ANIMAL TALES

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BOB THE RAILWAY DOG

Bob the Railway Dog (1878 – 1895, aged 16–17) is part of South Australian Railways folklore. Bob travelled the South Australian Railways system in the latter part of the 19th century, and was known widely to railwaymen of the day; he is part of the folklore in the area, and has been commemorated over the years.

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Life:

Bob 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. He was brought back to his owner, the publican of the Macclesfield Hotel, two or three times before finally disappearing. He was about nine months old at the time.

His true railway career commenced not long after being consigned from Adelaide, along with fifty other dogs, to Quorn, to be used to exterminate rabbits near Carrieton. Bob was, it was believed, picked up as a stray in Adelaide.

When the train stopped at Terowie, a stationmaster named William Ferry was taken by Bob’s charm and took him to the bustling railway town of Petersburg, now known as Peterborough. Ferry trained Bob to do all kinds of tricks, and later when he was guard on the narrow gauge Northern Lines, took Bob thousands of miles with him in the guard's van. Sometimes Bob rode with the engineman generally riding in the coal tender. Later, Ferry became Assistant Stationmaster at Petersburg but Bob continued to ride the trains alone.

By 1885 Bob had become accustomed to train travel and 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. 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."

“The most curious part of his conduct is that he has no master, but every engine driver is his friend,” wrote The Spectator in 1895. “At night he follows home his engine man of the day never leaving him or letting him out of his sight until they are back on the Railway Station in the morning, where he starts off on another of his ceaseless journeys.”

Bob sitting on top of the driver's car of a stationary locomotive at Port Augusta Railway yard, railway staff stand in a group alongside the vehicle.

Bob 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". "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."

Some sources suggest that Bob's travels took him to all mainland states of Australia, being seen as far afield as Oodnadatta, Queensland. During 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.

Bob is noted as having several accidents in his career. 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. In Port Pirie, his tail became jammed – just where is not known. In another incident, Bob is reported as losing an inch off his tail after slipping off, and on another journey, his coat caught fire. During 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.

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Poem:

The following poem was published in The Advertiser on 17 August 1895:

Home-keeping dogs have homely wits,

Their notions tame and poor;

I scorn the dog who humbly sits

Before the cottage door,

Or those who weary vigils keep,

Or follow lowly kine;

A dreary life midst stupid sheep

Shall ne'er be lot of mine.

For free from thrall I travel far,

No fixed abode I own;

I leap aboard a railway car;

By every one I'm known;

Today I'm here, tomorrow brings

Me miles and miles away;

Borne swiftly on steam's rushing wings,

I see fresh friends each day.

Each driver from the footplate hails

My coming with delight;

I gain from all upon the rails;

A welcome ever bright;

I share the perils of the line

With mates from end to end,

Who would not for a silver mine

Have harm befall their friend

Let other dogs snarl and fight,

And round the city prowl,

Or render hideous the night

With unmelodious howl.

I have a cheery bark for all,

No ties my travels clog;

I hear the whistle, that's the call

For Bob, the driver's dog.

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Collar:

Bob's collar on display at NRM Adelaide

Bob was provided with a collar bought by a commercial traveller who had taken a fancy to him after he had been "dognapped" by a farmer. In addition to two tags, two brass plates were rivetted to the collar itself. They were inscribed with:

Stop me not, but let me jog, For I am Bob, the drivers dog

and;

Presented by McLean Bros & Ricc

His collar is on display in the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, along with photographs and other artifacts.

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Death:

It was reported that Bob died on 29 July 1895. 

The Advertiser reported he had retired to Adelaide where he was known to dine regularly at a butcher's shop, run by a Mr. Evans, in Hindley Street, until his death at the age of 17. The Chronicle notes that after his afternoon tea, Bob was "heard to bark at a passing dog, and then with a pitiful howl dropped dead". He was eulogised around the world, as far away as Great Britain, and was lauded as "the king of outcasts".

On his death, his body was preserved and later displayed at the Exchange Hotel, Adelaide. His collar was initially given to the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, but was later passed on to the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen.

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Present:

Bob's statue – Main Street, Peterborough

In 2009, the local community of Peterborough, as Petersburg is now known, raised funds for a statue of Bob. This was unveiled in November, and it is at the eastern end of Main Street

Bob is commemorated in Terowie via a series of information boards, labelled "Bob the Railway Dog Trail", at various points of interest in the town.

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