Spider (locomotive)

In 1911 the Marrawah Tramway Company purchased the locomotive for the Marrawah Tramway, and, when the loco had to be re-gauged from 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in to 3 ft 6 in gauge, the width of the firebox didn't allow the frames to be brought in sufficiently to make room for wheel flanges of normal width, so the latter were only 1⁄4 inches wide.

When the engine first entered service it was easily distinguishable by the presence of an open-sided roof running the full length of the locomotive.

When Spider passed into ownership of the Public Works Department in 1914, the locomotive was the only one that the PWD owned at the time and was considered by Mr Ford (manager of the tramway) as "our No.

The local fitter suggested the engine "was and is overdue for a thorough repair", and the loco was sent to the Launceston workshops to receive a thorough overhaul.

On that day Spider was heading out from Smithton with a load and DP 3 from Marrawah with passengers, It was intended for both engines to cross at the 19-mile mark.

Fireman Goodwin on Spider rang Smithton control from the 14-mile mark after a difficult trip.

From here both engines were lost to the Smithton station master until a call came through that there was "a mess up the track with Spider and motor ahead at the 18 mile".