oxley

An extract from The Northern Miner (Charters Towers) Wednesday 17th April 1929. On the arrival of the train Mr. Mullan boarded the engine, and taking the controls, piloted the train past the cheering crowd and broke the ribbon which was stretched across the line. This was held by Mrs. Holley and Mrs. Glendenning. Mount Isa's first lady residents. There seemed to be a tremendous crowd present. The whole of the district must have been out, and some were present from Camooweal and beyond, having motored in for the occasion. The opening of the railway coincidentally occurred on the same date of the turning of the first sod three years previously in Duchess. /however the railway line was not operation for public use until the 15th May 1929. At this time the population of Mount Isa was around 600 people. By August 1929 it had exploded to well over 2,000.

Looking South East from N0. 1 Ore Shaft, Urquhart Shaft, headframe towards mount Isa township, known as Townside. Foreground are workshops and then on the right is the recreation reserve, tennis courts and swimming pool. The isa Street bridge can be seen as well as the Argent Hotel.

Operating a pneumatic rocker shovel. This appears to be an EIMCO rocker shovel. They operated on compressed air and the operator would drive it into the "muck", broken rock, load the shovel. A gable floor ore car was pushed up to its back, where the photographer is standing. The shovel was then lifted quickly and when it reached its limit it hit a stop bar. The rocks were thrown out of the shovel into the ore car.