most steam trains were used for scrap metal the Narrogin Apex Club bought and preserved the locomotive. In 1988, Narrogin Apex Club placed the unused PM706 on a long-term lease agreement with Hotham Valley Railway, formerly Pinjarra Steam and Hills Preservation Society, to be restored to service which was successful in 1990 and used until 2005. Despite the lease stating it must return in working order, the Shire of Narrogin and Narrogin Restoration Group agreed to rehome it as is because the significance lies in the locomotive being in Narrogin. The shire plans to restore the Narrogin Goods Shed by March 2025 to display the historic PM706 before engaging the community in the restoration of the locomotive itself to ensure its preservation for years to come.