![]() ![]() Various reports over the years suggest that whilst Bob was "well bred", he was most likely a Koolie crossed with a Smithfield. He was supposed to look like a diminutive lion, but his voice betrayed him". The Petersburg Times records that "only during one winter did he look miserable, when some employé (on probation) cut off all his hair except that of his neck and tip of his tail. ĭuring one of his visits to Port Augusta, Bob is said to have caught a steamship to Port Pirie after apparently confusing the ship's whistle with that of a locomotive. ĭuring a stay in Adelaide, Bob is reported to have spent time at Goodwood Cabin, and, after tripping down the cabin's stairs, started rolling under and out the other side of a passing train. In another incident, Bob is reported as losing an inch off his tail after slipping off, and on another journey, his coat caught fire. In Port Pirie, his tail became jammed – just where is not known. On one occasion he is reported to have fallen from an engine travelling between Manoora and Saddleworth, and managed to walk two miles to Saddleworth with an injured leg. In his early career, Bob had a number of falls, after which he refined his skills jumping up onto, or from one locomotive to another, even as they moved. Given that he was not acquired by Ferry until 1884, it is not clear if this was indeed "Bob" (although the source may have confused the 1880 event with the 1888 Melbourne Centennial Exhibition which was held in the building constructed for the 1880 event).īob is noted as having several accidents in his career. He was present at the opening of the railway between Petersburg and Broken Hill, as a "distinguished guest at the Melbourne Exhibition in 1881". However, he was noted as having "several river trips up the Murray and around the coast". Some sources suggest that Bob's travels took him to all mainland states of Australia, being seen as far afield as Oodnadatta, Queensland, and even Western Australia (given there was no railway connection at the time, this is unlikely). "His bark was robust and often caused strangers to believe that he was being aggressive when he really intended to be friendly." He had no master, but was befriended and enabled by the engineers (for whom he seemed to have a special affinity) and trainmen, and permitted to "ride for free, like a politician." īob did not like suburban engines because of their cramped cabs, but was known to clear out third class compartments for his sole use by "vigorously barking at all stations, usually succeeding in convincing intending passengers that the coach had been reserved of his special benefit". According to the Petersburg Times "His favourite place on a Yankee engine the big whistle and belching smokestack seem(ed) to have an irresistible attraction for him.he lived on the fat of the land, and was not particular from whom he accepted his dinner". ![]() Įventually William Ferry, a nephew of Seth Ferry, the noted horse trainer, was promoted to Petersburg Assistant Station Master in February 1885, by which time Bob had become accustomed to train travel.īob, the railway dog, atop a train at Port Augustaīob was known to venture to and from Petersburg often sitting in the front of the coal space in the locomotive tender, travelling many thousands of miles. Ferry "registered him right away" and is recorded as noting he acquired Bob on 24 September 1884. He was swapped (though it has been suggested he "broke pack") for another dog, obtained as a stray from the police in Port Augusta by William Seth Ferry, then working as a special guard at Petersburg as Peterborough was then known. Bob was, it was believed, picked up as a stray in Adelaide. His true railway career appears to have commenced not long after being consigned from Adelaide, along with fifty other dogs, to Quorn, to be used to exterminate rabbits near Carrieton. ![]() He was about nine months old at the time. He was brought back to his owner, the publican of the Macclesfield Hotel, two or three times before finally disappearing. He travelled the South Australian Railways system in the latter part of the 19th century, and was known widely to railwaymen of the day.īob first experienced the railway life when, as a young dog, he took a fancy to the workers building the railway near Strathalbyn and followed some of the navvies to the line. ![]() Bob the Railway Dog (also known as " Terowie Bob" ) is part of South Australian Railways folklore. ![]()
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