Racecourse Mill No. 5

Racecourse Mill No. 5 is a modified Baldwin Class 10-12-D narrow gauge 4-6-0PT pannier tank steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (USA) in 1916 for the British War Department Light Railways for service in France during World War I.
For Baldwin B/N 45215, its second career was provided by the sugar industry in Australia’s tropical north, finding employment in cane haulage for the Racecourse Mill, Mackay where it was No. 5 in the mill loco fleet. Soon afterwards it was stored at the Goulburn Steam Museum from June 1972 to early 1974.
A significant change of fortunes came when a new theme park ‘Dreamworld’ was being established in the late 1970’s at Coomera on the Gold Coast. It is traditional for theme parks to feature a loop railway with ‘Wild West’ steam locomotives linking the various theme lands, following the model established by Disneyland, Anaheim at its opening in 1955.
Accordingly, a similar railway was envisaged for Dreamworld and Baldwin B/N 45215 was purchased and extensively rebuilt in time for Dreamworld’s 1981 opening, being launched as No. 4 ‘Baldwin’ on their Cannonball Express tourist train.
Today it's still at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia while operating on the Dreamworld Express.
==Trivia==
*It was converted to a tender locomotive when it arrived at Dreamworld.
*60 of these locomotives (Baldwin B/N 45163 – 45222, including preserved loco B/N 45215) were dispatched to Egypt by the British War Office to be used by the British Army in Sinai and Palestine during 1917.
*The locomotive used to burn coal but now it was converted to oil-firing.
*At Dreamworld, No. 4 ‘Baldwin’ loco shared duties on the Cannonball Express with ‘Perry’ (ex-Bingera Mill No. 5) while displayed along the line could also be found the Rocky Point Fowler.
*After several decades of successful steam operation, Dreamworld management scaled down the railway operation to weekends and public holiday operation, purchasing a steam-outline diseasal locomotive in 2013 as lead motive power for their railway. (The Perry locomotive was graciously donated to ANGRMS while the Baldwin was retained as second engine.)
*As of 2018, steam power can still be enjoyed at Dreamworld as the Baldwin locomotive usually operates on the first Saturday of every month (excepting periods of overhaul).
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:4-6-0 steam locomotives
Category:4-6-0 locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Built in 1916
Category:Australia
Category:Australian Steam Locomotives
Category:Australian Locomotives
Category:Pannier tank locomotives
Category:Red Livery Engines
Category:Baldwin Class 10-12-D Locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:War Department locomotives
Category:Amusement Park Steam Locomotives