More About Milang

Milang was founded in 1856 as an important river port servicing both the paddlesteamers which plied the Murray River from Goolwa and the ferries which regularly crossed Lake Alexandrina. Not only was Milang where goods unloaded onto bullock drays for the slow plod over the hills to Adelaide but it enjoyed a brief flirt with the ship-building industry, specifically paddle steamers for the Murray.  Milang dangled at the end of a branch line from Middleton and literally missed the boat in terms of river trade, most of it having moved to Goolwa by the time Milang got a railway connection.

The train museum in Milang proudly advertised possession of a train driving simulator on which we could experience the sensations of driving a train and must, should we be children, be accompanied by adults lest the difficulty and excitement of the task overwhelm us.

With an opportunity like that, how could we resist returning to Milang as soon as we could get there? Within museum opening hours of course,  which due to the workforce being entirely volunteer was between noon and 4pm on the weekends.

 

The Museum showcased Milang's railway history and on the same site the Light Rail Centre of South Australia celebrated the plethora of small railways (700ish!) which operated in private businesses, mines, and ports around the state. We took a ride on the light railway which operated on the old jetty track with a width of 620mm. This put it 10mm outside the definition of a model railway and firmly under the  benevolent and vastly bureaucratic oversight of SA Rail. We boarded a small carriage, pulled by an electric engine, and rattled 200m along between the road and the wetlands.

We went past a little red engine. It was a cute little red engine.

Our volunteer pointed out the old engine turntable. "We had to stake it down," he informed us. "Kids were coming down here and using it as a merry go round."  Which suggested that there may not be a lot of entertainment for kids in Milang, especially if they're not into fishing.

We rattled the 200m back to the shed while our driver bemoaned the avalanches of paperwork which SA Rail demanded be provided with any application to extend the track.

The Museum had a lot of information about Milang's railway history which we dutifully perused, followed all the while by a volunteer who was very committed to ensuring that we got the full benefit from every display.

It was very cold in the light railway shed so we took refuge in the dining car and partook of the excellent tea and scones provided by the fine volunteers of the Milang Railway Museum. Across the wetlands outside the window, multicoloured fishing huts jostled each other beside the lake.

Finding a place to sit was a bit tricky but we managed it.

Finally, full of afternoon tea and having exhausted the entertainment possibilities of both the Railway Museum and the Light Rail Centre, we went home.

And the train driving simulator you ask?

Well, it was there and I encourage you to give it a go. Just make sure you have an adult to supervise you in case the experience should overwhelm you.