Bob the Railway Dog 

Here is an article about Bob the Railway Dog published in 1892 by the Victorian Kilmore Free Press.

“There was a distinguished visitor and one which attracted marked attention of the railway station the other day in the shape of “Bob the Railway Dog”(says the Ararat Advertiser). Amongst railwaymen Bob is perhaps, the best known free pass traveller on the colonial lines, and he is welcomed at all stations where his predilection for travelling takes him. Bob is of the Russian Retriever breed, a remarkable looking shaggy black dog, and he has on his collar a brass plate and his registration number et c., whilst on the plate the following dog-erel is inscribed, ‘Stop me not, but let me jog, for I am Bob the Driver’s Dog”. The animal’s coat is streaked with grey, for he is in advanced years. At one week he is heard of at Broken Hill, at the next he is in Mt. Gambier, and perhaps in a few days he jumps off the engine at   Sydney to find that he is well known and welcome. He came in with the Maryborough train and was desirous of going out on the 4.9pm for Melbourne, but he was detained until evening and left by the Adelaide express with Mr. Primrose . Though aged, Bob is a very lively and sagacious animal, and he seems more at home on a tender or platform than anywhere else”.

When Bob died in 1895 he was already part of Australian folk law and his adventures were legendary. He had so many friends and admirers and everyone it seemed was an authority on his life. From time to time the stories vary. For example, his breeding - described in the above article as Russian Retriever. Bred by a Henry Hollamby of Macclesfield from an Old English Sheepdog and a German Collie  owned by a Mr T Oakley.

Heather Parker   

Here is another re-telling of the adventures of Bob the Railway Dog from the Advertiser, August 30^th. 1895 and is an excerpt from one of the many obituaries that appeared in Newspapers all over Australia - and even overseas! I find this particularly interesting because it names some of his friends who helped him on his travels.

“The first trip that Bob took on a locomotive was with Driver Leald, from Petersburg to Port Pirie. Since that time there are few places in South Australia that he has not visited. At all the festivities on both the North and South lines Bob was always a welcome but self invited guest. He was a regular and appreciative attendant at Mr Matthew Eye’s electrical lectures. Only once during his many travels has the dog been known to fall off the train. This was while travelling between Manoora and Saddleworth on an express train. He managed to limp to the latter station, a distance of two miles, and was cared for by some of his railway friends. His leg, which was injured, was bandaged by Station-master Henderson who is now traffic manager on the south-eastern line.”

I wonder if there are any descendents of these men today who might have stories or photos of Bob to share?

Heather Parker   

BOB’S CORNER

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bob seemed to have had a nose for important occasions and made his business where he could, to be there! We know that he was  an important guest at the banquet in the old Peterborough Town Hall to celebrate the opening of the Petersburg/Broken Hill line. Here are two more stories.

Bob was at the Opening Ceremony of the Blythe and Gladstone Railway as reported by the Advertiser’s Special Reporter on Monday 2nd. of July 1894. Lord Kintore, Governor of South Australia and a retinue of officials travelled on a special train to Blyth where Lord Kintore drove home the final dog spike of the line to great cheering by all assembled. The article continues......

“On the train was the well known and distinguished passenger ”Railway Bob” who seemed to

understand that something unusual was taking place. He shook his shaggy sides with delight on

finding himself travelling on a new road, for variety is pleasing even to such a dog as Bob, who is

certainly a somewhat remarkable specimen of the canine species. The train proceeded on where

“His Excellency who takes the greatest interest in an engine, brought the train safely into Gladstone”. ( no OHS rules here!)

And he may have been at the Melbourne Cup in1886 as reported by the Portland  Guardian, November 10, 1886! A report of the huge numbers attending the Melbourne Cup (100,000) many by train, puts Bob in the South East on a railway platform.

“Bob the railway Dog, an animal  that appeared to be in high glee amongst the crowd awaiting the Special train (to Melbourne) on Wednesday eve. is a visitor well known throughout the South

Australian Railways. He arrived this day from Adelaide, but although this visit is his first to the South East there are few other lines on which he has not travelled. He is as large as a sheep dog ..and wears a brass collar bearing something like the following lines “stop me not but let me jog for I am Bob the Drivers’ dog”. Returning sometime ago from Hugott Springs he paid a visit to the Silverton Line and after remaining for about 3 months, probably to see that Mr. Baxter got on alright with the ballasting, he returned to Adelaide. The railway people say it was likely that Bob had made up his mind to see the Melbourne Cup and that should he go there his canine sagacity would

enable him to return to Adelaide without falling into the hands of the ‘sharpers”, unlike the numerous “unlucky dogs” who become victims at Cup time”.

Heather Parker

BOB’S CORNER

November is an important month in Peterborough for Bob “happenings”

Two years ago  on November 20th. is the day that Bob made his first public appearance here -

 (actually he arrived the day before on the long journey from the Adelaide Hills with his creator Silvio Apponyi. You can see him in the photo on the back of the Ute. Silvio left him uncovered so that “he could see where he was going”- much to the delight of people along the way). In Bob’s earthly life his date of birth remains unknown. As far as I can calculate it would have been sometime in 1883/4. November the 20th. seems as good a date as any to celebrate his birthday so.......                  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB THE RAILWAY DOG!

I have been giving Bob’ Garden a tidy up in preparation for another Bob related milestone.

November 13th, 2012. will be the second anniversary of this garden, a memorial to the late Gail Kohlman - Bob’s friend and a benefactor. It was Gail’s idea  to make a garden for Bob. She

directed that tributes from her funeral in February 2010 be used to make a garden. This wish was supported  financially by her friends and family. Additional contributions came from the

Peterborough community and the Peterborough  District Council.

