EDUCATION ON TRACK
Rail Transportation:
Past and Present
Purpose
This program of work aims to both enhance student understanding of rail as a form of transport
throughout the years and encourage students to reflect on the experiences, attitudes and histories
of their various family members in relation to train travel.
The primary objectives of the program is for students to gain an understanding of:
• The role the railway has played in the advancement of towns and industries, the creation of
travel opportunities and the improvement of communications.
• The similarities and differences between the experiences of different generations of family
members in relation to rail travel.
Activities in this program assist students to investigate the history of rail and explore the
experiences of family members from differing generations. Students are provided with primary and
secondary Railway Resources including:
• A fact sheet
• Maps
• Advertisements
• Newspaper article
• Photographs
• Book extracts
• Timeline
Key concepts
Since the opening of the first rail line in 1865, railways have played a vital role in Queensland. By
the end of this program of work, students will value the railway system’s contribution to this State
and Australia as a whole. Further, through discussions with and presentations to audiences,
students will begin to appreciate similarities and differences of rail travel between generations.
Learning outcomes
SOSE
TCC 2.5 Students identify similarities and differences between the experiences of
family generations.
SOSE
PS 2.1
Students identify how environments affect lifestyles around Australia.
HPE
EPD 2.3 Students compare similarities and differences between people at different
stages of life.
TECH
INF 2.1
Students use simple techniques for accessing and presenting information
for themselves and others.
ENG
OP 2.3
Students, when writing and shaping will replicate generic structure; use
simple sentences; link ideas using repeated or related words; link ideas
using images, simple fonts, borders or transitions; include some gestures,
music or sound effects in some texts; and accurately spell.
Family Member Interview and Museum Recount student task sheets
Students are asked to complete tasks which encourage active participation and maximum
engagement. These include tasked activities such as:
•
•
•
Using a table to record information from interviews about aspects of life that showcase the
similarities and differences between generations in relation to rail travel.
Making conclusions about similarities between the different generation’s experiences.
Writing a Recount of a trip to The Workshops Rail Museum.
Student task sheets are available from the website as a downloadable PDF.
Program outline:
Total time: This program could be undertaken over a term.
Previous knowledge: No previous knowledge necessary.
Description:
• Pre-visit
Students play the “Train Timeline Game” (whole class).
Students individually brainstorm all they know about the different types of trains
listed on the “Concept Map” sheet.
Students share in a guided reading activity based on the “Fact sheet Rail
Technology throughout Time”. They add any additional understanding to their
concept map.
Students discuss the Railway Resources provided (small groups). In these
groups, children complete the “Comprehension Activity”.
Students are taught the structures of writing a Recount.
•
Visit to The Workshops Rail Museum
The class visits The Workshops Rail Museum and uses the “Recount Plan” to
record their experience.
•
Post-visit
Students write a final Recount plan after their visit to The Workshops Rail
Museum.
Students listen to the experience from the “Romance of Rail” story and share
their train experiences with a friend.
Students interview family members using the “Interview Template” to determine
their experience of train travel. Afterwards, students draw conclusions about the
similarities of rail related experiences.
Students construct models of trains and present these, their recount and
interview conclusions to a familiar audience.
Support materials and references
Internet sites:
For information about The Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich:
www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au
For an interactive display of “The Rocket” shortcut to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/industrialisation/launch_ani_rocket.shtml
For an interactive display of how a steam engine works short cut to:
http://www.keveney.com/Locomotive.html
For a free encyclopaedia explanation of all things to do with trains short cut to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive
For children that need to know about “how stuff works”:
http://travel.howstuffworks.com/maglev-train.htm
For Queensland Rail History:
http://www.history .qr.com.au/the_history/section1/default.asp
For a Queensland Rail Education Officer to attend your school for a Community Education Talk
contact QR on (07) 3235 1624 or log on to www.qr.com.au for further details.
Book References:
Bitomsky, Marilyn & Mylne, Lee (1995). Living on the Line: A Celebration of Queensland Rail
Workers and their Families. CopyRight Publishing Company Pty, Ltd: Brisbane.
Buchanan, Robyn (2004). Ipswich in the 20th Century: Celebrating 100 years as a city 1904-2004.
The Queensland Times Pty Ltd: West Ipswich.
Kerr, John (1990). Triumph of the Narrow Gauge: A History of Queensland Railways. Boolarong
Publications: Bowen Hills, Brisbane.
FACT SHEET:
Australian Rail Technology throughout Time
Early trains
The first trains were single wagons pushed or pulled by people or animals, and were used to move
goods, such as coal.
Steam trains
Steam trains were the first type of trains. They use coal in a firebox to boil water until it turns to
steam. The steam is forced through powerful pistons to give the engine the power to drive the
wheels.
At first, steam engines moved mainly goods, but were soon used to carry passengers as well.
Steam engines are still in use all over the world, although most have been replaced by diesel or
electric trains.
Diesel locomotives
Diesel locomotives were first introduced in Australia in the 1930’s. They were a powerful addition
to the railways. Diesel fuel powers an engine which drives a generator to make electricity. The
electricity powers traction motors that turn the wheels.
