Truck placer TP 135

The South Australian Railways introduced Truck Placers from around 1965/66. They were primarily used to replace local railway horses engaged with shunting at busy country locations.

Basically they are a small tractor that has hydraulically fitted railway wheels which can be raised or lowered, to enable it to be used on rail tracks, as well as on the road.

Fitted with a coupling at one end, the Truck Placer could couple to railway wagons and simply relocate and/or position them ready to be attached to a passing freight train. Similarly they could position incoming railway wagons detached from freight trains. This saved a great deal of train running time.

The NRM Truck Placer was used at Keith and Tintinara, where it was busy shunting livestock, fuel tank, grain and fertiliser wagons.

It was donated to the NRM by Roger Size, from Karoonda. It was subsequently fully restored and painted in 2021, and named Nugget - the name of the last railway horse in service at Kapunda.

Visit the NRM

76 Lipson Street
Port Adelaide
South Australia  5015
Australia
Open Daily / 10am – 4:30pm

Adult

$17

Concession

$10

Child
5-15 yrs & with an adult

$7

Family
2 adults & up to 3 children

$40

  • Prices may vary for special events
  • EFTPOS is preferred payment method
  • Open from 12pm on ANZAC Day
  • Closed Christmas Day

Phone: 8341 1690

The National Railway Museum acknowledges the Kaurna people as the traditional owners and custodians of the Adelaide Plains. We honour and respect their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country. We aim to respect the cultural heritage, customs and beliefs of all Indigenous people.

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