AFTER trying to save independent politics in New England, Rob Taber has returned to saving rare old steam engines from the clutches of overseas collectors.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The owner of New England Solar, who polled almost 15 per cent of the vote in this electorate in the election on Saturday, has been an antique machinery enthusiast for many years.
On Sunday, Mr Taber and wife Sally took delivery of a John Fowler steam traction engine built in 1904.
THEY had bought the engine from a collector at Echuca. The 12-tonne beast could have easily gone the way of most old machines of its type and either ended up on a scrap heap or sold overseas.
The Tabers didn’t want that to happen. “There’s not many left,” Mr Taber said. “They’ve either been sold for scrap or taken to collectors in England. It’s part of Australian history. They really built Australia.”
The wood-fired engine has been used for many purposes over the years, including transporting wool and timber and even towing paddle steamers to the Murray River.
Mr Taber was one of the founding members of the New England Antique Machinery Club.
He believes it is the only functioning engine of its type in the northern region.