Diesel locomotives are used to transport
enormous quantities of materials over
huge distances. They are also more
efficient and smoother than steam trains,
and carry much heavier loads.
Electric trains
Passenger electric trains were first introduced in the late 1870’s. The electric engines get there
power from overhead wires or through an extra third rail. However, building an electric line is
expensive so these trains are usually found in city areas where the route is busy enough to pay for
the expensive set-up.
Electric trains are faster, quieter, and simpler to run than the diesel
train. Electric trains are also better for the environment as they do not
discharge exhaust fumes.
Maglev trains
Maglev trains do not use an engine to power them; instead they run in a guideway with magnets in
the track ahead of them that move them along.
Maglev trains are smooth, fast and environmentally friendly giving off little noise or exhaust
pollution. However, the track is expensive and there are problems moving the trains from one
track to another.
COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY:
a) Use a dictionary to find the meaning of any unknown words from the various sources provided.
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________________________
b) What difficulties were faced by our outback pioneers before the coming of the railways?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
c) Where in Queensland was the first railway built?
______________________________________________________________________________
d) What were the railways mainly used for in the early years of rail?
______________________________________________________________________________
e) How did the use of railways change over time?
______________________________________________________________________________
f) How have railways in Queensland helped the development of the state?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
CONCEPT MAP
Steam
Diesel
Details
Details
TRAINS
Electric
Details
Maglev
Details
INTERVIEW RECORD: My family’s experiences with train travel:
My name is__________________. This is a record of my interview with
________________________(person’s name) on ____________(date).
How old were
you when you
first travelled by
train?
What type of train
was it, a steam,
diesel or electric?
Where did you
go?
What is your
favourite memory
of that first train
trip?
When was the
last time you
travelled by
train?
What do you
think is the best
part of travelling
by train?
Why did you go
by train and not
another form of
transport?
Who else
travelled with
you?
Use the last two boxes to write your own questions.
The similarities between my experiences and my family member’s experience are:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
RECOUNT PLAN
Complete this Recount Plan after your visit to The Workshops Rail Museum.
Title:
Beginning Statement (including Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Sequence of Events:
1. __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Statement:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
TRAIN TIMELINE GAME:
Rail Transport Timeline Sequencing Task (1)
Six students are asked to hold a train picture at the front of the class. Each train picture has the
accompanying information naming each train on the back. The class puts the pictures in order
from the earliest to latest train model by lining the students in sequence. When all class members
agree, the students holding the pictures reveal the labels on the back of the pictures, and the class
discuss the sequence.
Photocopy and enlarge this page, then paste each train on to card.
TRAIN TIMELINE GAME:
Rail Transport Timeline Sequencing Task (2)
Photocopy and enlarge this page, then paste the text onto the back of the corresponding train
pictures.
A10 No.6 was one of 13 0-4-2 locomotives built for Queensland Railways by Neilson & Co.,
Glasgow, Scotland between 1865 and 1866.
The diesel locomotive was built in 1939, at the Ipswich Railway Workshops. This first diesel
locomotive was given the number DL1 and named “ETHERIDGE”.
The Tilt Train was launched in Queensland in
1998 and began servicing stations between
Brisbane and Rockhampton and Brisbane and
Bundaberg.
A small railmotor based on a Panhard
Levassor road wagon was built at the Ipswich
Railway Workshops in 1918. It had a capacity
of 11 people (10 passengers and a driver).
From 1979 electric trains were introduced to Brisbane, and later to Cleveland, and the Gold
Coast.
In the mid 1980s the main coalfields lines in central Queensland were also electrified.
This steam locomotive was one of 6 small tank locomotives built at the Ipswich Railway
Workshops in 1904. The intended use for steam locomotives like this was as shunting engines at
larger marshalling yards.
ORAL HISTORY:
A transcript of a man’s first train experience:
When I was eight I travelled from Brisbane to Townsville in a train called the Sunshine Express.
We left from Roma Street station at night and I remember being taken up to the end of the platform
to see the engine. It was a great big green monster leaving in the light and it was hissing steam
and I remember thinking “gees this thing is going to take us all the way to Townsville”.
It took two nights and a day to get to Townsville so we had to sleep on the train. Our cabin was
fitted out with seats during the daytime and at night they converted into bunk beds; I was allowed
to sleep on the top which I thought was terrific. We had our own wash basin but the toilet was at
the end of the carriage. I remember looking down through the toilet and seeing the ground rushing
by underneath. They had a little sign that said do not use toilet whilst train is at station; I thought
that was a bit of a joke.
We ate our meals in the dining car which rocked so much that all the plates and glasses tended to
move around the table. Sometimes we got off to have meals at a railway refreshment room. I
didn’t like that as I thought the train would leave without us.
I liked sleeping on the train, the noise from the wheels and the rocking motion sent you off to sleep
and when you woke up you could look out the window and see how the scenery had changed
overnight. But you had to be careful looking out the window or you could get coal dust in your eye.
Two nights and a day on a train was a long time when you’re eight but I thought it was a great
adventure
From the “Romance of Rail” film at The Workshops Rail Museum