The 3 pink “Children's Rose” standards are in full bloom together with the 4 pink “Bonica” bush roses, while the rosemary, lavender and salt bush hedge continue to flourish. It has become a beautiful memorial to Gail and her determination to see Bob return to Peterborough.

Bob will wear his pink scarf on November 13th, 2012. in memory of Gail.

 

Heather Parker

BOB’S CORNER

TROVE is releasing digitalised newspapers from around Australia. Most recently the Adelaide Chronicle. This article appeared in “The Little Folks Page”, from “Aunt Dorothy’s letter”, The Chronicle Thursday June 13, 1929. “Aunt Dorothy” wrote to and received letters from children all over this State for many years.

“My dear Nieces and Nephews.....Bob belonged to no one in particular but he did belong to the railway service men and journeyed on any train that took his fancy.........for 10 years he was a familiar figure and every engine driver liked to know that Bob was on his train. He became quite exacting for, if a train (as sometimes happened with goods trains in the far north) kept him waiting he would bark furiously as if to say, “Here, what do you mean by keeping so important a traveller waiting?”. Once for a change, I suppose, he left the train at Farrell Flat and boarded the coach that was going to Clare (it was before the railway reached that town). When he found himself at Clare he spied another coach. On to it he got, barking furiously, and as it was dinner time and the school children were on their way home they were delighted to think that Bob had paid them a visit. The second coach started off with Bob on board and when it reached Saddleworth off he jumped, got on the train again and so made his way back to Adelaide.”

Bob’s own travelling days are over but from his position in front of the Peterborough Tourist carriage he is able to supervise the comings and goings of today’s travellers and wish to all

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR FRIEND, BOB THE RAILWAY DOG

Heather Parker

BOB’S CORNER

Here is another article about Bob from the “The Little Folks Page”, “Aunt Dorothy’s letter”, The Adelaide Chronicle, issued on May 30^th. 1914.  With thanks to Trove, Australian National Library.

“For many years bob was a familiar figure on trains all over this state. He was welcome in every porter’s room in South Australia and his friends never knew when he would gravely walk in the door as they were eating their lunch or resting when off duty for a while. One week he would visit the men at Serviceton, or next the porters and guards at Oodnadatta would be cheered by his friendly prescence. His “pass” took him over every line. Cockburn today, Port Pirie tomorrow, Victor Harbour and Port Augusta were all places where Bob knew he had friends.

When the trains were headed by the big Yankee Engines Bob was at his happiest. He seemed to love to see the smoke rolling out of the big smoke stack and to hear the whistle as its shrill cry gave warning of approach or danger.”(TO BE CONTINUED)

From his position in front of the Peterborough Tourist carriage Bob’s cheery grin continues to offer a friendly greeting to all who pass by today.

Heather Parker

BOB’S CORNER

Here is the conclusion of last month’s story about Bob as told by “Aunt Dorothy” of “The Little Folks Page”, Adelaide Chronicle, May 30^th.1914   (with thanks to TROVE, Australian National Library)

“Sometimes for weeks he would not go far from town, but enjoy a ride to the Port or to Semaphore. He always took notice of anyone who spoke to him. If he were lying on the Railway Station platform of any town waiting for his train to start, or making up his doggy mind as to where he would go for his next trip, he would always rise if someone spoke to him by name, walk across to where his greeting friend stood and quietly stand by him to receive the pat on the head and the pleasant word that he expected, - and received, with a pleased wag of his tail. He expected friendship and generally got it but if once he was ill treated by any one he never forgot it and never once again responded to the greeting of the unfriendly man, woman or child. On one occasion the man in charge of one of the stations on the Northern Line was in a bad mood, when he came across Bob lying on the station in the sun, waiting for his train to be ready for him. Feeling short tempered that morning he kicked Bob out of the way as he passed.

Bob merely stood up, looked gravely after him, and when the engine started up went off on his journey. But he remembered the insult and never again got out at that station. He would sit on the engine while the train stopped, and stayed there, looking ahead, not taking any notice of the fact that there was a station there!”

Heather Parker

Bob’s Corner

Thanks to technology, today we are able to easily access news from the past. TROVE digitalised newspapers, Australian National Library, have amongst their titles The Bunyip (Gawler SA: 1863-1954). In it I have found this early account (February 11^th. 1887) of our Bob!

“We have all heard of the fireman’s dog- a dog that owns no man as his master, who is to be found at every important London fire. Though, so far as I know, we have no fireman’s dog, yet we have a railway dog. He is called “Railway Bob”. Now he travels via the North train, then his bark resounds among the hills on the South line; anon he is busy on the train between Adelaide and the Port; and then he may be found on top of the tram motor that carries passengers to Largs Bay. He is gentle to all, but attached to none. He has a perpetual ticket over all the lines in the colony, and avails himself of it to the fullest extent” 

I noticed on St Patrick’s Day that one of Bob’s friends had dressed him suitably to celebrate the occasion- in shiny green sunglasses and scarf!



Heather Parker

Bob’s Corner

“The Petersburg (Peterborough) railway station was always one of my favourite watering holes. This is where Will Ferry took me on my first train ride – and you all know what that led to!

And so my tail wagged with pleasure when I saw it in all its remembered detail next door in the YMCA building. Mary and Eldon Zimmermann have created this wonderful scale model using bricks and timber sourced from the original building. That’s me you can see on the platform (alongside the water bag hanging from the verandah). Come along and say “hello” sometime, I’d love to see you!

Your friend, Bob the Railway Dog

Heather Parker